Taking My First DNF

Well it happened.  In case you didn’t know, DNF stands for did not finish.  Simply put you started the race but didn’t cross the finish line.

This past weekend, my sister and I started what we at that point thought would be half number 22.  It was one of the smaller half’s that we had done in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, located about an hour east of Tulsa with about 1300 runners total.  It was the Red Fern Half Marathon and 5k.  To avoid having to be up at before the sun we drove to Tahlequah and stayed the night.  Registration opened at 5:45 and we were there around that time to pick up our packets.

We had found out before signing up for this half that it was rescheduled to this past weekend from the end of April.  It had to be cancelled due to torrential rains in the area that day.  (This was the same day that one of the races the running store I work for had to also cancel.)

We did our normal weather stalking (this is one way you know you are a runner – you check the weather constantly for a race you are doing – starting as soon as you can – what’s wrong with checking 2 weeks out and every day until like a couple days before your race.  Then you start checking several times a day.  You have to be prepared.) and knew we needed to be prepared for hot, muggy weather.  You know it is going to be bad when they are forecasting 80 for the low.

After we picked up our packet, we waited around for the Half Fanatic picture at 6:30.  I finally met the Tulsa ambassador for Half Fanatics and met several others from the Tulsa area.

 The Half started at 7 a.m. and the 5k started at 7:15 a.m.  It was very humid, warm (about 80) and overcast at the start. After about a mile I started hearing thunder.  At about mile 2 it started lightly raining.  I am one of those runners who hates running in the rain.  I will go to the gym and run on a treadmill any day than to be forced to run in the rain.  I thought as long as it doesn’t get much worse than this, it should be fine.  It was not going to be as enjoyable as it should have but it will be ok.   Another mile goes by and I am now pretty wet and the rain is picking up to where it is a little heavier than a sprinkle. By the time I get to mile 4 I see the 5k turn to the finish line (they had gone off earlier in the race and had then joined back up and were heading back to the finish).  By this point, I was drenched and it was raining heavier.  I cannot tell you how much I really wanted to make that left turn to the finish and take the 5k finish with an extra mile thrown in for kicks.

Instead I made the right turn and continued…for a little bit.  I went about another half mile and by this point it was pouring cats, dogs, small children and the kitchen sink.  I hunkered down under an aid station and started talking to the volunteers.  I was waiting for my sister to catch up so we could discuss what we wanted to do.  I was thinking about going back and taking that turn back to the finish line and calling it a day.  After my sister caught up to me, we discussed it.  I then found out we were under a severe thunderstorm warning and that there was another cell coming in which was worse than the cell that was moving through.  We decided we had had enough and caught a ride back to the finish line.  We told the timers that we were done and were taking a DNF.

Shortly after returning to the start/finish line the next way came through.  Boy they were right, it was much worse.  We went to the car and hunkered down, changed into dry clothes and waited for the storm to pass.

In thinking through what it would be like to have to take a DNF, we didn’t experience any of the emotions I thought we would.  It would have been different if one of us got injured.  This was one of those things that made a lot of sense to us.  It became even more clear we made the right choice after hearing what some of the people who did complete the course went through – heavy rain, aid stations and port-a-potties getting blown over, drivers not paying attention, hail and high winds (gusted up to 50 mph).  It would have been different if we were further along than 4.5 miles into 13.1 miles.  If we were close to completing it or with just a couple miles to go, we probably would have braved the weather and completed it.

What now?  Well I am glad the first DNF is out of the picture and to be honest, I’m not upset about it.  It was miserable!  My sister and I can’t get past the fact the race wasn’t suspended until the storm blew over.  We found out later they got 4 inches of rain that weekend!  What are my next plans?  In 2 weeks, I begin marathon training!  I am getting excited and terrified.  Until then I will be doing my daily runs and continuing my run streak.

Until next time,

 

Candace

Friday Musings (A Day Late)

I apologize for not posting for a couple of weeks.  I am still adjusting to my new work schedule and trying to find time to keep writing.

So here is what has happened the last 2 weeks:

Saturday, May 27: I didn’t run this day but had 8 miles on my schedule.  I worked for a little bit in the morning and then ran errands.

Sunday, May 28: We went to church in the morning.  In the afternoon, I worked a couple of hours with a co-worker to get bibs prepared for a race the next day.  It was neat to see what happens behind the scenes to help prepare for a race.

Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day): My Memorial Day started with working a local 5k, fun run and bike race.  This was my first race working as a Fleet Feet staff member so it was nice to help out at a race and get paid for it.  I also started a run streak this day going from Memorial Day to Independence Day.  I ran 2 miles to start my run streak.

Tuesday, May 30: This day I only ran 1.20 miles.  I was not feeling good and had a major headache.

Wednesday, May 31: This day I ran 4.50 miles at a 13 minute/mile pace before work.  After work we took our puppy dog on a 2 mile walk.

Thursday, June 1: This day I ran 4 miles at 12:44 minute/mile pace before work.

Friday, June 2: I ran 5 miles at an average 12 minute/mile pace.  We then took our puppy on a 2 mile walk in the evening.  This was also my busiest day at work so far.  I processed 43 boxes of inventory this day.  I found out later that it might be a receiving record for my local Fleet Feet Sports.

Saturday, June 3: I participated in a mock trail run put on by Fleet Feet and went 6 miles.  We then took our puppy on a 1.75 mile walk.

Sunday, June 4: I ran 2.70 miles this day after church.

Monday, June 5: I only ran 3.10 miles this day at an average 13:00 minute/mile pace.

Tuesday, June 6: I only ran 2.75 miles this day at an average 12:45 minute/mile pace.  This run was very difficult.  You have good ones and you have bad runs.  We then took our puppy for a 1 mile walk.

Wednesday, June 7 (Global Running Day): Wednesdays are usually my cross training days but I had to run on Global Running Day.  I did a 5k at an average 13:31 minute/mile pace.  My Fleet Feet location was one of about 50 in the country that were participating in the Big Run sponsored by Brooks.  There was a national leaderboard and everything.  I worked the race and actually was the staff person at registration which was new.  It was a really fun event run exclusively on the running trails we have by the river.

Thursday, June 8: I ran 4 miles at an average pace of 13:00 minute/mile.

What is on tap for me this weekend? Running 6 miles on Friday, watching some Tulsa Tough bike racing downtown.  Running 6-8 miles on Saturday, working Sunday morning, going to our church birthday party Sunday afternoon, and running a mile to keep my run streak going.

Until next time,

Candace