I’m going to get back to my Evolution of a Training Plan series, but since I brought up the topic of my DNF, I felt like this was an important post to write. I wasn’t blogging yet in October 2009, so I haven’t really told this story before, except in bits and pieces.
I found out I won a lottery entry into the Nike Women’s Marathon in late March, 2009. It was like a dream come true. This huge, exciting race with its famous Tiffany finisher’s necklace was going to be my very first marathon! I built my base fitness, I raced in the spring and trained for most of the summer.
Training was much, much harder than I expected, for a lot of different reasons. Mostly, the problem boiled down to the fact that I was trying too many new things and couldn’t figure out what was working for me and what wasn’t. I had never intentionally run slow before. I had never gone longer than 13 miles at a single stretch. I had never tried to eat something before going for a long run and I had certainly never taken in fuel while running. So when every single long run was plagued with tummy troubles, I didn’t know how to fix it. Was it the brand of gel that made me queasy or was I not drinking enough water? Maybe I was drinking too much water and not getting enough electrolytes. Maybe it was just too hot. Maybe this…maybe that…maybe none of the above. Could it be that I was simply not capable of running long distances? Race day came and I still didn’t know what my problem was, but I headed to the starting line, ready or not.
This marathon was a Really Big Deal for me. My whole family was there, friends and family were tracking me on the internet and IronHubs was posting updates on Facebook. I had big dreams and big goals and yeah, I had put some big pressure on myself. You can imagine my consternation when, at Mile 5, I already felt like crap. By Mile 10, I was fighting back tears and at Mile 13 I was puking on the side of the road. I tried to fight it. I walked some and ran some and threw up a LOT. My day was ruined. I felt like my life was ruined. When I staggered into the Med Tent at Mile 20, I was pale and shaky and couldn’t even hold down the salt water they gave me. So I quit.
To say that I was sad about the race would be a ridiculous understatement. And I wasn’t just sad, I was embarrassed! And disappointed. And ashamed. And angry – ugh! – I was bitterly angry at myself. What a freakin’ loser I must be, quitting like that! IronHubs was very sympathetic and comforting and kind, but he didn’t exactly disagree with me when I wondered out loud if I should have kept going.
In the days following my DNF, I turned to the internet for some comfort and confirmation that I wasn’t the worst, most horrible, awful quitter in the history of the world. I read story after story of runners facing dehydration, being undertrained, getting injured or finding themselves mentally unprepared for the 26.2-mile challenge and I started to feel a little better. I certainly wasn’t the only person who had ever DNF’d a race.
On the plus side, the only thing injured was my pride. For the love of Pete, I wasn’t even sore! By Tuesday, I had chosen my redemption race and it was just seven weeks away. I trained for it and continued tweaking my fueling. The morning of the race, I met up with a friend and decided on a whim to run with her. I let go of anything resembling a time goal and just ran to finish. My tough friend had stomach problems but kept chugging along like a champion. We weren’t fast. In fact, at one point, we were boosting ourselves up by saying, “At least that guy in the walker hasn’t passed us!” And then the guy in the walker passed us. Seriously. Eventually, though, we saw the most beautiful sight in the world:
I look pretty happy about finishing, don’t I? I totally was.
You might think the story ends here, but it doesn’t. I mean, I suppose I could leave it like this, with a nice happy ending. Girl struggles and fails, then picks herself up and succeeds – yay, all better! But, you know, real life isn’t all that simple. Finishing another marathon wasn’t a magic cure-all, though it helped a LOT. What truly helped me get over the DNF was time and perspective and, strangely, another failure.
Fast-forward three months: I was fully trained and rarin’ to go for marathon #2. (Or possibly #3, if you count the DNF. Do you count the DNF? That’s one of those race etiquette things that I’m never sure about.) At the starting line I was off like a rocket. At the halfway point I was on-pace for a BQ. At Mile 15? Houston, we have a problem. Yep, the same problem. I’m not going to lie, I was pissed! And disappointed. I called IronHubs and cried and he more or less told me to HTFU. Ha, ha! But I love him for that, because it was true. I stayed on my feet and just kept moving forward.
Five hours and twenty-six minutes later I crossed the Finish Line. Yes, I kissed the medal. And apparently I was being filmed, though I have no idea for what.
I finished that stupid marathon and even though it wasn’t even close to the day I had hoped for, it clarified a few things for me:
- I’m tougher than I think
- I can finish what I start
- It’s not the end of the world when things don’t go my way
- There will be other races and maybe they will be awesome or maybe they will suck
Dream big, friends, and don’t be afraid to fail.
Erica says
Great post! Love your blog.
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Christi says
What a great post! I am so glad that you conquered your DNF demon. I know that it is hard. In my case, I have a DNS demon. I just can’t seem to get to the starting line! Seeing this post reminds me that I can indeed slay it! Thanks!
Karen says
Great post – all so very true! My friend and I were talking about the queasy stomach thing the other day. You don’t know whether to drink water, not drink water, stop taking gels or maybe you haven’t had enough gels. There is so much more to it than just running, isn’t it?
misszippy says
Great topic to post on. We all feel like DNFs are badges of shame. Sometimes, though, they really are the best move. You learned from the experience and moved on and look at you now!
Julie says
Love your final four thoughts!! Love ’em!!
tri like mary says
I can so relate to this post. I DNF’d my first “big” Sprint Triathlon and my world came crashing down. I understand now that I was SO underprepared for that race but it is still a source of embarrasment for me.
The Jesse says
what a great post! “Dream Big” indeed 🙂
RockStarTri says
Great topic, great post, great stories. I’ve had many of the same feelings/thoughts while racing. Doesn’t make it any easier but the success becomes that much sweeter.
Heather says
What a great post. After I had my DNF at Madison last year, I really questioned everything about my running – it was a huge deal to get over.
Alma says
Thanks P. Keep them coming! I’m still dying to see where you are going…
Aimee says
Loved this! The points in the end are all that matters! I think we are all tougher than we think!!!
Teamarcia says
I love this so much. Not that you DNFd of course, but that marathons suck and we are strong enough to triumph over them. And we keep paying $$$ to come back for more….what is wrong with us?
runningonwordsblog.com says
Thanks for sharing! I think DNF is one of the things that truly scares me about racing, but you make me feel like it is better to try and fail than to never try at all.
ajh says
Great post. You can train and train but until the day you don’t know what will happen. I’m glad you put this behind you.
ratherthecouch says
This is such a great story of perserverance! (Especially because I know how it really ends with you totally kicking marathon ass.)