Finding Joy in the Chaos | Marathon Training, Mental Health & Community in 2026

Описание: Welcome back to Beyond The Training, the show where marathon prep meets real life, real feelings, and the occasional emotional spiral during a lunchtime episode of Queer Eye. This is Episode 5: Finding Joy in the Chaos, and honestly… it’s one of those conversations that sticks with you long after the run is uploaded to Strava.

In this episode, Santino Williams and I aren’t just talking about mileage, pace charts, or how many gels is too many gels (spoiler: we still don’t know). We’re talking about what it actually feels like to train for a marathon in 2026.....in this moment, in this country, with everything swirling around us. Because running doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It never has. We’re just finally saying the quiet part out loud.

I’ll be real with you: I’ve been struggling. A lot of us have. There’s a heaviness that creeps into your chest when you turn on the news, scroll your phone, or try to process the world before a morning run. And then one afternoon, sitting next to my wife Lori watching Queer Eye, I just… broke. Not from sadness, but from witnessing people show genuine care, compassion, and love for strangers. It reminded me of something we’ve lost and something we desperately need to reclaim.

So I made a decision: I’m going to care loudly. I’m going to cheer loudly. I’m going to celebrate your wins.....big, small, and “I just showed up today” wins like they matter. Because they do. Collective joy isn’t soft. It’s powerful. And maybe that sounds naive. Cool. I’ll take that.

On the training side, things are clicking. I surpassed 100 miles in January for the first time in two years, and yeah, it felt incredible. My body is adapting in ways I didn’t expect, and for the first time in a while, I’m genuinely excited about what’s ahead.

We dig into how the Aletheia Run sensor has completely changed how I understand my body while running, from force patterns to movement awareness. We talk fueling (gels, gummies, hydration experiments) and Santino continues his very public search for the perfect handheld hydration system (seriously, brands, help this man).

We also talk about the mental side of training. Santino shares why sometimes the best move is taking a night off, opening a bottle of wine, and letting yourself reset. That’s not quitting. That’s recovery. Because rest isn’t just about your legs but also about your nervous system, your heart, and your humanity.

As we head into February, we’re training with intention, not perfection. We’re not pros. We’re not getting paid. We’re literally paying to run 26.2 miles. So yeah, we’re going to make damn sure we’re enjoying the process.

If you’re training for something big, carrying something heavy, or just trying to stay human while moving your body then this episode is for you.

Pull up a chair. Lace up your shoes. You’re not alone.