DNF

DNF—something no runner wants on his/her record. Did Not Finish. It’s one thing to start a workout and decide not to finish because of injury, etc., but when you don’t finish a race you’ve been training for, that’s embarrassing. Not only do you receive unwanted sympathy (“there will be other races,” and “at least you made it this far! [thumbs up]”), but those three excruciating letters go online for the whole world to see, assuming EVERYONE wants to know how you did.

I’m not sure my experience today was as humbling as it was supposed to be, but I sure lost some pride. The 2013 Dallas Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon gets to claim my first (and hopefully last) DNF. Sadly enough, quitting half way through the race was not my biggest challenge. Besides trying to trudge through the pain (recurring injury), I mostly struggled with worthless pride. My ego struggled with the fact that I could easily walk across the finish line; I simply didn’t care to if I couldn’t PR (set a personal record).  

Furthermore, I had to wait at a med station on the side of the course for a saddle wagon to retrieve my sorry self, icing my injury, watching other runners continue on, listening to empty words of encouragement from people who assumed I was a beginner (which hurt my pride the most), and then walked across the course, without so much as a limp, to a man dressed in a long black pea-coat with a walkie-talkie who drove me and one other runner to the finish line. 

Pride

On a lighter note, the course was enjoyable. Various bands were stationed along the course, and my friends and I started the race at a decent pace. Starting in Corral One meant no need to dodge walkers or dogs or joggers and being exhausted by mile three as a result. 

I am moving on to the next goal: improving speed. I know I said this was the next goal after the marathon, but the half changed my plans. If you know of any good 5ks this summer, feel free to comment below. 

Time to make some different muscles hurt!