Monday, October 15, 2012

Big Giant Failure

This is not the note I wanted to post this morning - but a few of you have asked.  Yesterday was one of the most disappointing, and by far the worst running day of my life at the Prairie Fire Marathon.  I trained all summer and for this race and felt ready and confident for a 3:05-3:10 ... final time, 3:48:22.  I had biggest crash of my life at mile 22, and puked in a race for the first time ever.  I basically threw away 4 months of good training.  I'm pretty disappointed obviously - I'll write a race report later this week about the Prairie Fire Marathon, it's a great race, I just blew it.  Thank you for all of your support during training, I really appreciate it.

29 comments:

  1. First, congrats on gutting through and finishing the race, it speaks volumes in your toughness

    Second, congrats on your Pukie

    Third, I read alot about people being devastated over "missing their goals" I do not get this at all. I get being disappointed in not reaching your goal time, like you said, you trained for months, its just sometimes the body says no and there is nothing we can do about it. It happpens, its has happen to everyone I know in this sport including myself. Endurance sports is probably the most humbling sport out there. I have learned it is ok to be disappointed in a performance, but use it as a learning experience, sit down and write out what went wrong and where, but at the end of the day, but at the end of the day, I am always thankful that I am healthy and strong enough to compete and complete in these types of races, regardless of the outcome.

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  2. Dang that's not cool. So sorry you had a bad race. I usually need a few weeks to get over those.

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  3. Sorry Jim. How about find another marathon in the next month and try again? You already have the training in.

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  4. Go sign up for a back up race next weekend right now and run your 3:05. You have the ability.

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  5. Sorry to hear but these things happen. That is still a great time and in fact my marathon PR :). You will learn and get stronger from this. Rest well, you'll bounce back strong.

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  6. Bad races happen. The key is finding out why and to fix it going forward so that issue doesn't happen again.

    +1 on BDD for the well done on finishing none the less.

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  7. So sorry to hear that it didn't go well. And I know you are your own toughest critic, but you are not a failure. I agree with Jeff - find another race soon - you've done the work, give yourself another chance and stop beating yourself up.

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  8. I agree with Gracie. Go run another marathon next weekend. In fact, the Grand Rapids Marathon is Sunday the 21. You can stay in our guest room, there is a Papa John's nearby, and I will transport you to and from (15 minute trip tops). Seriously, it is a GREAT marathon. Email me if you are interested. (I am serious!)

    I was thinking about you yesterday. While I can't even imagine how devastated you must feel after training so freaking damn hard all summer, you pushed through to finish what must have been a very difficult time for you.

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  9. Sorry Jim, That the thing about a marathon you dont know how it is all going to play out that day. All we can do is keep moving forward and enjoy the run.

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  10. Sorry to hear that you had a bad day but it happens to everyone. I know you have it in you and there will be plenty more races for you to make your comeback.

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  11. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." ~Winston Churchill


    totally agree with BDD,btw...

    now go sign up for another race ASAP!!!!

    operation 3:09 isnt over

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  12. Jim,
    I have been following your blog for a while now. The work you put in is inspiring. Everyone who has posted on here is right. Sometimes bad races just happen. Keep your head up and keep pushing. At the end of the day, it's the journey that's most important.

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  13. I'm so sorry you had a bad day - that's all it was just an off day. You can definitely do it - yesterday just wasn't the day. Best of luck with the next race and I hope you keep going and get your 3:09 at the next marathon!

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  14. Were there traces of pancake in the vomit?

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  15. I'm so sorry you had such a rough race but way to push through and finish.

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  16. Jim that really sucks...I'm so sorry :(

    .....but as my XC kids say "if you puked, you KNOW you gave it everything you had".....you finished a bad race. That says volumes about your mental toughness. Your day will come.

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  17. Glad you were able to finish at least and not DNF. I was looking forward to you having a great race and big time PR in my home town.

    If I know you like I think I do, you're like me and beating yourself up over a bad race. Welcome to the club ;-( Learn from yesterday, and put it to use in another marathon soon.

    Glad we got to talk for awhile on Saturday. You'll be back.

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  18. Jim, I'm so sorry! You WILL come back. If you puked, it means it was just a bad day and your body said no. You were trying your hardest, which is what matters. On another day, that will be all you need.

    At least the Cardinals are in it again, right? Oh wait....that may not make you feel better.....but maybe it will redirect your frustration?! :^)

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  19. You absolutely deserve a few days to be completely pissed off and upset about this. You worked dam hard and did not get the result you wanted. After you get over it remember that your body does not forget the training. You still put in the work (maybe too much? Overtrained?) and your body will benefit from it. Cry, scream, rage, and throw things all you want but you will still (and already have) benefitted from the hard training. There will be other marathons and you will reach your goal.

    Also we've all been there and had fall apart races so I completely understand how you feel. It sucks!!!!!!!!!!!

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  20. So sorry... I was sure this was going to be it! Congrats on finishing despite the issues.

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  21. Wow, I'm really sorry to hear about that. That must have been really tough to deal with out there. Like Gracie said, you should sign up for another marathon in the next week or 2. You WILL run your 3:05 there. Your training went amazing, and you will run an amazing race. Like others said above, sometimes it's just not your day. I've experienced that once in a big race in high school cross country, and it really hurt to fail.

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  22. Sorry to hear that the results were not quite what you were hoping for this time around. You will get it...your work ethic and commitment are strong!

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  23. One more thing, for perspective one of the blogs that I follow might have had something similar happen a while back - she ran a marathon and got 3:56 but had some difficulties at the end.
    http://www.neonblonderunner.com/2011/11/richmond-marathon-race-report.html

    Then a month later she did another one a month later and got what she should have gotten in her first marathon - 3:31.
    http://www.neonblonderunner.com/2011/12/rehoboth-beach-marathon-race-recapaka.html

    My point is that you will get what you deserve if you do a race again soon.

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  24. Sorry about your run, Jim. I really think you have it in you. I agree with everyone else that you should sign up for another and crush it!

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  25. You gotta love the randomness of marathons. It's a humbling distance for sure. Keep your head up. Remember it's the journey (chalk up cheesy disappointment/inspirational music). You're still pretty fast for an old man.

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  26. I've been following your training, although I never comment. I expected to read a different report this morning, just as you didn't want to write this one. Sorry it didn't work out at Prairie Fire, but I have no doubt that you've got a sub-3:10 in you.

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  27. You didn't throw that training away - absolutely did not! Play the next couple weeks smart (and I mean SMART!!!) and your next one in a few weeks will be perfect. Take some time with your emotions and then you, you both deserve some time together, then pick yourself up and get the hell back out there - you CAN do it!

    email me when you can what you ate and when... I wonder if it was a nutrition thing.

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  28. What Gracie said

    and also I am sorry :(

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