24d • General discussion
📍30s PB… but it felt like a failure.
The goal was sub-1:25.
That meant averaging 4:02/km.
I trained hard for it.
The strategy was to settle in at 4:05/km, hold steady, then build in the second half.
And early on? It felt good.
Pacing was on point.
Breathing was controlled.
Even in 26°C heat, I was locked in.
Then at 7km… my lower back locked up.
The same issue I’d been dealing with for weeks came back tightness, spasms, throwing off my form.
I tried to run through it. Adjusted my stride. Stayed calm.
Hoping it would ease.
Then the stitch hit.
Deep, sharp, hard to breathe.
I’ve never had one like it.
HR spiked. Pace dropped.
I was fuming.
Tried to dig in for the next 2km… no luck.
It wasn’t easing and I knew if I kept pushing, I’d crumble by 12–15km.
So I made the call:
Back off. Manage it. Stay in the game.
Settled into 4:20/km pace for a few km, hoping I could push again later.
At 13km I tried to kick.
Every time I dropped to sub-4:10/km, the stitch came roaring back.
So I pivoted again:
Finish well.
Hold form.
Do what I could.
Crossed the line: 1:27:58
✅ 30-second PB
😤 In pain
💭 But proud
Because the truth is:
❌ You won’t win every race
❌ Not every day goes to plan
❌ The body won’t always cooperate
But what can you control?
👉 Your mindset
👉 Your attitude under pressure
👉 Your ability to adapt and finish well — even when it hurts
That’s what this was about.
This wasn’t the race I wanted.
But it was the lesson I needed.
And it’s all fuel for December’s marathon in Abu Dhabi.
Finished the day with a couple of beers with @recomp_pt and a rogue cycle home through London (thanks, tube strike 🍻🚴).
One step closer.
LFG.
#BuiltForMore
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📍30s PB… but it felt like a failure.
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