If you’ve ever set a goal, trained for months, made sacrifices, and then had it all taken away by injury, you’re not alone.
My marathon journey began in 2020 with an unofficial race in Lisbon. Fast forward to today, I’ve completed eight marathons (and dropped out of one), shaved over 30 minutes off my time, and learned more about my body and mindset than I ever expected.
Marathon progression:
- Lisbon 2020 (unofficial) – 03:37:11
- Berlin 2021 – 03:30:57
- Paris 2022 – 03:27:17
- Chicago 2022 – DNF
- Lisbon 2023 – 03:07:50
- Valencia 2023 – 03:04:35
- London 2024 – 03:03:20
- Vienna 2025 – 03:03:15
The pain of a perfect prep gone wrong
In 2024, I was all-in for the Frankfurt marathon. After four months of focused training, including a peak week of 165 km!, I was fitter than ever. I could feel it: this was my shot at breaking the 3-hour barrier.
Then, 10 days before the race, I was stopped in my tracks.
Plantar fasciitis in my left foot. No warning. No race.
That kind of disappointment hits hard. You know it’s “just running” but when you’ve put your heart, energy, and countless early mornings into it, it’s not so easy to brush off. It felt like all that effort had slipped through my fingers.
Chicago: The lesson I had to learn the hard way
Just a year earlier in 2023, I made a mistake I promised myself I wouldn’t repeat.
I went to Chicago injured – same issue, other foot – but I started the race anyway. I thought I could push through. I wanted to be part of it. I told myself I’d manage.
At kilometer 28, I stopped. I couldn’t even walk properly.
It was one of the most frustrating moments of my life.
Worse than the DNF was the regret.
I should have listened to my body. I didn’t.
I learned, painfully, that starting when you’re not ready can take more from you than it gives.
The mental side of injury
Injuries don’t just hurt your body, they chip away at your identity. For weeks after Frankfurt, I stopped running completely. I did CrossFit to stay active, but it wasn’t the same. The mental strain of not being able to run was harder than the pain itself.
Today, my right foot is fully healed. My left still isn’t 100%. I ran the Vienna Marathon this year and finished with a strong time, but recovery is still ongoing. I’ve tried PRP injections, physio, stretching, rest, all of it. It’s better, but not perfect.
Even now, with the setbacks and uncertainty, I know one thing for sure:
Stopping is not an option.
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