What Frustration in Valencia Taught About Joy in Running
Jéssica Fazzio looks back on hitting the wall in Spain and how the experience transformed her relationship with running.
On the Girls Who Run podcast, marathoner Jéssica Fazzio opened up about the challenges of tackling the Valencia Marathon during a demanding personal period. Crossing the finish line in 3:06 after targeting a 2:55 finish, she uncovered a vital lesson about personal limits, identity, and balance.
Even when you are in top physical shape, not every marathon training block goes smoothly. When planning her build-up for the 2024 Valencia Marathon, Jéssica Fazzio was dealing with severe emotional overload outside of sports, sharing caregiving duties with her brother during a family illness. Believing she could juggle every demand at once, the runner pushed forward with training, taking on a daily grind that would soon take a heavy mental and physical toll.
Treadmill miles and the burden of obligation
To fit workouts into a chaotic schedule, Jéssica had to complete nearly her entire Valencia training cycle on the treadmill. Moving away from outdoor running stripped away the sport's social aspect—gathering in parks and catching up with friends—turning what had once been self-care into an isolating chore. Frustration began setting in during training as the internal pressure to maintain high standards clashed with declining energy and emotional burnout.
Despite the exhausting routine, the numbers pointed to strong fitness. Shortly before flying to Spain, Jéssica clocked a personal best of 1:24 in the half marathon. Her goal for Valencia was set around 2:55, trusting that her consistent training would carry her pace all the way through.
Heat at the start and hitting the wall at kilometer 30
On race day, the weather refused to cooperate. The race kicked off under temperatures near 68°F (20°C) and high humidity, climbing toward 75°F to 77°F (24°C to 25°C) along the course. The thick air and accumulated fatigue weighed on her from the opening miles, culminating in a clear breakdown around kilometer 30.
Passing her boyfriend and coach Nelson on the course, Jéssica tried to mask her struggles and hold her pace, but her running mechanics already revealed exhaustion. Despite suffering through the final stretch, she crossed the finish line in 3:06—eleven minutes off her target, yet still a remarkable marathon time.
Deconstructing the perfect runner mindset
The initial disappointment of missing her goal quickly gave way to reflection after the race. Acknowledging that her personal situation made the target unrealistic for that chapter in her life, Jéssica found comfort in a post from her coach, who emphasized that joy and lightness had always been the defining qualities of her athletic journey.
Her experience in Valencia served as a turning point, dismantling the internal pressure to never fail or to chase a PR in every race. Understanding that a tough race neither ends an athletic career nor defines an athlete's identity brought the maturity needed to approach future training cycles with greater balance and self-compassion.