That Hurts: DNS | Tuesdays on the Run
This week we are talking about something that really sucks. The Did Not Start (DNS) and Did Not Finish (DNF) experience.
Tuesdays on the Run this week: tell us about your DNS or DNF.
Did you have an injury? An illness? Or maybe just changed your mind about a race? Or maybe mid-race something happens- and you have to pull out. We’d love to hear how you deal with situations that affect runners like this.
Link up with Erika, Marcia and me for this week’s Tuesdays on the Run!
That Hurts: DNS
I’m thankful that I don’t have too much experience in these categories. I can’t remember many races where I didn’t start or finish.
Oh, there were races I wish I hadn’t started. Ha. And there are races where I certainly came in so slowly it was close to a DNF. Sometimes it was the same race.
But so far I’ve got a decent track record. Knock on wood for staying healthy during races!
My biggest DNS heartbreak happened around this time last year.
I made the decision to defer my Walt Disney World Marathon Goofy bib. I was completely A-OK with the decision at the time. No regrets at all.
But then… I was at home watching my friends run and suffered total FOMO. I wasn’t alone since another friend had to defer as well. I remember texting back and forth our disappointment for not being there.
We were stuck watching from the sidelines on social media as our closest running friends completed their first marathons.
I had my reasons, and they held true through race day.
I didn’t want to run a marathon at that time. And I wasn’t ready. And one of my children was having a hard time with separation, so it was the best choice to stay close to home and the family.
But.
It still made that DNS hurt.
Especially as the friends battled through injury and nerves and rocked all their races.
And most importantly: they had the best time ever doing it!
Have you ever changed your plans for a race and later had FOMO (fear of missing out) regrets?
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Patty Holliday has been running Disney since 2011. She knows just about every tip, trick, and hack there is to cover the runDisney Magical Miles at Disney World and Disneyland. She knows every mile isn’t *always* magical- but with training, tips, and a little bit of pixie dust, they can be a lot of fun! You can also find her at noguiltlife.com and noguiltfangirl.com
This year has seen me DNSing and DNFing too many times. A nagging injury since Oct.2014 has taken me on the path onto the Dark Side. My worst DNF was at Wine and Dine aka as Splash and Dash. The rain, cold and humidity aggravated my already bummed hamstring. Then at Nike Womens’ 15k in Toronto I got food poisoning. Afterwards, because of my injury, I DNS all of my remaining races of the 2015 season. Let’s hope 2016 will bring me smiley finish lines!
I’m SURE it will! What a rough running year for you, girl. Splash and Dash- I will admit right now, would have been a DNS for me. Nope. That was rough- hats off for starting that sucker!
Wow, we both had similar experiences with DNS at Disney for Goofy. I hear ya, that sucks. Here’s to a healthy 2016 that hopefully doesn’t contain any of these acronyms!
Exactly- happy, healthy 2016!
I am potentially dealing with a really big DNS for 2016: Boston. But I need to get healthy first and foremost. We’ll see if I can come back from this injury in time!
Oh my word- that makes my heart hurt for you! I’ll send healing vibes and prayers your way. Hope you make Boston this year.
Luckily I have never DNF nor DNS. There are plenty of races I thk about signing up bc I know friends are doing it and regret not signing up when the time comes when I hear about it all over social media. I think
that’s always hard when you feel like your missing out on something when you hear about other’s experiences.
I didn’t think I’d care because the marathon really was not something I was ready to do last year. But I cared- I cared a lot! Ha! Social media might not have helped, but I think it was just being extra close to these friends and not being able to share the experience.
I haven’t DNF or DNS yet, but yes, there were definitely races where I sort of wish I had! Well, really only one. The one where I walked the last 3 miles; the only one I’ve ever called my husband during.
And there are a few that really weren’t terribly pleasant, either because of weather or injury, but those I don’t regret.They didn’t screw me up for months like that one half did. But even from that I learned a lot!
I think we learn a lot from those particular races for sure. I know the race I hated so much set me on a better path this year. One that saw me chill about distance and focus on loving running again. So I got something from it- I just hated a lot of it at the time. And Yes, I even considered calling my husband too during the race. That’s when you know you are struggling!
I DNS’d a 10k, then was determined, even if I had to walk, I’d start and finish the WDW half the next January. And I did walk the whole thing. I was cranky the whole race, but I cherish that bib and medal. It wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve done, but I paid for the race, I dressed in costume, and walked. I couldn’t sit out if I was already at WDW.
<3 I'd do the same if I was already there!
I have DNS’d a few Disney races when I knew I was as well trained up for the race as I should have been. I had signed up for Goofy one year but didn’t train very well. I slogged through the half and knew during that race that starting the marathon would be a terrible idea. Instead I cheered my mom on while she ran the marathon and I knew I made the right decision! It is still hard to DNS a Disney race…especially when the fees are so expensive!
Yes- the fees! That’s what motivates me to actually show up for these races. Sounds like the right call for you.
I’ve never had regrets about a DNS only because I was injured so I really had no choice. Plus I still got to go and cheer my friends on. I’ve never DNFed but should have for my full marathon because I was also really injured but stubbornly kept running!
I haven’t DNS or DNF’d yet, but can imagine it would be really hard to watch your friends run without you, no matter how much you told yourself it was the right choice. Especially when they got on the ride without you!
It is hard to sit on the sidelines and watch others having fun, whether you are forced to due to injury or just thought it was best the decision at the time. My biggest DNS was Chicago because of injury. No DNFs yet.
Boo. I totally understand your feelings of missing out. The struggle is certainly real. Here’s to a 2016 filled with racing fun!
I DNS’d when a race ended up being the same day as my son’s HS graduation. I had a bit of FOMO when the weather was perfect for running, but that didn’t last long!