# @emmajanelbates on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DSC8B4pjN3U
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/37797469-emmajanelbates-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/05a6bc8390.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-12-09T14:22:49.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Emma Bates (@emmajanelbates) — https://gondola.cc/emmajanelbates

## Caption

2:25:51 for 13th Place at the Valencia Marathon 💚

I am incredibly proud of myself for this one. It’s not easy to be all in on something when you know your health isn’t 100%. It’s even harder to give yourself some grace because of it.

The past few months have shown me what true perseverance means. It’s not always “put your head down and work”. 
It’s not just about “pushing through”. 
It’s about setting yourself up for success without compromising the balance between your body and mind. 
I embraced this and have found peace.

No matter what the result was going to be yesterday, I told myself “I did it”:
I accomplished another marathon cycle.
I woke up every day and did my best.
I leaned into the good days and eased out of the bad days.
I chose progress over prs.
I was honest and true to me.

All of these things got me to the starting line of my 13th marathon.
Lucky number 13 🍀🩵

#valenciamarathon #marathonrunning #marathon #grateful

——————————————————————————————-

I poured everything I could into this training cycle.
And for that, I truly have nothing left to give to this marathon block. 
I apologize to those of you that look forward to reading my recaps, but I just don’t have the capacity to give any more attention to this race. I need to leave this one in the rear view. 💙

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 10,441
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 135

## Tags

marathonrunning, marathon, grateful, valenciamarathon

---
Copyright (c) Gondola