SAFD: DNFs
I have technically DNF’d two races. One was Augusta 70.3 (a triathlon). I actually DID finish this race in that I completed all of it, crossed the finish line, and got my medal. But I was doing so underneath their time limit, and when I was less than a mile from the finish line two race workers came by in a golf cart and took my timing chip from me. My watch died too so I have no idea how long my actual race time was. I was definitely undertrained for the run (a half marathon) and it was so hot that day which left me walking most of it. I plan to redeem myself with an official 70.3 time, but maybe not at Augusta. I count this as a DNF because that’s what it says in the results.
(Image description: Crossing the Augusta finish line. I was very grateful they let me do this and still gave me my medal even though they took my timing chip.)
My other actual DNF was the 2022 WDW Marathon. I’ve shared this story in my training journal but basically I signed up for Goofy at the end of July with high hopes, got a new job that included a 90+ min a day commute, was also working on my dissertation and another part time job, was dealing with foot pain, blah blah blah I didn’t train properly. I trained well enough for the half, with my longest run at 12 miles (which is actually what my current marathon cycle training plan will have as peak single-day mileage but with much higher mileage throughout the week). I was basically just doing long runs every other weekend it was stupid.
Anyway, I got to Disney unsure about what I’d do. My DH was doing the half with me, and we had a great time. I weirdly felt no foot pain during it, but after when I took my shoes off I found two HUGE blisters— a blood blister on the ball of my right foot and a blister on my heel. I proceeded as if l would be doing the marathon the next day, not confident at all. 2 am came, and I decided that since I was there I might as well show up to the start line and see what happened. My blood blister popped almost immediately when I started running, and it was very painful. I made it to MK before I was almost always walking and the gap between me and the balloon ladies was slowing down. (I also started in the last corral and the race start was escalated this year.) They finally passed me literally going into Cinderella’s Castle lol. The balloon ladies didn’t say anything about needing to catch up to them or anything. I know I briefly talked to them but don’t remember what We said. The bikers were nice but did say I needed to catch up or I would be swept. I knew I wasn’t going to finish so I told them I was just going to get to the next sweep point, which was just outside of MK. My watch says I did 11.7 miles. I got on the bus where there was mixed energy— some crying people, some positive/optimistic people— and they drove us to the finish area. When we got off the bus they gave me the medal which is currently tucked away (I tried to sell it but the buyer backed out). I went to medical and got my blisters (or the bloody mess that remained) treated then started the walk of shame out of the park. I was with all the like 3-4 hour finishers and obviously did not belong with just one look at me lol. When walking out of the park, a girl asked me something like “did you finish the race princess” with the tone that she knew I hadn’t. It was in a nice way though. I told her no and she told me I would next year. And that’s that plan! No longer am I a girl who doesn’t train properly! Woohoo.
(Image description: Me with biker sweep behind me. At least I look happy haha.)
(Image description: Balloons going into castle.)
That was long winded (from me!? What a surprise, I know
) but thought it might help anyone who is nervous about what being swept at Disney is like.
Here’s some of my favorite artwork.
