How many times have you DNF, what event and why?

I DNF'd once in a track 3000 (outdoor) because everything was going black. I hadn't been well that week, most probably I shouldn't have run, plus it was an extremely hot day.

never have. come pretty damn close though.do it once, it becomes too easy to do it again. though your circumstances were totally reasonable.

Hill Master wrote:

For me once

The event: 1000m.

Reason:I pulled my hamstring...was going to just jog it in but it was a pretty bad pull.

First cross-country race in middle school. I'd had major abdominal surgery a few weeks before and I'm not sure I was actually cleared for gym even at the time but I lined up anyway. I lasted about a mile of the 1.5. I was twelve. Wasn't very fast at all, but by the end of that year I was finishing two mile races without stopping and running 7 minutes for a mile on the track. I've thankfully gotten faster, but more importantly, stayed healthy enough to finish every race I begin.

Once in a 15 miler. Quads took a pounding on the hills. Just one of those days when you just don't have it.

White Rock Marathon one year at 19. No good reason -- just quit.

Smoothe Criminal wrote:

never have. come pretty damn close though.

do it once, it becomes too easy to do it again. though your circumstances were totally reasonable.

That was my worry.. it's a horrible feeling.

Closest I came was the 2002 Bolder Boulder 10k. I had a heat stroke in the last 2 miles and could barely see anything. I barely finished (after running into the chute and a few runners) and couldn't see well for the next hour. Though DNFing probably would have been better for me.

5k on the track, had taken a spill the week before and took a hunk of flesh out of my knee. Still tried to run, made it thru 6 laps.

10k on the trail, slipped and broke my wrist, made it to about 4 miles then caught a ride to the finish.

Marathon, got a bad cramp in my hip flexor, started limping at 10 miles, called it a day.

50k, passed a kidney stone at around 16 miles. Felt below average, again, called it a day.

Last year in the 1500 at our conference meet. I had gotten a bone scan that tue and showed i had a stress reaction. Ran the 4x8 the night before and couldn't walk after. Tried to run the next day in the 1500 made it 700 meters in and just couldnt take it. Next day went to the ER becuse i was not able to walk and i cracked my leg straight through.

Cheers,

Eby

Several times in High School XC...reason was asthma attacks. Thinking back on these DNFs bothers me to this day, as I could have continued at a slower pace. Have never DNF'd a road race, even though I think about it almost every time out when the going gets tough.

Once for me. Just before the 11 mile mark of a half-marathon I had some wicked cramping. It probably had something to do with the fact that only three days priror I started medication for a severe sinus infection that develped into bronchitis. I think I used the cramping as an excuse to drop out because I was running like shit. I felt horrible; a DNS may have been a better idea than an 11 mile DNF. I just remember running along at 5:25 pace for 9 miles with a nice little group, chatting it up. Then my friend decided to go. Watching him gap me by easily running 5:07s was mentally demoralizing. I was struggling to hold 5:40s after 9 miles.

I too thought that after quitting that race that it would be easier to collect more DNFs. However, I haven't dropped out of a race yet. I guess it has only been a few months. I ran an indoor 5k that was very bad a month after that botched half attempt. In retrospect I think a DNF would have been better than finishing...it was really bad. I doubt I will quit races very often, especially if I payed a decent amount of money to run.

I have never DNF'd, but I had a problem over the last couple years when I was sick with mentally "dropping out". I would start to feel awful, and once I considered dropping out I was toast. I would lose all hope of salvaging the performance.

I lumbered through many an awful finish... moral of the story- check yourself for anemia today!!

Running track in high school, It was 95 degrees and I was running on a black track. I had already run 3 events and for some reason, my coach stuck me in the open 8. I didn't even want to run the race and in my condition, I wasn't going to score. Dropped after 300m. I HATE dropping out of races, but I didn't have a problem with getting out of that one.

1) XC nationals: With a mile to go, was running badly, and it seemed like things were going to get worse. Regretted.

2) Indoor 5000m (heats at nationals): Mental breakdown -- was actually on PB pace, but convinced myself that I wasn't going through. Regretted.

3) Outdoor 5000m (next race after #2): Dropped out while leading the race at a home meet. Would probably have still won, but would've done substantial damage to my body. The next day diagnosed with strep throat. Not regretted.

4) 10K Road race: Jumped into the race, even though I wsa really burnt out from training -- thinking I could make some money even off a sub-par performance. Dropped out at 4 km, after deciding that I was just making the overtraining worse. Not regretted.

Although I have 4 DNFs, I wouldn't say I have a chronic, mental problem. Earlier on in my career, I used to put a lot of pressure on myself, and race even when I didn't want to. Now, I'm more relaxed, and I pick and choose my battles.

I have never DNF but was DFL once (2nd race of the day). Embarassing as hell but given the circumstances I was proud that I even finished. Half the field (the half I was better than) dropped out because they were "saving themselves" for later races.

1 DNF...2 DNS...1 DFL

DNF'd the 1994 Brandon (FL) Marathon. This was an early December race. I've never been any good racing in the heat, so to try to race in Florida after training in Vermont was a bad idea. Stopped sweating at mile 4 even though I was well hydrated. Was in shape to cruise through 3:10 to qualify for Boston but not much more. Took the half marathon cutoff and ran it in for a 1:31 half. Had medical take my temperature at the finish-it was about 104. Don't regret the decision to end that one early.

DNS's at a ski race my freshman year and a triathlon in 1995. Funny thing is that both events were at a college about an hour from where I live. I regret both those DNS's.

Had a DFL at our conference XC meet my junior year of college. It was my first year running. I was about 4th from last going into the last mile (Fairmount Park in Philadelphia). Hit the finish line and they start taking the chute down right after me. My coach told me everyone behind me dropped out instead of doing the last mile around the field. No regrets for finishing that one.

IMO-DFL is ok, DNF can be ok, DNS is just weak.

Twice.

Freshman of high school. Ran a 2.5 road race during XC season. Got a mile into it and had to drop because of shin splints. (I recall letting loose a howl, sprinting 200 yards and then dropping out.)

Soph of HS. Home XC meet, 1 mile to go, severe cramp forced me to drop out. (Appendix exploded a few days later)

Two DNFs. Once in a half, I had a real bad cold. After about 3 miles it was clear I wasn't competitive and might not even finish if I kept going; I was worried I might make things worse.

Second time, I had a sore groin muscle going into a tune-up race. I decided ahead of time that if it started hurting badly I'd quit right there, and it did, just a quarter-mile past the start.

I might have DNF'd a 10K a couple of years ago when I got a bad, can't-even-walk-normally cramp around mile 4. But my car was at the finish area anyway, so I figured I might as well stay on the course. That might technically count -- for all intents and purposes I was *not* racing the last 2 miles.

1 DNF

Manhattan Half Marathon....I was in New York on a "business trip" 4 consecutive days of heavy drinking. Race morning I was hung over as all hell and was still in the portajohn when the gun went off.

It was about 90 degrees and humid as all hell....the two lap course made it too easy to drop at halfway.