There Is No One Right Way | Beyond The Training Episode 4
There Is No One Right Way
There’s a moment in every training cycle where you pause mid-run, mid-scroll, or mid-existential crisis and think: Am I doing this wrong?
That’s exactly where Episode 4 of Beyond The Training: Finding Your Own Path starts and honestly, where most everyday athletes live more often than we admit.
Santino Williams and I are deep into preparation for the Everyday Athlete Clubhouse 2026 Run Club Tour: six races, six cities, seven months. On paper, it looks bold. In real life? It’s messy, personal, and full of constant adjustments. And that’s the point.
Showing Up Looks Different
Santino’s been navigating illness and life doing what life does best which is throwing curveballs. He’s still showing up, still training, still adapting. Me? I’m logging about 50% of my miles on a treadmill because leaving the building isn’t always an option for my nervous system. And guess what…..both approaches count.
Training isn’t about aesthetics. It’s about sustainability.
Preparing for Oakland (And Reality)
We spend time breaking down the Oakland Marathon profile, specifically that spicy 700-foot climb around mile 18 and the soul-crushing downhill that follows. Santino found a sneaky-good hill near his daughter’s school, and we talk about how hill training isn’t just physical. It’s mental and nutritional. It’s also strategic.
Fueling your legs without fueling your brain is a recipe for disaster.
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Nutrition, Gear, and Gatekeeping
I’ve been testing gels, bars, and electrolytes with one simple goal: no surprises at mile 23. Because nobody wants their stomach filing a formal complaint that late in the race.
We also talk shoes and gear without the ego. I run in Topo Athletic. Santino’s loyal to Nike. Neither of us thinks that makes us better humans. Our stop at Tortoise and Hare reinforced the truth: gait analysis is a tool, not a personality trait.
Yes, Treadmills Count
Yes, I train on a treadmill and of course it’s real. Andy Potts trained indoors and won Ironmans. Liz Meyers set records doing the same. Gatekeeping helps no one. Santino and I discuss this situation and once again….there is no one right way to train.
The Real Finish Line
We aren’t chasing perfection. What we are about, is presence. Oakland matters. Goals matter. But what matters more is the community, the stories, and who you’re becoming along the way.
Your path is yours. Own it.
Let’s go.
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