Carl Radke Runs for Sobriety Ahead of NYC Marathon

Carl Radke, a star of the Bravo reality series Summer House, is set to run the 2026 New York City Marathon, using the race as both a personal challenge and a platform to support addiction recovery. Radke, 41, has been candid about his sobriety journey and now views running as a cornerstone of his well-being.

In an interview with Us Weekly while promoting his partnership with ChatGPT, Radke explained that his motivation extends beyond the finish line. "I want to raise money to support people that struggle with addiction and substance abuse and mental health challenges," he told Us Weekly. "A big part of my sobriety story — you know, I've been very lucky — but I want to help other people. And a big part of staying sober is helping other people."

Radke, who has appeared on Summer House since its 2017 premiere, initially got sober in spring 2020 but relapsed that summer. He got sober for good after his brother Curtis died of a drug overdose in 2021. Since then, he has completed the 2025 New York City Marathon, the 2026 London Marathon and the 2026 Berlin Marathon, all in support of the Release Recovery Foundation, an organization founded by Bachelor Nation's Zac Clark, who is also sober. The foundation assists individuals facing financial barriers to addiction recovery and treatment.

The upcoming New York City Marathon will mark Radke's fourth marathon. He described how sobriety has reshaped his approach to running. "Sobriety really gave me this whole new viewpoint of running and the community that is involved in that," he told Us Weekly. "When people get sober, you have a lot of energy. You got a lot of things inside of you, and to direct my energy to something healthy like running and raising money for charity, it was a no-brainer. I'm still crazy. I'm just sober now. I still have my ups and downs. I'm just still sober, but the running kind of balances the highs and the lows. I think if anything, I don't have the same roller-coaster I used to be on. It's more just like a little bit of a wave that I ride, right? Which is a better wave than the roller-coaster."

As he prepares for the race, Radke is using ChatGPT to help with training logistics, including selecting routes and creating music playlists. "I love listening to music in the neighborhood that I'm in," he told Us Weekly. "That kind of playlist request, there's no other way to create it without the support of an AI tool like ChatGPT. It's a unique thing that I've done on my own, running in New York City the last year and a half, two years, where I kind of will just be like, 'Oh, I'm Queens.' I'll throw on Nas, but I've actually now built playlists with the help of ChatGPT." He also relies on the tool for fueling routines and nutrition guidance, noting that it provides "an instant response to help support the program I'm already on."

Radke's commitment to running and sobriety advocacy highlights the growing intersection of fitness, technology and recovery support. As he prepares for the 2026 New York City Marathon, his story underscores the importance of community and healthy habits in sustaining long-term recovery.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).