This is an interesting post to write.
The NJ Marathon…
Kevin and I before the Marathon. (Wearing my NYC Half Blanket for the start). Laura was in the bathroom for this photo?
Let’s just start by saying: It wasn’t the Sub-4 I wanted but sometimes you can’t always get what you want. After the race, I was both happy and disappointed with myself. I know I had a 40 minute Marathon PR at this race, but I can’t help but think about what I did wrong?
My first 13 miles, I felt great. Fantastic even. I don’t know what happened at Mile 14, but mentally I was DONE. I threw up on the side of the road at Mile 13. I have no idea why…the last time I threw up was probably 2007 in my senior year of college. Throwing up didn’t make any sense, especially since I wasn’t feeling sick to my stomach at all. The first half…
At Mile 16, I was beyond happy to see Meggie jump in to run with me. Prior to the start, we had made a plan for Meggie to meet me at Mile 20, but I’m telling you right now, if I hadn’t seen her at Mile 16, I probably would have given up completely. She was my rock those last 10 miles.
I told Meggie right away that I wasn’t feeling well, so we decided to play a game where she would run up to the next mile mark, and I would just try to run as “fast” as I could to meet her. A little game of “Marathon Cat and Mouse”. We are super creative in desperate times.
I have no idea why but I just was NOT feeling the 2nd half of this marathon, and I cringe a little as I post these times…
Official Finish Time: 4:26:20
While, I just didn’t have that marathon magic on Sunday, I am still proud of my marathon time. And I’m proud of finishing my 2nd marathon.
On the other hand, I just can’t help but be disappointed about not meeting my Sub-4 goal time. I think the hardest part about finishing in 4:26:20 is that I had all of these amazing training runs. In fact, all my training runs were on perfect pace for a Sub-4 marathon. So I can’t help but ask myself, what went wrong?
Meggie and I afterward the Mary.
The good news is that I know I will evidentially run a Sub-4 Marathon. No question about it.
Super Pretty Finish Line Photo. Hey Vogue, why aren’t you calling me?
I would be lying if I didn’t say that I didn’t shed a little tear last night before going to bed. It wasn’t a tear because I was sad about my time, but more a tear of an emotional release. To say marathon training takes over your life is an understatement. For the last six months, I felt like I was living and breathing this marathon. When other opportunities would present them self in my life, I would always say “ATM” a.k.a “After The Marathon”. Doctors appointments, dates, happy hours (sometimes), vacations, registering to vote (did it today!), etc. were all put off for this marathon.
So when I didn’t meet my goal after I put the last six months of my life into this, there was a moment last night where I questioned everything I had given up in the last six months. (Please remember: I’m super dramatic at times)
On a positive note, Doug said something to me after the NJ Marathon (where I met him for the first time – Holla Doug!). He said “Listen, it took me four tries to go Sub-4.” When he said that he probably didn’t think that would mean much to me, but it did. It gave me my hope back. So Thank You, Douglas.
****
Thank you to everyone who tracked, tweeted, emailed, texted, called, Facebooked, & MySpaced me (just kidding on the MySpace)….you have NO IDEA how much I appreciate it. It meant the world to me.
And of course, I don’t know how to even start to thank Dorothy for everything. If I told you everything she did for me, you all wouldn’t even believe it. She goes above and beyond as a running coach and a friend.
{ 35 comments }
XOXO Jocelyn you will absolutely get sub-4 sometime soon! I don’t know what went wrong either – you did everything perfectly and have absolutely nothing you could have done better. Sometimes it just isn’t the right day, no matter what the preparation – marathons can be totally fickle like that.
And to add to your log of stats on how long to go sub-4, it took me till my TWENTY FOURTH marathon (yes, I went back and checked) before I was able to do it. I know you will do it way sooner than that! You are awesome.
A 40 minute PR is an incredible accomplishment in and of itself! You definitely will some day get a sub-4 marathon. In the meantime, you should give yourself a pat on the back (and a slice of cake, and a very large alcoholic beverage) for doing so awesomely this weekend.
Congratulations on all you’ve accomplished. You were missed in Redding but this is amazing!!! Hope to see you soon!
Congrats on a HUGE PR! You will get that sub 4 someday! Your time is still a great time to be proud of
Gosh, I didn’t know you threw up??! Did you fuel differently? I know you are quite particular in having your baby food on the run. Maybe your stomach wasn’t used to what you ate? I wish I knew what went wrong
…still 40 min PR! I wish!!!
Don’t lose hope. It will come soon enough.
First, congrats on your PR! I know this didn’t go quite like you wanted but that’s still an awesome job. Some days are just not good days and I’m sure you have the sub 4 in you. I’m hoping to get that sometime soon too (I thought I had a chance at my last marathon too).
Jocelyn! That’s an amazing PR, so congrats! It sounds like you had a tough second half of the race, but you pushed through and made it! That says a lot and I’m sure will benefit you in the future (when you will go sub-4 for sure!). It will definitely happen, lady. Hope you’re recovering well this week!!
Huge Congrats! I hope with each passing day, the light of the huge accomplishment will shine so much brighter than the missed goal. The marathon is the MOST heartbreaking race of all. this post prompted me to check my stats and see how long it took me to go sub 4…uhhhh that would be on my 15th attempt (& then I ran 3:59, 2 times before the next PR). You are just an infant of the marathon, and that sub 4 WILL HAPPEN. I totally understand the desire, heartbreak, and passion, but I would say most of all ENJOY the journey to sub 4 and beyond. For now, a little R&R for the body and the mind is MUCH deserved, and then go for that goal again.
Congratulations on your 2nd marathon! Your sub 4 WILL happen and I’m sorry it wasn’t your day. Is there a rebound marathon you have in mind? haha
Anyway, rest, relax, and celebrate this week, you just ran a freaking marathon and you did amazing! Hope to see you soon, maybe I can run soon!?
I just started reading your blog and I’ve got to say, I’m totally inspired by your 40 min PR. I ran my first marathon in October with a 5:05 time. I’m really wanting a 4:30 marathon in the fall and seeing that you did it I feel like I might be able to as well! I know it’s not the sub 4 you were training for, but you are right saying a 40 PR totally kicks ass!
P.S. Great name!
Im grinning because I’m so unbelievably proud of you! Youdid awesome! I know you didn’t hit your goal, but there is no doubt in my mind that one day you’ll go sub-4 just like one day I’ll go sub-2. Right? Right! Again, congratulations!!! You’re awesome, and I’m so glad to call you a great running friend
Oh lady, I know how you feel. Last spring, I was trying so hard to go sub-2 in a half, and I PR-ed 8 minutes and came in at 2:01. I was excited for my PR…but it wasn’t my goal. I know you got this, though! Maybe…MCM? And we do sub-4 together?? Either way, congrats on still TAKING 40 MINUTES OFF YOUR PR!
I think it’s totally normal to feel disappointed even after what can still be classified as a HUGE victory. A 40-minute PR is monstrous, and of course you should be super proud of that. But I get it. It’s tough to train for so long and to throw your whole heart (and body!) into one goal. So you didn’t sub-4 this time around: Think about how much stronger this experience made you. It’ll be something to think about at mile 13 of your next marathon, as you push forward with gusto toward the finish line. We all know you’ve got a sub-4 in you, and I can’t wait to cheer you on when it happens! Congratulations!
I know you’ve heard this a million times & I’m sure you believe it for yourself, but a 40-minute PR is mind-blowing. Be proud of that, first & foremost. Secondly, you ran a GD marathon!!! Marathons are HARD… not every day is “our” day & you did the best with what you had. So many people will never even attempt this! Lastly, how cool is it that 26:2 was in your time! 26.2!?!?? That’s rad & your couldn’t plan that better. Great job giving what you did, & just based on your halves & training paces, it’s obvs. a sub-4 will be yours soon. It’s just a matter of finding the right course & having that perfect day. Congrats on your stellar finish!
Congrats again on the huge PR! I know you will hit sub-4. I hear Chicago and Houston are very PR-friendly courses.
Congratulations on your awesome PR! Sometimes, for whatever reason, things don’t go as planned. We learn from it, and move forward. You’ll get that sub-4, I have no doubt!
I thought I had a terrible race until I heard that you threw up. I have yet to experienced that in a run, Jocelyn. You are most likely tougher than I am. Well done!
Maybe we’ll crush this one in 2013!
Bestie. Lets celebrate you soon!! You are a rockstar, 40 min PR + finishing = you killing it.
jocelyn! CONGRATS! i was sending you positive+speedy telepathic thoughts on sunday morning and you did AWESOME! a 40-min PR in the marathon… THE MARATHON… is a huge upset.
i know that you were hoping for something else and we’ve all been there when it doesn’t happen – for one dumb reason or another, it is the most frustrating thing in the world – especially since you totes busted it out during your training (and casually went sub2, and then sub2 again…). you rocked this race from start to finish, despite feeling done, and that’s the good shit that matters the most.
plus. i have no doubt you’ll get the time you want very soon. have a very good feeling about this.
but you are so right. marathons are fucking hard.
hope you are drinking beers, a lot of beers, this week! xoxo
I love you. DUDE I did not know this was only your second marathon?!! FINISHING is such a feat in and of itself. You’re an amazing runner and the time spent training is just as, if not more impressive, than the race.
I have absolutely no doubts you’ll run sub 4 very soon. Until then, lets drink red wine.
Girl, you and I ran the SAME race. My last 8 miles were EXACTLY like yours and I finished in 4:24. It SUCKS. Trust me, I’m coming off of this just like you. I wanted that sub-4 so badly and thought I had it in the bag. Marathons are tricky and I guess our experiences in NJ and Madrid just proved that you really never know what will happen on race day. We’ll BOTH get our sub-4 and I can’t wait to celebrate with you. Congrats on the PR!
Great post Jocelyn! Stick with it and you’ll get that sub-4!
1) a 40 min PR is awesome. Glad I was there to see it.
2) Marathons are tough, especially when you’re fighting mental demons. Been there myself, no fun. At all.
3) I had a similar experience at the NJM last year in terms of the mental battle. I learned a lot from it and it really changed me as a runner and how I approached things, for the better. I hope it will do the same for you.
4) YOU FINISHED A MARATHON! That is an awesome achievement.
5) Marathon cat and mouse = the new long run fartlek.
First congrats on running your second marathon and an amazing PR!! That is a huge chunk of time to take off from your first marathon. Second, I’m sorry that you didn’t get the sub-4-hour PR you wanted. I know what it’s like to have that goal and not hit it. But you can TOTALLY get there. And also, if it makes you feel ANY better, I run EVERY marathon in almost the exact way you just did. I start off the first half feeling amazing and then my second half times just slowly creep up. I am STILL really trying to work on that one. I think it’s a natural reaction for almost anyone’s body to slowly realize what the heck it’s being asked to do and sort of rebel. I think you did amazing. I know you didn’t run it how you want to, but a marathon is a marathon and is a huge accomplishment that you should totally relish.
Congrats on the huge PR! It can definitely be tough to be excited about a big PR when you don’t meet your goal time…I have definitely been there. But you definitely will get your sub-4. You worked hard and the experience of the training cycle will help you for the next one you go after. Amazing accomplishment! Be proud! (and enjoy not training early on the weekends for a little while!)
So proud that you finished with a stellar time even after a “hiccup” at mile 14! That is mental toughness Jocelyn! Congratulations. You and I are both going for that sub 4 one day! And we WILL get it!
congrats on your PR! i know what you mean about the marathon taking over your life. i know it wasn’t the time you hoped for, but I hope you can be proud and KNOW you will get there next time.
I know “congrats on your PR” doesn’t mean much right now, but despite not running the time or race you wanted to, you still ran a fantastic race!! Something was obviously going wrong – you don’t go from running a 9 min pace the first 13 miles to puking and having a hard time running 11s. Maybe it was something you ate the night before or the way it reacted wtih your stomach.
Don’t doubt your training, your mental state – or YOUR SELF. I guarantee if you run a marathon in a few weeks, you could run sub-4. I followed your training / training reports and you were kicking some serious butt. Hold your head up high, girl. Hope to see you soon! xoxo
Thanks Michele that means alot!! I was thinking it might have been nerves….because I never throw up! See you a BK Half!
Hey new reader and fellow NYC blogger/runner! Don’t feel down for not getting the sub-4, be happy that you ran it, you didn’t quit and you crossed the finish line! Thats more than most people can say (including me! I have yet to run a full marathon)! You should be very proud, great job
Did you enjoy the course? I was wondering if it was flat, etc perhaps for next year.
PS. I’m also doing the 9+1 for the 2013 NYC Marathon! See you at the BK Half
So nice meeting you (well internet meeting)! I think a group of us are meeting up after the Brooklyn Half! I will keep you posted.
it is mostly flat but very boring!
It is always so hard to not meet your goal. I am the queen of beating myself up over a missed goal. You will get it someday, I can tell this by your hard training and your dedication!!
For now, relish in the fact that you are a marathoner x 2!!!! Which pretty freaking bad ass in itself!
Ali
Marathons are hard!! But I’m still so proud of your 40 minute PR and I know that you have sub-4 in you sooner rather than later. Marathons are tough since you can have amazing training and then the day still doesn’t go as planned. Chicago is a great course for a PR…wink wink.