DNS, DNF and Not Reaching your goal

[Sandy]

I sat and watched a squirrel quietly and quickly bury a peanut the other day.  It looked around suspiciously as one tends to do before hiding a coveted treasure, ensure no one was watching.  Satisfied that he was safe, he dug deep into the soil, so deep his back feet and tail were the only visible parts of his body.  He popped out for one more check, and then covered his prize with dirt.  What struck me most was how meticulously he covered the peanut, ensuring the dirt was level with the ground around so as not to be marked by a lump, then he arranged rocks and stones on top to give the appearance of untouched earth.  Taking one final glance at the scene to ensure his movements went undetected, he scampered off with, I'm certain, a smile.  What effort and devotion to detail, all in hopes that his peanut would still be there when he returned.  Mr. Squirrel's positive outcome, his reward.
     Training for an endurance event works the same way.  We go to bed early, eat right and forgo social events to train.  We run in the rain, snow, cold, heat and from the break of dawn to beyond the setting sun.  All to stand at the start line as prepared as we can be, hoping that when we get to the finish line our peanut will still be waiting for us.
     Of course a good outcome is what we all hope for, but what happens if it doesn't?  Sometimes we train, register for a race and then we are unable to attend for reasons of injury or illness to name but two.  This result is referred to as a DNS or Did Not Start.  Disappointing for sure, but this option leaves us able to potentially move our goal race forward.  The peanut is still there, you just haven't gotten back to it yet.  A DNF or Did Not Finish is by far the most heartbreaking for runners.  We trained and started but were unable or unwilling to finish, usually because of injury but can also encompass voluntarily pulling out because we wouldn't be able to reach our goal time even if we finished.  For example, qualify for Boston.  Runners who DNF are often heard exclaiming "I QUIT!" in reference to ever running again.  You aren't going to get your peanut today, and you?re quite sure it's gone anyway.  Second in frustration to the DNF is not running your expected time goal.  You've made it, but your peanut is definitely gone.
     Being a highly emotional sport, runners may take weeks and sometimes months to emotionally recover from a poor race result.  Regardless of the outcome or post race proclamations, most runners come back to running, usually to the same race to conquer their monsters, in hopes of a better outcome, and to gather their peanuts, their positive outcome, their reward.
     According to Pierre de Coubertin, "The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle."

[The Moose]

Heartbreaking doesn't cover it.  Devastating, demoralizing, crippling.  Even these words don't describe what a DNF does to the runner.  You're right about quitting though.  I've run through many injuries, even a cracked femur, but the first time I DNF's because I was unwilling to run through the pain of a torn ankle, I was crushed.  I was crushed because I didn't finish.  I was crushed because I had given up.  I was crushed because I didn't have the mental strength to run through the pain, there were only 3 kilometers to go!  I was crushed because I knew I would win my age group in this race, because I had beaten everyone the week before.  At 19 years old I ran my last race.
Flash forward 10 years.  My job is getting stressful, I'm not eating like I should, and my knees ache every time the weather changes, so  I decide to start running again.  For a year I take short, slow runs, and my knees feel better, I feel better.  I start to race again, and I love it.  I can't believe I ever quit.  I look for a new challenge at every opportunity and I become a runner again!  I complete 3 marathons, I race Around the Bay, I start to climb to the top of my age group again, and I DNF.  I had started the race with a cough.  "Nothing to it."  I tell myself.  I can still run, and I don't feel too congested.  My friends and family tell me I'm nuts, "You aren't well, just sit this one out."  I've been called nuts before, heck, most of them tell me I'm nuts to run that far when I'm well.  Only this time they're right.  Your body doesn't work right when it's fighting off a virus.  Your muscles don't get the oxygen they need when your lungs are full of fluid (it did end up being pneumonia).  I quit.  I seriously contemplated sticking to the short races.  No more marathons, no Boston time, I don't need this.
Thanks Sandy.  Thanks for reminding me that quitting one race does not mean the end of racing.  Thanks for reminding me that I've been here before.  Thanks for encouraging me to move on, recover, and get 'em next year!  That nut is still there, I just need to be patient.
  Mike

[Sandy]

Thank you for your kind words Moose and congratulations on getting back out there, being competitive AND loving it again!!  As runners we are constantly asked why we run and if we truly like it.  I think the adversities we occassionally face reinforce in us the love of the sport and are sometimes necessary to remind us it is a gift that enhances our lives.

Keep running, and keep us up to date on your accomplishments, big and small.

Sandy

[Anonymous]

Sandy,

Haven't visited your website for quite a while (lost the address :oops: )

I loved this article.  I'm the women you helped on the course at The Wolfe Island Classic last year.  The main reason last year's race did not totally depress me was because of your kindness.  Yep...I think that I will always think of you as my Wolfe Island Classic 2004 running angel!  

I wanted to let you know that I went back to The Wolfe this year...conquered my fear of running the course again...did it well below my hour goal of last year (this year's time:  55:46) and came third in my age category.

I keep telling Jane I should come to Trenton for a run...maybe one evening this August will work this year!

Joanne

BTW the paramedic who helped me last year was there this year...and I took the opportunity to thank him for his help.

[Sandy]

Congratulations Joanne!! Wonderful news and I believe it was just as hot and humid.  You are always welcome to run with us in Trenton either during the week or for one of your longer weekend runs.

Thanks for updating me and good luck with your training!

Sandy