#194 Grief, Boston, and Building Something New: Mark Guyer Returns

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Kristian welcomes back a good friend of the podcast, Mark Guyer, for an emotional conversation about Boston Marathon 2025, the loss of his father to pancreatic cancer, and the new projects he has poured himself into since.

Mark shares the story of running Boston as part of Puma Project 3 while his father was in his final days, cramping badly at mile 18, and stopping at mile 26 to take off his shoes in tribute to his dad, a lifelong barefoot running enthusiast.

He opens up about getting the call that sent him home early, running a big PR just two weeks later on the morning of his father's service, and how leaning on his running community carried him through.

The conversation then shifts to what Mark has built since: Syndicate Running, a content platform spotlighting smaller running brands, and Battle of the Run Clubs, a new Strava-based team competition kicking off in August.

In this episode:

- Running Boston as part of Puma Project 3 while his father was in hospice

- Taking his shoes off at mile 26 in honor of his dad

- Getting the call and flying home the night of the race

- Running a marathon PR on the morning of his father's service

- How running and community helped him process grief

- Fundraising for pancreatic cancer research with his sons

- Building Syndicate Running, a platform spotlighting smaller running brands

- Discovering brands like Speedland and the story behind them

- Announcing Battle of the Run Clubs, a Strava based team competition

- What's next: coaching, Monumental Marathon, and Syndicate's growth

Content note: this episode includes an open discussion of a parent's terminal illness and death, and grief. Please take care while listening.

Timestamps

00:01 Welcome back and a special shared moment after Boston

00:16 Running Boston as part of Puma Project 3

01:30 Cramping badly at mile 18

02:14 Thinking of his dad, a lifelong barefoot running enthusiast

03:19 Taking his shoes off at mile 26 in tribute

05:24 Getting the call that his father was declining

07:38 Reconnecting after the race and the news that followed

11:24 How community support carried his family through

15:48 Running a big PR two weeks later at the Indy Mini

16:31 Racing on the morning of his father's service

19:27 How running helps him process grief

22:46 Introducing Syndicate Running

27:19 The idea behind spotlighting smaller running brands

29:52 Discovering the shoe brand Speedland

34:02 Announcing Battle of the Run Clubs

36:00 How the August competition works and the prizes

42:53 Where Syndicate Running is headed long term

47:17 Mark's own racing plans: heat exhaustion and Monumental Marathon

51:16 Closing thoughts and where to follow Mark

Links referred to by Mark and Kristian:

- Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Fundraiser for Philly Marathon - Chris Blow

- My Boston Marathon Recap Reel - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXazBs8DopQ/?igsh=MWFzaWt2ZmswbHNoYg==

- Battle of the Run Clubs(BOTRC) - https://syndicaterunning.com/battle

- Speedland profile by Syndicate Running - https://syndicaterunning.com/journal/speedland-brand-story

- The MG Academy coaching - https://themgacademy.com/

- Mark on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irunindy

Syndicate Running: https://syndicaterunning.com/

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