PRG Newsletter – FEB 2026 by Performance Running Gym
It is a surreal time to be writing a letter to our community of runners and endurance athletes. While I’d normally be focusing on goal setting, the excitement of race registration season, and making the most of your pre-season, none of that seems as important as the challenges, the triumphs, and the solidarity our city has shared this past month. Just last Saturday, the endurance community lost one of our own, Alex Jeffrey Pretti. In addition to being an ICU nurse, an advocate for his community and an American Citizen, he was also a an avid cyclist, hiker, and outdoor enthusiast.
The DHS operation that began in December impacted everyone in our community this past month. We saw federal agents by the thousands flood into Minneapolis dressed in masks and tactical gear. Within days it became clear that this “mission” was not about immigration or safety, but was a mission intended to divide us and to break our great state and community. Fear and anxiety became a constant companion to many as they tried to maintain any sense of normalcy during an unprecedented time that was anything but normal.
But we showed that Minnesota doesn’t break that easily. Thousands marched and protested in below zero temps, businesses and individuals worked tirelessly to ensure those impacted most were given support, and the community stood together to protect one another in the face of blatant violations of constitutional and human rights. I’ve lived in Minneapolis my entire life, and I’ve never been so proud of my city and my state than I have been in the past several weeks.
I know things are still scary. I know we have an incredible amount of work to do. But we are going into this month on a positive note – and this is a great time to recognize what this city has accomplished in the face of unprecedented adversity. For the first time that I can recall, we have made progress towards real unity as a Nation. We are seeing our great State and Country rally around the values of human decency, the rule of law, and for our constitutional rights as Americans.
Running matters in all of this. Running is a tremendous vehicle to promote mental and physical wellness, a time for reflection in an uncertain world, and a way to foster community and drive compassion. During uncertain times, self-care and routines become even more important. It’s been so wonderful to see your smiling faces at the gym – committed to your own strength and the resilience of our community, even in the face of chaos. Keep running, keep speaking up, keep showing up – We’ll see you at the gym!
-Aaron Boike
Co-Owner, Performance Running Gym
Recent Comments