Fitness
26 in 2026 - Road to Hartford
There’s something powerful about setting a goal that scares you just a little. For us, that goal is simple to say and a whole lot harder to do: 26 in 2026. Twenty-six miles. Our first ever marathon. Selecting the Hartford Marathon was a no brainer to commemorate this milestone from our very own home state.
We’re a couple who love good food, busy weekends, and the occasional “let’s just skip the workout tonight.” But this year, we decided to try something different and commit to getting stronger, healthier, and more consistent together. Not just for race day, but for the everyday moments that come with building a lifestyle rooted in movement and balance.
This fitness page is where we’ll share that journey. It’s not about perfection, personal records, or pretending we’ve got it all figured out. It’s about showing up for early morning runs, for strength sessions that leave us sore, and for each other when motivation dips. Training as a together means accountability, encouragement, and balancing our busy schedules.
Over the coming months, we’ll be documenting:
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Our training plans and progress
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Wins, setbacks, and lessons learned
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Favorite workouts and recovery tips
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Nutrition experiments and fueling strategies
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The honest reality of marathon prep while balancing everyday life
Whether you’re training for your own race, looking for inspiration to move more, or just curious what it’s like to tackle a big goal as a couple, we’re glad you’re here!
Get salty and follow along!
-Katie & Alex
Team Update
Back in 2019, we crossed the finish line of the Niantic Bay Triathlon with one simple goal: just complete the race. No time targets, no expectations just the satisfaction of proving to ourselves that we could do it.
Fast forward to 2026, and that mindset has grown into something bigger. As we train toward our 26 in 2026 marathon goal, we’re excited to share that on January 17, 2026, we joined our local YMCA’s Triathlon Club to help us reach our goal and make some new friends along the way. To support our running journey and keep things interesting, we’ll be adding a few sprint triathlons to our training schedule.
If you’re new to the sport, here’s a quick look at common triathlon distances:
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Sprint: 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
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Olympic: 1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
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Half Iron / 70.3: 1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run
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Ironman: 3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2km run
Fun fact: while modern triathlons were born in California in 1974, the idea of a three-sport race dates back to events held in France during the 1920s.
We’re looking forward to documenting the miles, swims, rides, and everything we learn along the way as we continue building toward marathon day.
Upcoming Races
Indoor Triathlon Series
YMCA Tri Club
February 21st
5 min swim, 15 min bike, 10 min run
March 21st
7 min swim, 20 min bike, 15 min run
April 25th
10 min swim, 30 min bike, 2.5 mile outdoor run
Shoreline Challenge
Hartford Marathon Foundation
April 19th
Rocky Neck Run Fest 5k (3.1 miles)
May 17th
Mystic - Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
June 14th
New London - Summer Stride - 10K (6.2 miles)
Other Races
Hartford Marathon Foundation
August 9th
Niantic Bay Sprint Triathlon (1/2 mile swim, 11.4 mile bike, 3.2 mile run)
September 13th
Westerly - Surftown Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
October 10th
Hartford Marathon (26.2 miles)
Triathlon Series
YMCA Tri Club
June 25th
Cedar Lake Triathlon #3 (1/2 mile swim, 11.4 mile bike, 3.2 mile run)
Weekly Updates & Recaps
