The newsletter title, of course, comes from Gracie Abrams.
But, oh well, look at my life
Bet you can’t tell, but it’s kind of a bad time
A new spiral every night
Bawling my eyes out, no, but I’m so fine…
After having surgery in July, things were OK enough. The first week after surgery was physically harder than I expected.
Then, as my body began to recover and heal, my brain and my heart and whatever other parts of my body produce emotions… It was like the great unraveling.
Both my surgeon and Google validated how I was feeling: “At 13 days post-surgery, you are in the peak window for acute hormonal crashes…” And oh did I crash.
It was a perfect storm of dealing with some personal challenges, nearly all of my friends and family being out of town at the same time, my body still recovering, being super behind on work and people needing things from me, and spending way too much time on my phone and scrolling.
I crashed out and I spiraled, and I got some serious tears out of my system. (The key to having defined arms, I tend to joke, isn’t push-ups: It’s dehydration.) I worked through some real shit. I broke down. I think maybe that just needs to happen sometimes.
And then I was honest with my surgeon about how I was feeling, and she listened. (A much bigger conversation for another time.) We had a really productive, encouraging chat, and she prescribed me a low dose of Lexapro, which I started that same evening.
I’m happy to report that the great breakdown seems mostly in the rear-view now. Maybe it’s the meds, maybe it’s time, maybe it’s my hormones regulating to their new normal, or maybe it was getting to experience the most incredible trip to Vancouver for lululemon’s grand return of SeaWheeze.
This morning on my walk, I felt at peace.
The coast-to-coast getaway was exactly what I needed. I love being home, but I needed a change of scenery. I needed some quality time with Annie, and we were able to make this the ultimate girls trip by going with Madeline (Annie’s bestie) and Aubree (Madeline’s mom / one of my besties).
Every single second of the trip — even when the girls were begging for Nerds Gummy Clusters at 8 AM, or when the final leg of our flight was delayed — was perfect, amazing, wonderful. I got to travel to Canada with three of my favorite people, doing a job that I love (live show + race announcing), in the most positive, uplifting environment.
I needed this trip to remind me of who I am, and who I want to be.
(For more on SeaWheeze for now: I enjoyed reading recaps from both Ashley Mateo and Lee Glandorf, both of whom I think nailed their assessments on the weekend. Particularly appreciated the shout-out in RUNHER!)
I took a line from our girl Gracie, and on one of my particularly hard days, I decided to “just shut up and drive.” When I did, I unexpectedly found myself in front of a giant sunflower field.
Then, after recording during a rainstorm with Kara Goucher, I looked out my office window and there was a big, bright, vibrant rainbow stretching across the entire sky.
There are glimmers of hope and light everywhere, even on our darkest days. I’m so grateful I’ve been able to find them.
Lately on the Ali on the Run Show:
LIVE at lululemon Seawheeze 2026 with Phily Bowden: Some very good and helpful takeaways in this one about dealing with disappointment, getting through the tough parts of a race, and managing the very real post-race comedown. I’m most definitely a Phily fan, and loved getting to chat with her, in front of so many of you. (Also, it is admittedly terrifying being live onstage right now. The post-surgery brain fog is so, so real, and there were multiple times during the show where, even with my copious notes and preparation, my brain went completely blank. It’s panic-inducing, being onstage, doing the thing I love, and not having my brain on board. Hopefully you couldn’t tell, but if you could, I beg for grace!)
Kara Goucher’s 2026 Tri City Half Marathon Recap: An instant fan favorite! The feedback from this episode has been incredible, and worthy of a “wowowowowow!” I love seeing all the love for Kara, who ran her first half marathon since getting a runner’s dystonia diagnosis — and being told she’d never run again — in 2022.
Reading:
I have The Calamity Club, All Fours, and Whistler on my nightstand. I posted an Instagram poll debating which should be my next read, and wow, my DMs are divided! You all recommend the audio version of Calamity Club (too late, already bought the book!) and you say I’ll love the characters. People either OMG LOVE or OMG HATE All Fours. And Whistler is “like a warm hug.”
“Why Do We Expect Sick People to Look Sick?” via Katie Couric Media. Nearly pinched a nerve by nodding along so aggressively to this.
Watching:
The Devil Wears Prada 2. I watched it on the plane ride home from Vancouver. The plot was…fine? But the nostalgia factor made it a very fun, perfect plane watch. I was constantly picking up on all the callbacks to the original film.
Listening to:
Rosie O’Donnell on Good Hang with Amy Poehler. I’ve never had an opinion on Rosie, but I loved this chat.
I am so grateful for the wonderful brands and partners I get to work with on the Ali on the Run Show. Supporting them = supporting me!
Shokz: Click here and use code ALI for $10 off your next purchase.
Lagoon: Click here to get my favorite pillows (I sleep on the Otter every night), and use code ALI for 15% off.
Superhero Muffins: Click here and use code SUPERALI15 to get 15% off my favorite muffin mixes!
New Balance: Click here to shop New Balance’s latest releases for the season.
Oofos: Click here to check out the new Club+ line. Comfy and supportive = a dream!
Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori order.
Take good care of yourselves. Take good care of each other. Be the good. Have some fun.
(You’ve got this. You’re doing great.)
Love,
Ali
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