Alexis is running her first-ever 5K time trial and the whole Marathon Handbook crew is showing up to document it.

In this episode of For Better or For Worse, Alex and Alexis break down exactly how a beginner runner should prepare for a race-pace effort: pre-race fueling, sleep, shoe choice, and a full pacing strategy to chase a sub-30-minute (and maybe sub-29!) 5K. Plus: weird interactions on the run, the headphones-or-not debate, an update on Alex's build toward the Canadian Half Marathon Championships, and a listener Q&A on getting your partner into running.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro: setting the "annoying pacer" ground rules
0:59 Welcome to For Better or For Worse
1:15 Weirdest run interactions: cat calls & a street preacher
7:57 Headphones on the run: yes or no?
11:31 Today's topic: Alexis's first 5K time trial
13:22 What actually is a "time trial"?
15:36 The plan: the MH crew descends on Toronto Beaches
17:34 Alexis walks through her full pre-race routine
21:31 Sleep, rituals, and pre-race nerves
25:40 Race morning fueling and timing
29:00 Shoe rotation: Asics, Saucony, or Hoka?
30:13 Building Alexis's pacing strategy
33:11 Why even pacing beats a fast start
38:53 New challenge: sub-30 to sub-29
42:45 Alex plans how to be the "annoying" pacer
45:33 Alex's training update: 150km week & marathoner hunger
48:48 Prepping for the Canadian Half Marathon Championships
49:38 Balancing wedding season with marathon training
55:00 Listener Q&A: getting your partner into running
1:02:32 Comment section: the ice cream fueling debate
1:04:10 Karaoke song picks for Alex's bachelor party
1:09:00 Wrap-up: predict Alexis's 5K time

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What happens to your running motivation after a huge life event? We got married a few weeks ago, and while Alex went straight back into his toughest training block ever, Alexis hit a full week of "bride blues" and zero desire to run. We break down why that split happened, whether running couples should target the same race season, and what's next for both of us.

Chapters:
0:00 Cold Open
0:51 Welcome to For Better or For Worse
1:18 Old Man Breakfast Roast
1:54 Hiding in the Bathroom for Josh Kerr's Mile
5:37 Breaking Down the New Mile World Record (3:42.66)
7:33 Today's Topic: Two Versions of Post-Wedding Running
9:25 Alexis's "Bride Blues" and Missing Motivation
12:24 What Are "Bride Blues"?
14:20 Should Running Couples Race the Same Season?
19:06 Alex's Fall Plan: Chasing a Lifetime-Best Half Marathon
21:53 The Chase for a Team Canada Worlds Spot
23:30 Inside Alex's Toughest Training Block Ever
24:29 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
29:16 Why Valencia? Picking a "Business Trip" Race
31:51 The Half Marathon "Golden Ticket" Into Major Marathons
36:46 Wedding Crashers Update
38:34 His vs. Hers: Pregnant Mile Record vs. Marathon PR
45:09 Listener Story: Betty & Chaz
48:10 Shoe Talk & Upcoming Reviews
49:51 Outro

After 8 episodes of wedding-season training talk, Alex and Alexis are officially married! In this episode of For Better or For Worse, the running couple breaks down their entire wedding week in Prince Edward Island: a 16-act talent show, a surprise 5K run for 90 guests, a burnt wedding veil, an unexpected blessing from the Pope, and six uninvited wedding crashers.

They also cover how they each balanced training with wedding week chaos, share their Rose & Thorn moments, debate whether crashing a wedding is ever okay, and answer a listener question on training by heart rate vs. pace.

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:30 Is Alexis changing her name?
2:04 Wedding Week Recap Begins
3:22 Are We Happy We're Married?
5:06 Wednesday: Guests Arrive in Charlottetown
6:08 Alex's Acadian Hometown Tour
8:58 The Wedding Talent Show (16 Acts)
14:15 We Hosted a 5K at Our Wedding
19:33 Why We Had a Big Wedding
20:33 The Wedding Veil Disaster
23:36 Walking Down the Aisle & The Vows
26:10 Blessed By the Pope?
28:14 Rose & Thorn: The Handmade Wedding Ship
31:04 Rose & Thorn: The Hotel Breakfast Fiasco
33:11 Rose & Thorn: Best Day of My Life
35:11 Alexis's Biggest Mileage Week Ever
36:43 Turning a Wedding Into a Fitness Goal
38:08 Finding Your Running "Goldilocks Zone"
40:46 Skipping Double Runs on Wedding Week
42:13 Turning Down a 32K Run Pre-Wedding
43:33 Homework: Finding New Motivation
45:03 Homework: Weekly Date Nights
46:30 His or Her Debate: Are Wedding Crashers OK?
53:00 Listener Q&A: Heart Rate vs. Pace Training
56:57 Outro

Follow along:
Instagram: @alex.is.pod
marathonhandbook.com

Got a question for the show? Drop it in the comments!