Carl Radke is about to lace up for the 2026 New York City Marathon, and this run means way more than a finish line. The Summer House star is raising money for addiction and mental health support, a cause that’s deeply personal. Radke has been sober since 2021, following the death of his brother Curtis from a drug overdose, and he credits running with keeping his emotional highs and lows in check and keeping him happy and sober.
This isn’t his first rodeo, either. Radke completed the 2025 NYC Marathon and the 2026 London and Berlin Marathons, all for Zac Clark’s Release Recovery Foundation. His training routine comes with a modern twist: he uses ChatGPT to plan routes, build playlists, and get nutrition and fueling advice. Because if AI can write your emails, why not map your long runs?
What sticks most is his reason for all of it.“The real why is, I run for people that can’t.”For anyone out there struggling, his message is proof that recovery can come with movement, community, and purpose. Have you ever used fitness or a creative hobby to help you through something hard? Drop your story in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.