'Summer House' star Carl Radke on running, sobriety and his partnership with Zappos

Carl Radke is a busy man.

The "Summer House" star has, like many castmates, had a particularly stacked few months. "Good Morning America" had several run-ins with Radke in the past week alone including at Soft Bar, the sober bar he opened last year in Brooklyn, where Radke was promoting a collaboration with Outshine, as well as at a Kenneth Cole panel discussion where he joined fellow "Summer House" cast member KJ Dillard for a discussion on mental health.

Our first run-in, however, was via Zoom to discuss one of Radke's most exciting endeavors, which launches Monday: his Road to Marathon campaign with Zappos, a curated collection of sneakers and training gear.

Carl Radke's partnership with Zappos

Part of the company's "Zappos in Motion" yearlong campaign, Radke's participation comes as we enter peak training season for runners gearing up to join the 2026 New York City Marathon, which takes place Nov. 1.

In addition to curating Zappos running products, the reality star aims to help runners of every level navigate marathon training, from finding the right shoes to building a routine that supports physical and mental wellness.

On his journey to marathon running

"I love being active," Radke told "GMA," but even as a young athlete, "running wasn't necessarily my favorite part of the training activity."

He said fitness classes in his 20s and 30s continued to be important, but they often followed periods of substance abuse that were more about "sweating out the hangover and getting back to square one."

Radke said he got sober in January 2021 but started feeling listless a couple of years into his journey.

"I was sober, but I was unhappy and sad and emotional," he said.

Radke said he began looking to folks that inspired him and found, more often than not, what he was missing was movement.

"Finding running and the community in running -- I kind of stumbled into it. It's something that's kind of been a big surprise," he said.

The importance of consistency and routine

Radke said one of the most important components of running is the stabilizing effect it has had on his day-to-day life.

"[Running] put a lot of consistency and routine into my life, which of course is another component of staying sober," he said. "I wanted to hold myself accountable and have daily task. It could be a day of rest, it could be a day of running, or a day of weight lifting, but just having consistency in your schedule and a routine is super important to maintain balance."

Radke said he hired a running coach to stay on track while training for marathons, of which he has run two: the 2025 New York City Marathon and the London Marathon earlier this year.

"When you stick to a plan, there's a lot of really solid things that can happen as a result," he said. "Your mental health can be a little more sound, more balanced and more happy."

Carl Radke's running tips

What is Radke's No. 1 tip for getting started on your fitness journey?

"Buy a pair of cool shoes that you want to wear and feel confident in," he said. "Clothing and footwear is an extension of my personality, and if I look good, and I'm happy, that only gives me more motivation to run and to get outside."

Once you've acquired the shoes and workout gear that makes you feel your best, it's time to get going.

"Start small," Radke advised. "Run as long as you can run for, then if you can't run anymore, just start walking."

Waking up early is also important to Radke, who said he prefers to work out before starting the day.

"If you really are dedicated, wake up early and get it done before you go to work. I think there are advantages of doing the work before you start your day, so you can show up to your day in the most balanced, feeling-good kind of way."

He also stressed the importance of incorporating rest, noting he'd rather rest when his body is telling him to rather than force a 6 a.m. run.

Why partnering with Zappos was important to Radke

"It's not just buying stuff online and running by yourself," Radke said about his partnership with Zappos. "We're going to be doing some workout classes and community events with some of the products. That's what's important to me: the community and coming together with people."

The partnership also enables Radke to elevate his message to a broader community to potentially help those who have experienced similar hardships with addiction and mental health.

"Some of what I've done on the charity level is important to me, because it's helping people who can't necessarily afford treatments or get the help they need," he added. "I've been really leaning on the running because, yeah, I get to wear great brands, I get to wear cool shoes, but it's really all about helping other people who struggle with addiction and mental health."

Scroll below for some of our favorites from Radke's picks on Zappos right now, or click through to shop the full curated collection here. Happy running!

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