Finding Joy Beyond Training Chaos

Beyond the Training (But Not Beyond Reality)

If you’ve ever thought marathon training was just about long runs, tempo days, and arguing with yourself about gels, welcome because you’re my people. But Beyond The Training, the bi-weekly behind-the-scenes series I host with Santino Williams, exists because we know better. Training doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens in real life, with real emotions, real stress, and sometimes a surprise emotional breakdown while watching Queer Eye during lunch.

Episode 5, Finding Joy in the Chaos, is one of those conversations that hangs around long after you hit “save activity” on Strava.

Training in 2026 Hits Different

Santino and I are preparing for the Everyday Athlete Clubhouse 2026 Run Club Tour, and yes, the miles matter but so does the moment we’re living in. Training in 2026 comes with weight. The news cycle. The noise. The constant hum of “everything is a lot.” That heaviness doesn’t disappear when you lace up your shoes. Sometimes it shows up at mile three and asks, “You good?”

Spoiler: sometimes the answer is no.

Choosing to Care Loudly

I’ll be honest….I’ve been struggling. A lot of us are. Watching people show genuine care and love for one another cracked something open in me. So I made a decision: I’m going to care loudly. I’m going to cheer loudly. I’m going to celebrate your wins, whether that’s a PR or just showing up when it would’ve been easier to stay in bed.

Joy isn’t naive. It’s necessary.

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When the Training Clicks (Finally)

On the physical side, things are clicking. I passed 100 miles in January for the first time in two years, and that felt huge. We dive into how the Aletheia Run sensor has changed my connection to my body, plus ongoing fueling experiments (jury’s still out) and Santino’s very public search for the perfect handheld hydration setup.

Recovery Is More Than Rest Days

One of the most important takeaways? Recovery isn’t just physical. Sometimes it’s taking a night off, opening a bottle of wine, and letting yourself breathe. That may not seem traditional in terms of recovery but it is what Santino needed and I am not going to tell him he is wrong. Instead, I am going to cheer him on for taking time for himself.

We’re not professionals. We’re paying to run 26.2 miles. So we’re choosing intention over perfection as well as joy over burnout.

If you’re training for something big while carrying something heavy, you’re not alone. Pull up a chair. Lace up your shoes. We’ll figure this out together.

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