“The Hardest 10K of My Life”

Our co-host Alex Cyr finally did it — broke 30 minutes in the 10K before his 30th birthday. But in this deeply personal episode, he, Katelyn Tocci, and Michael Doyle go beyond splits and finish lines. They unpack the mental toll of public goals (13:00), the crash after big wins (25:00), and how to redefine motivation (40:00). It’s a story of resilience, racing, identity, and the strange emotional alchemy of chasing big dreams.🎙 Topics Covered:10K race strategy & pacing breakdownRunning through exhaustion and travel fatigueThe danger of public goals + social media pressureImposter syndrome at every pacePost-race blues and dopamine crashWhy your best race isn’t always your fastestShifting from chasing times to racing peopleFinding purpose after you hit your big goalHow to manage running motivation long-term📩 Join our daily newsletter: marathonhandbook.com📸 Follow us on Instagram: @marathonhandbook