And with another failed marathon attempt under my belt, 2017 ends as the third consecutive year where I have not run a sub 3 hour marathon. Last year's Trinidad Marathon, was the closest I came and that was a legitimate excuse(bathroom related). However, all of my other attempts(see: Finland, St Louis, Suriname, French Guiana, Columbia, Tobago and Guyana) have been a combination of a little bad luck and a lot of glass heartedness.
This past week was no exception. It was my latest ill-fated attempt to run a solid marathon, this time at Kiawah Island. If you remember from a few years ago, I won that really cool pelican trophy for coming in third here. Repeat? Nope. Not even close. Yet again, I let negative thoughts get in my head early and often and despite running consistent mile splits(6:23-6:25) for the first 12 miles, when given the opportunity to bail at thirteen, I did.
It's like I cannot get out of my head and just totally fall apart. I know some of it is that I am aware of my less than stellar training going into each and every one of these races, but that's nothing new! I ALWAYS go in under prepared. I think the thing is, I had so much success in 2014 with that string of solid marathons that when the wheels came off at Alaska I have never gotten my "groove" back.
But like a puppy, I will keep coming back. Or is it like someone insane making the same mistakes over and over? Either way, I have registered myself for the 2018 Mobile Marathon in yet another attempt at finally getting my groove back.
Wish me luck, I'm going to need it!
Until next time,
Danny