Reality television personality Joe Amabile has received medical clearance to compete in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on November 1, roughly three months after undergoing brain surgery to remove a tumor. The 40-year-old Bachelor in Paradise star, widely known to viewers as "Grocery Store Joe," shared details of his recovery and modified training schedule this week while promoting a new financial planning campaign with Northwestern Mutual.

Amabile registered for the 26.2-mile race prior to his operation as a strategy to maintain a positive outlook during a period of medical uncertainty. According to E! Online, Amabile consulted his oncologist about participating in the race and was told he should be ready to run, allowing him to prepare for his third appearance on the New York course.

An Unexpected Diagnosis and Surgical Timeline

The health scare began earlier this year despite Amabile experiencing no physical warning signs. According to The Daily Mail, Amabile agreed to undergo a preventative full-body Prenuvo MRI scan at the urging of his wife, fellow franchise alum Serena Pitt, 28, shortly after turning 40. The scan detected an abnormality in his left frontal lobe, which prompted specialized brain imaging and neurological consultations.

Specialists at NYU Langone Health diagnosed the growth as a grade 2 IDH-mutant diffuse astrocytoma, a slow-growing tumor roughly the size of a blueberry, according to Yahoo Entertainment. While reporting varies slightly on the exact timing of the craniotomy—Yahoo Entertainment notes that neurosurgeon Dr. John Golfinos removed the tumor on August 5 after a one-week hospital switch delay, while The Daily Mail and The Blast describe the operation as taking place in August or September—the procedure successfully extracted the primary mass.

Amabile noted that because the lesion was cancerous, microscopic cells typically remain behind following extraction. His ongoing post-operative care under neuro-oncologist Dr. Alexandra Miller includes a daily IDH-inhibitor medication designed to keep residual cells dormant, alongside follow-up MRI scans scheduled every three months for at least the first year.

Post-Operative Recovery and Modified Training

Recovering from the craniotomy required navigating several immediate physical hurdles. According to People, Amabile dealt with migraines, speech difficulties, and concerns regarding potential infection in the days following the operation. He estimated that his speech returned to roughly 90 percent capacity within two weeks, though he continues to experience occasional evening fatigue and lingering sensitivity to light.

Accounts differ slightly regarding his exact return to cardiovascular exercise. People reports that his medical team cleared him to run about two weeks after the procedure, resulting in a three-mile jog 15 days post-surgery, whereas Entertainment Weekly cites an August 20 social media update in which Amabile logged a 3.5-mile run at the 15-day mark. Doctors permitted him to resume most standard daily activities after two months, though he was restricted from lifting weights or objects heavier than 70 pounds until reaching the three-month milestone.

To safely prepare for the November 1 race, Amabile overhauled his traditional marathon regimen in favor of rest, stretching, and mobility work. While he previously followed intense training blocks—finishing the 2025 New York City Marathon in 3 hours, 49 minutes, and 53 seconds after also completing the race in 2023—he has scaled back his current workload. According to Entertainment Now and E! Online, Amabile is currently limiting his training to a maximum of five miles twice a week. He noted that the extra rest could work to his advantage and plans to focus on enjoying the crowd atmosphere on race day rather than chasing a personal time goal.

Support System and Reality TV Connections

Throughout the diagnosis and recovery, Amabile credited Pitt with anchoring his support system, even if she remains cautious about his athletic ambitions. In an interview with Bustle, Amabile admitted that while his wife fully supports him, she would candidly prefer he skip the marathon this year. The medical crisis also prompted the couple to evaluate their long-term family planning and financial preparedness, leading to his promotional partnership with Northwestern Mutual.

When Amabile takes to the starting line in support of the charity organization Release Recovery, he will be joined by several familiar faces from the unscripted television space. Race organizers and Amabile confirmed that fellow Bachelor franchise alumni Zac Clark, Matt James, and Tayshia Adams, as well as reality television personality Dylan Efron, are slated to run the New York course alongside him. While promoting his marathon return, Amabile also weighed in on broader conversations regarding the future of the Bachelor franchise and persistent casting speculation, noting that the longevity of the long-running series heavily depends on how producers select future leads.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the medical details of Joe Amabile's surgery and treatment?

Following a routine full-body scan, Amabile was diagnosed with a blueberry-sized grade 2 IDH-mutant diffuse astrocytoma in his left frontal lobe. While outlets vary on whether the surgery occurred in August or September 2026, doctors removed the tumor via craniotomy. His ongoing treatment involves taking a daily IDH-inhibitor medication to suppress any remaining cancer cells and undergoing monitoring MRIs every three months.

What physical limits did doctors set for his marathon training?

Amabile was cleared to resume most regular activities two months after surgery, though doctors prohibited him from lifting anything over 70 pounds until the three-month mark. Under his oncologist's guidance, he modified his marathon preparation to prioritize rest and mobility, capping his training runs at five miles twice a week.

Has Amabile completed the November 1, 2026 marathon yet?

No. The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026. If he completes the 26.2-mile course as planned, it will mark his third finish at the event, following completions in 2023 and 2025.

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