If I look exhausted and puffy eyed in this photo, it’s because I’m exhausted and I cried hysterically into Ben’s neck after I crossed the finish line. Sub-4 marathon. 3:56:42, 9:02 min/mile pace. 

I had three goals for Philly. One public (beat my Boston time), and two stretch goals: the first was to beat 4:15 and the second, my super stretch goal, was to break a 4 hour marathon. I didn’t tell anyone my two stretch goals.

In fact, I didn’t tell almost anyone I was running Philly. I was afraid. In a way, running Boston this year was easy – there was a built in handicap (the weather, a perfect excuse), and it was my first marathon; as long as I finished it, it was a win.

But Philly. I didn’t even sign up for it until 4 weeks ago. My training was shoddy. After Peru in August, it took me a while to get my mileage back up. I only had time for a 2 week taper. I didn’t do any speed or hill work.

I like excuses. I give myself a lot of possible excuses, so that if I don’t meet my goals, I already have a good reason lined up as to why. But I also have an obstinate, little, but very loud voice inside my head yelling, “Just do it! No excuses! Don’t be a wuss!” And she kicks my butt and keeps me going. I don’t like disappointing myself.

I wanted to run Philly, despite all of my self-sabotaging. The course is beautiful, the city is fun, and hell – I wanted to see what I could do with a marathon NOT run in a nor’ eastern.

And I showed myself. I negative split the marathon, the second half being 2 minutes faster than the first. I took almost 30 full minutes off my Boston time.

It’s hard for me to math out how fast I need to be at mile 2, but at mile 13, I can figure how fast I need to get going to make a goal. I almost cried at mile 20 when I realized I could push myself to make a sub-4, but I didn’t want to waste the energy. And that little, loud voice keep yelling at me, the whole second half: “Not all pain is significant! Watch your form! Okay, you can walk through this water stop but then, GET YOUR BUTT MOVING.”

So, now that that’s done: Hey there, everyone, I ran the Philadelphia Marathon, and I FRICKEN RAN A SUB-4 HOUR MARATHON.

And as always, all my love and thanks to my bestest, most wonderful Benjamin, who’s amazing and endless encouragement and support and patience waiting for me hit the finish line makes this possible. I couldn’t do it without you. Thank you also to the wonderful Murrays for housing us for the weekend, feeding me all the potatoes and cookies, dealing with my weird hours and quirks, and showing up to cheer me on at mile 5. I already miss all the laughs and chucknas.