18/05/2026
So let me clear something up!!!
44.5km. 500m elevation gain. 3hrs 47mins. Marathon split 3hrs 28mins. Still an awesome time. Just not the time I was personally chasing. I never want anyone to think this time isn’t good enough because I know how hard people work to run these paces. Honestly, anyone who finishes a marathon is incredible no matter the time.
It wasn’t the time that disappointed me… it was how I felt. Usually once I hit that 30km+ mark my body comes alive and I find another gear. But this time? Completely different story.
I felt SO strong early on. The kms were flying by. Life was good. Then out of nowhere at 32km… bang. My legs cramped up. Something that has never happened to me before. I took extra gels, kept drinking but my body was basically saying “you’re done Em.”
I had absolutely no power left in my legs. My flying pace quickly turned into a struggling shuffle. At some points I was genuinely going sideways instead of forwards 🤣
The funny thing is although my body was done, my mind still felt happy. I actually found it really interesting experiencing a feeling I’d never had before. So THIS is what “hitting the wall” feels like!
I shuffled to the finish line feeling slightly delirious and what felt like the longest kms of my life! what a day!!!! Thank gosh Mick and Sam were there at the finish to save me.
I’ve done much longer, harder runs, I did this same run last year and felt way better than I did during this one. You just never know what’s going to happen on the day. I train hard, I fuel, I look after my body, so usually race day feels strong.
But that’s sport. Sometimes your body humbles you. Sometimes things don’t go to plan. And that’s ok. We learn, we grow and we go again (although right now I’m officially retiring from running until next time 🤣). Xx
