For Better Or For Worse

Marathon Handbook
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Running
  • Updated Weekly

For Better or for Worse: the show where a beginner and an elite runner, engaged to be married, try to survive training, racing, and each other. Meet the Hosts: Alexis D’Souza: Beginning runner, Gilmore Girls fanatic, real estate agent. 5k PB: TBD. “Alex catfished me into this whole running thing - 100 mile weeks was never part of the deal. But my siblings are into it, and my friends are racing marathons; so I’ve finally decided to see what this fuss is all about. It can’t be that hard, right?” Alex Cyr: Running nerd, writer and journalist, 63-minute half-marathoner.

  1. 5h ago ·  Video

    A 97-Mile Week, a Bee Sting, and Should Marathons Have Time Limits?

    Alex is coming off the biggest mileage week of his life (97 miles / 154K!) and just signed Alexis up for a surprise race, while Alexis is nursing a bee sting and celebrating a new 5K race-pace PB. Then we get into the big one: should marathons have stricter time cutoffs, or should courses stay open all day for anyone who wants to finish? We debate both sides: city logistics, injuries and disabilities, qualifying standards, and why the media loves a "last place finisher" story a little too much. Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com Send us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Subscribe to our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

  2. 6d ago ·  Video

    We Ranked All 7 World Marathon Majors (Alex Is Back From Sydney)

    Alex just landed back in Toronto after covering the Sydney Marathon, and Alexis has news of her own: she signed herself up for her very first race ever, without telling Alex first. They break down what actually makes a marathon a "major," the six-star (now seven-star) finisher medal, Boston's brutal qualifying standards, and then go head-to-head ranking every major from worst to best, with some surprising results. Plus: a stunt-eating segment with duty-free crocodile jerky, training updates (including a brand new 5K PB), and an audience Q&A on how many days a week you actually need to run. Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com Send us a question:https://marathonhandbook.com/podcast/ Subscribe to our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

  3. Aug 25 ·  Video

    We Play "Kiss, Marry, Kill" (Long Runs vs Workouts vs Easy Runs)

    Today, we're playing Kiss, Marry, Kill... running edition. Alex and Alexis each pick which type of run (long run, workout, or easy run) they'd keep forever, marry for life, and never do again. Along the way: Alexis completes her first full week of real training for her October 5K, the two debate whether ultra running is more impressive than a fast 5K, and things get surprisingly sweet when the game turns into a conversation about what actually makes a marriage work. Plus, in this week's His & Hers: is Wiz Khalifa really a runner now, is Harry Styles secretly running marathons dressed as Daddy Pig from Peppa Pig, and are costumed race records (handcuffs, blue jeans, sleeping bags) a fun goal or a weird gimmick? We close out with a tough audience question about whether Alex is truly committed enough to chase a spot on Canada's national team. Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/alex.is.pod/

    We Play "Kiss, Marry, Kill" (Long Runs vs Workouts vs Easy Runs)

  4. Aug 18 ·  Video

    I DNF'd My World Championships Qualifier... Here's What I Learned

    Alex heads to Edmonton for the Canadian Half Marathon Championships with one goal: run fast enough to punch his ticket to the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen. What actually happens is a start-line scare over recording gear, a rough patch at 5K, and a DNF at 6K after throwing up twice on the course. In this episode, Alex gives Alexis (and you) the full, unfiltered "word vomit" recap recorded just 24 hours after the race: the good, the bad, and the humbling. Along the way there's a chance airport run-in with Canadian Olympian Cam Levins that completely resets Alex's perspective on what it actually takes to be mentally tough at the top of the sport. Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Subscribe to our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/

    I DNF'd My World Championships Qualifier... Here's What I Learned

  5. Aug 11 ·  Video

    Building a Sub-27 5K Plan: Can a Husband Coach His Wife?

    In this episode of For Better or For Worse, Alex walks Alexis (and you) through the 10-week beginner 5K training plan he built her from scratch, easy pace vs. threshold pace vs. race pace, how many days a week she should actually run, strength training, warm-ups, heart rate zones vs. running by feel, and why a 5K plan somehow includes a 10K long run. Alexis pushes back on almost all of it, they debate whether women handle pain differently than men, Alex recounts a terrifying anaphylactic ER story, and they close out with a heated take on race bandits after a viral clip of a 70-year-old runner getting taken down by a race marshal in Mexico. If you're training for your first 5K, trying to understand easy pace vs. threshold pace vs. race pace, or just enjoy watching a married couple try (and sometimes fail) to talk running strategy without it turning into a marriage counseling session... this one's for you. Chapters:0:00 Is Summer Already Over?5:31 Alex's Birthday & the Fall Training Reveal7:52 Recap: Alexis's 5K Time Trial (28:53)9:53 Breaking Down Alexis's First-Ever Training Plan12:32 The 3 Key Paces: Easy, Threshold & Race Pace17:45 How Many Days a Week Should Beginners Run?20:15 What Should Race Pace Actually Feel Like?22:33 Alex's "Coaching Credentials"23:29 Strength Training for Runners, Explained24:16 Do You Need an Accountability Partner?26:43 Why Warm-Ups & Cool-Downs Matter29:00 Turning the Plan Into a Color-Coded Tracker30:08 Why a 5K Plan Includes a 10K Long Run32:54 Heart Rate Zones vs. Running by Feel35:22 Do Men and Women Handle Pain Differently?37:08 Alex's Terrifying Anaphylactic Shock Story39:12 Ranking the Most Important Run Days41:32 Why Alex Trains on the Treadmill (Even in Summer)43:26 Reading Comments: How Fast Can Alexis Go?46:09 Is Race Banditing Ever Justified?48:29 The Viral "Don Jose" Race Cop Video51:44 Facial Recognition, Privacy & the Future of Racing55:51 Fan Q&A: Marathon Major Guilt55:55 "You Said You'd NEVER Let Him Coach You"57:37 Up Next: Canadian Half Marathon Championship Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook Merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

    Building a Sub-27 5K Plan: Can a Husband Coach His Wife?

  6. Aug 4 ·  Video

    Her First 5K Time Trial Shocked Us Both | For Better or For Worse

    Alexis just ran her first-ever 5K time trial and blew past everyone's predictions with a 28:53. In this episode of For Better or For Worse, Alex and Alexis break down the splits, the pre-race chaos (forgotten cameras, a Diet Pepsi "fueling strategy," and a rookie pacing mistake), and what it revealed about how hard Alexis can actually push. Then the big reveal... Alexis is officially racing her first 5K at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon Weekend this October, and Alex is building her a 12-week training plan on air. Chapters:0:00 Intro — is Alexis getting "super shoe curious"?1:16 The Borat relationship test3:46 Nike x Skims running unitard: honest review8:30 Alexis reveals her 5K time trial result10:30 Breaking down the splits (and the pacing mistake)19:22 Biggest lessons — and filming fails — from the time trial23:34 Super shoes, shoe choice, and attire mistakes24:49 BIG NEWS: Alexis's first 5K race announced (Toronto Waterfront Marathon Weekend)29:09 Alexis's first running injury — a shin splint scare34:52 Alexis is officiating a wedding + the celebrity officiant game39:09 Alex's secret Canadian Half Marathon Championship build-up43:32 Answering your comments and questions47:00 Outro

    Her First 5K Time Trial Shocked Us Both | For Better or For Worse

  7. Jul 28

    How to Pace Your First 5K Time Trial

    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 rules0:59 Welcome to For Better or For Worse1:15 Weirdest run interactions: cat calls & a street preacher7:57 Headphones on the run: yes or no?11:31 Today's topic: Alexis's first 5K time trial13:22 What actually is a "time trial"?15:36 The plan: the MH crew descends on Toronto Beaches17:34 Alexis walks through her full pre-race routine21:31 Sleep, rituals, and pre-race nerves25:40 Race morning fueling and timing29:00 Shoe rotation: Asics, Saucony, or Hoka?30:13 Building Alexis's pacing strategy33:11 Why even pacing beats a fast start38:53 New challenge: sub-30 to sub-2942:45 Alex plans how to be the "annoying" pacer45:33 Alex's training update: 150km week & marathoner hunger48:48 Prepping for the Canadian Half Marathon Championships49:38 Balancing wedding season with marathon training55:00 Listener Q&A: getting your partner into running1:02:32 Comment section: the ice cream fueling debate1:04:10 Karaoke song picks for Alex's bachelor party1:09:00 Wrap-up: predict Alexis's 5K time Subscribe to our newsletter:https://marathonhandbook.com/newsletter/ Join Marathon Handbook’s RunClub for access to our members-only podcast, training plans, community rooms, merch and more: https://marathonhandbook.com/runclub Shop Marathon Handbook merch: https://store.marathonhandbook.com

    How to Pace Your First 5K Time Trial

  8. Jul 21

    Post-Wedding Running Motivation & Our Fall Half Marathon Plans!

    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 Open0:51 Welcome to For Better or For Worse1:18 Old Man Breakfast Roast1:54 Hiding in the Bathroom for Josh Kerr's Mile5:37 Breaking Down the New Mile World Record (3:42.66)7:33 Today's Topic: Two Versions of Post-Wedding Running9:25 Alexis's "Bride Blues" and Missing Motivation12:24 What Are "Bride Blues"?14:20 Should Running Couples Race the Same Season?19:06 Alex's Fall Plan: Chasing a Lifetime-Best Half Marathon21:53 The Chase for a Team Canada Worlds Spot23:30 Inside Alex's Toughest Training Block Ever24:29 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation29:16 Why Valencia? Picking a "Business Trip" Race31:51 The Half Marathon "Golden Ticket" Into Major Marathons36:46 Wedding Crashers Update38:34 His vs. Hers: Pregnant Mile Record vs. Marathon PR45:09 Listener Story: Betty & Chaz48:10 Shoe Talk & Upcoming Reviews49:51 Outro

    Post-Wedding Running Motivation & Our Fall Half Marathon Plans!
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

For Better or for Worse: the show where a beginner and an elite runner, engaged to be married, try to survive training, racing, and each other. Meet the Hosts: Alexis D’Souza: Beginning runner, Gilmore Girls fanatic, real estate agent. 5k PB: TBD. “Alex catfished me into this whole running thing - 100 mile weeks was never part of the deal. But my siblings are into it, and my friends are racing marathons; so I’ve finally decided to see what this fuss is all about. It can’t be that hard, right?” Alex Cyr: Running nerd, writer and journalist, 63-minute half-marathoner.

Information

  • Creator
    Marathon Handbook
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Marathon Handbook
  • Show Website
    For Better Or For Worse