DNF>DQ>DNS

  

Hey Athletes,

I'm seeing so many posts recently on reactions to DNFs. First if you're not up with the acronyms, here's what they mean:

DNF  DID NOT FINISH  You began the race, but ended it prior to an official finished in regulation time for some reason
DQ  DISQUALIFIED You broke a rule and your race ended without an official finish
DNS  DID NOT START You did not cross the start line and thus officially did not race
DFL  DEAD FREAKING LAST  no explanation required

I've seen some comments like
"So depressed, this race was the worst...DNF."  "I want to quit"  "Such a hard race ended with a DNF, and now I just feel terrible"


I certainly understand that sentiment.  My first DNF as also my first half iron.  I chose a tough race to try for my first long distance and because of delayed sign ups, my friends did not go.   I was committed by that time though so I was in Hawaii at HONU 70.3 alone with no help and no idea what I was in for.  It was a very tough race.  I was using a pretty heavy bike and while I had trained, I had in no way trained for the rigors that race placed in my path.  At mile 40, my right foot was extremely painful and I had to get off the bike and walk up the last 10 ft of a hill.  That last 16 miles along King's Hgwy was bordered by lava fields and the heat had accumulated all day and it was like riding in an oven.  I was just exhausted by the time I got to the the bike finish.  I walked up to the transition area and the lady there said "you're done" and I said yes I am! Not understanding that I had missed the cutoff....by 3 minutes.  The person in front of me missed by 3 seconds!  I cried.  I won't lie I felt terrible.  I hated that I had failed.  I knew my friends were watching my progress and were disappointed in me and I was disappointed in myself.  I had planned to stay in Hawaii and have a week's vacation so I had the spector of that failure to sort out during that following week.  I pouted for several days.  By Wednesday I decided I wasn't done and got online and signed up for Steelhead later that summer. I then had my week of vacation and enjoyed my trip.  When I got home I started training again.  Long story short I managed to finish and the roll down resulted in an opportunity to race at World's in Las Vega that same  year. Since I had no idea that might happen I didn't have any way to pay the $300 you had to pay that moment to sign up so my coach paid it and I was headed to the 70.3 world championship after failing my first 70.3.  I did that race too and came in nearly DFL but not quite.  It was a race with driving rain, heat, humidity, and lots and lots of hills.  The bike course had a driving rain and there were elite racers wiping out all around me as I rode those hills, one nearly hit me. I also had no help on that race.  This race was one where you started at one place and ended at another nearly 20 miles away.  UBER wasn't around then so I had to beg the van driver to let me take my bike on the van to get back to my car.  I was shot after that race.  I couldn't believe I finished it.  Nearly 9 hours on that course.  They had to mail my hat because they ran out.

And to think I was going to do ONE 70.3 that year and be done.  Instead, I did 3 (nearly).  The following year I did 3 more and the year after that I did 2 plus a full ironman.  I've done many more since and some were DNFs but none were DQ or DNS.  A few I wanted to DNS and a few I wanted to just walk off the course, but despite the few more DNFs I got, I never again was prevented from running through the finisher chute.  While I had no official time, I did do the complete courses.

Along the way I've had flat tires, clips that wouldn't hold on a course with 2500 ft of climbing, my garmen battery died, my front brake dragged for 10 miles at the start of one course, fogged goggles and panic attacks, a bee sting, miscalculations on nutrition...you name it I've probably had it.  Last year was one of the worst years for my racing.  I nearly decided to quit doing tris after last year.  I had almost nothing but DNFs or problems.  It was depressing.  I'd also gained more weight due to stress and was having a very hard time losing it and had not been doing weights so my overall tone and strength had declined.

So what did I do?  I BOUGHT A NEW BIKE AND DOUBLED DOWN...PLUS I ADDED WEIGHT TRAINING AND JUMP ROPE TO MY TRAINING.

All told, I think triathlon is a sport that presents many many challenges both in training, planning and competing.  You are affected by weather and course conditions as well as your own mental and physical condition.  But that's what I love about it.  It's as much a sport for your mind as it is for your spirit and body.

It takes a lot to be a triathlete:

Resilence to bounce back from failure and disappointment
Persistence to keep training and to keep racing when it gets very tough
Intelligence to plan for a race and execute it
Desire to keep improving performance
Sense of humor to keep from drowning in disappointment
Curiosity to keep learning about yourself and the sport
Adaptability to all kinds of weather conditions
Preparedness for anything

Of the athletes I admire most, it's rarely the talented ones.  I admire those folks who start from a tough spot and build themselves into athletes. I admire those who had a set back and returned from it.  I admire those that faced a challenge and worked it out.  I admire those who kicked cancer or injury and returned to race again.  I admire those who challenged their body issues and overcame them. I admire those who, with few resources, manage to race in this expensive sport.  I admire those aging athletes who are still excelling.

Pros and elites are amazing people for sure and I'm sure they have their challenges and work very hard, but I've been a talented athlete in another sport and I can tell you I never realized just how tough it is to compete in a sport where you are not talented, but love it anyway, until I became a triathlete.

So if you've suffered from a DNF or had a DNS or DFL or DQ, take heart.  Triathletes never quit.  You'll bounce back and probably be a much better athlete for it.

Without those DNFs last year, I would never had put so much effort into weight training or jump rope.  And it made a huge difference this year.  I just had a 43 min PB (personal best) on an OLY in FL last month.  I doubt I would have accomplished that without those DNFs to challenge my thinking about my training or pushing me to ask myself why I was having so much trouble.

Your last race isn't the end of the world.  It may just be the beginning of a whole new one.