Your Race, Your Pace: Beating the Post-Victory Blues

Winning feels great—until the adrenaline fades, the soreness hits, and you find yourself asking the question no one prepares you for: Now what?

Show Notes – You are now listening to Shark Theory…

In this episode, Baylor dives into the lesser-discussed side of achievement: the post-performance blues. After completing his first HYROX race, day two soreness hits hard—and with it comes the emotional crash that often follows big accomplishments.

Whether it's a race, a promotion, a financial milestone, or a personal win, the "after" phase leaves many of us feeling deflated, directionless, or comparing ourselves to others. Baylor breaks down why this happens, how to recognize the difference between perception vs. reality, and how to stabilize mentally when you feel like your identity has been wrapped in a goal that suddenly… is gone.

He also shares a powerful reminder given to him mid-race by a stranger: "Your race, your pace." A simple line that becomes a blueprint for how to step into your next season with confidence, clarity, and calm.

This episode is for anyone who's hit a high… and unexpectedly crashed afterward.

What You'll Learn

• Why day-two "post-effort soreness" hits so much harder

• What post-race or post-goal depression actually is (and why it's normal)

• The double-edged sword of success: the highlight reel vs. the hidden cost

• Why comparing your real life to someone else's curated wins is self-sabotage

• How to adopt the mindset: "Your race, your pace"

• Why giving 100% of what you have today builds real confidence

• How to answer the "Now what?" question after hitting a milestone

• The importance of putting your next meaningful goal on the calendar

Featured Quote

"You can't compare your real life to someone else's best six photos.
Run your race—at your pace."