19/04/2026
Ibiza Marathon 2026.
Holy f-ing s**t balls, that was tough.
A total tale of two halves. At 8K I was seriously unsure if I could finish and started necking fluids way too quickly. By 12K I was rationing water as I was starting to feel dizzy and nauseous.
The heat for the first 22K was all consuming. My brain couldn’t think; however slow I ran, I couldn’t settle my breathing, my heart rate was way too high, my body felt like a dead weight, and I was starting to feel panicky; and so walking became the only option on even the slightest inclines.
From half way, the race dramatically improved. Long downhill sections, plenty of shade, and finally a breeze that had been completely absent earlier. I could feel my head clearing and my body physically cooling, and despite a pretty depleted system, I’d fuelled sensibly and was able to plod along mostly without stopping; heart rate down, breathing easier.
Voice notes and calls from the very best cheerleaders .annes gave me boosts, and “calm competence” actually prevailed when things got tough and cramp started to threaten.
This marathon won’t break any records, and honestly I hope it’s a bookend for my slowest one—but I feel so proud of myself for getting through it. I ditched my ego and my race plan, I listened to my body and adapted instead of forcing the plan that clearly wasn’t going to work. I didn’t panic and managed myself through a lot of mental and physical roadblocks! And for a top-tier win, I didn’t burn, despite 30 degree heat!
I also had a little mantra written on my arm that kept me level:
THIS IS A PRIVILEGE 🏃🏻♀️
