DNF

Y’know … with all respect to all different runners out there — I really can’t imagine not finishing a marathon or any other race unless I was injured. You have to walk — you have to walk. So what? You grit it out. Yeah, it’s not “fun”, but you still get to have some pride left when you cross the finish line.

I “bonked” in my first marathon, in 1999, and walked for quite a few miles toward the end. Finished in pain in a disappointing 3:48. And in 2000, I felt like coiled spring, ready to try qualifying for Boston at the Pittsburg Marathon. Only, it real hot — and I really hadn’t acclimated to the heat yet — and I died at around the nine mile mark. I walked most of it; it wasn’t pretty, and yes I did run at the end to try to finish before 5:30. Ended up spending some time in the medical tent after vomiting water at the finish line.

But hey: at least I finished.

One experienced marathoner once told me you should never walk during a marathon, because as you do it once, it feels so good to stop you know you’ll do it again.

A DNF (did not finish) seems to me as about the same thing, I think.

UPDATE 4/19: Upon further reflection… I’m not saying it never makes sense to drop out of a marathon if you’re not injured. Paula Radcliffe DNF-ed in Athens, and then went on to win the NYC Marathon three months later. Doubtful she could have done that if she had gritted it out to come in 10th or so in the Olympics.

For runners trying to make the Olympic Trials, I guess it also makes sense to drop out if it’s clear they’re not going to make the time cutoff, and try again in a few weeks.

But for most of us plebs, we’re just going to do a fall and a spring marathon, and that’s it. I’d much rather grit it out and finish (unless I’m injured) than quit.

But other runners have to make their own decisions on what’s best for them.