Pavey reveals disappointment at marathon pull-out
OLYMPIAN Jo Pavey was disappointed to end her year on a low note by having to pull out of a marathon last month.
The 39-year-old was ill for the Yokohama Women's Marathon and was unable to last the distance.
Now back home in Devon, Pavey said she was embarrassed at having to withdraw during the race.
But the Exeter Harrier has already set her sights on running another marathon next year – and also has one eye on qualifying for the 5,000m and 10,000m on the track at the World Championships.
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"You're bound to get ill for something, you're not a machine, it was just disappointing it was the marathon," said Pavey.
"I always thought I was lucky that I didn't get ill during qualifying for the Olympics because it's such a small window to get the times and do the trials.
"I've had a good year so I've been fortunate, it's just a shame to end it like that. It's embarrassing as much as anything because I've not dropped out of a race apart from once when I tore my calf during a race."
Pavey flew to Japan more than a week before the marathon but started to feel unwell in the days before the race.
Such was the extent of her sore throat and chest infection that she didn't sleep the night before the 26.2-mile run.
However, she felt obliged to give it a go as she did not want to let the organisers down.
Pavey said: "The race was disappointing and it was a big ask because I was ill going into the race with a chest infection and a sore throat and I had to tell the organiser a couple of days before the race that I was ill.
"You have to be in really good health to run a marathon. If the race had been in Britain I would have not run, but once you're already over there you think you'll give it a go.
"You don't like to pull out of a race because you feel you've let people down.
"I gave it a go but when I got to the half marathon point I felt like I'd run hard to get there and I was already way off my target."
Having moved to West Hill from Tiverton, Pavey is now back in light training as she assess her options for next year.
And after recording a personal best of 30mins 53.20secs for the 10,000m at the Olympics – 19 seconds off her previous best – she is keen to have another crack at the track.
"I really want to get a good marathon done next year at some point but I enjoyed the track so much in the summer that I wouldn't rule out trying to do the track again next summer," said Pavey.
"I enjoy the track and I was pleased to get a PB this summer so hopefully I can keep doing some track.
"I haven't decided whether to try to target qualifying for the track or do a marathon, but it's likely I'll decide to do the track."
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