I've never DNF'd a race and I don't enter races just to go through the motions. I'm either testing my current fitness, have a specific training purpose, or I'm racing to push my limits and compete. That's why I've only run a few marathons total and why I decided to DNS IM Arizona in 2010. With few exceptions, simply covering the distance doesn't motivate me.
In early 2010 my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and I spend a lot of time traveling back and forth to CO spending as much time with him as possible. He passed away in late July that year and I just couldn't focus on the quantity and quality of training that's necessary to race IM well. I certainly could have trained enough to finish without a problem but it still would have been a big investment for a marginal outcome. So I decided to eat the $500 entry and change gears to something that I thought I could actually accomplish something with what was left of the 2010 season. I found a regional half iroman race in late October, cut my training back to something I could stay focused on and actually enjoy, and ended up winning the race and setting a new PR. From the moment I decided to pass on IMAZ I immediately knew it was the right decision and don't regret it for a second. I still went out to Tempe and got to watch Chrissy Wellington set a new world record - smiling the entire time.
That brings me to April 2012 and my ultimate goal this season to race well at the inaugural IM US Championship in Aug. I started he year running a lot, had a blast doing the Ragnar FLK relay, and set a World Record for a tethered team marathon at Shamrock - fun start to the season. I also put the Virginia 24hr Run for Cancer on my schedule as both a challenge and something unique. It happens to be a quick drive from VA Beach and a friendly format for ultra running - 3.75 mile loop on a flat dirt and gravel trail. I ran JFK50 back in 2009 and did fairly well (34th overall) despite my pace bombing the last 10 miles or so. I set my goal for the 24hr event at 100 miles but I've been training as a triathlete, not a runner. That means only 2-3 runs for roughly 30-35 miles per week. I fully realize that isn't optimal to run 100 miles but I still felt confident that I could do it - 24hrs gives a lot of buffer. But the problem is that I basically consider anything less than 100 miles a DNF. For whatever reason I don't see anything short of 100 miles as being any sort of milestone past the 50 I've already done. So I had 2 options for the 24hr run - go for it and run myself into the ground to hit my goal, or DNS and spend my weekend training to be the best triathlete I can be this season.
As I'm finishing this post I have several friends 15 hours into the run - I'm at home with sore legs from running 18 miles yesterday and riding 65 miles today. I'm bummed that I'm not out there with them. I wasn't raising money for a charity or anything but I was looking forward to "running for cancer" for my dad. But I'm happy that I made the right decision - Ironman is 111 days away and it's time to get serious. I wouldn't have been able to give my best at either event if I ran the 24hr this weekend. Instead I'll swim/bike/run my ass off for the next 4 months and dedicate this IM to my dad.
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| Boston Marathon 2006 with dad. |
That brings me to April 2012 and my ultimate goal this season to race well at the inaugural IM US Championship in Aug. I started he year running a lot, had a blast doing the Ragnar FLK relay, and set a World Record for a tethered team marathon at Shamrock - fun start to the season. I also put the Virginia 24hr Run for Cancer on my schedule as both a challenge and something unique. It happens to be a quick drive from VA Beach and a friendly format for ultra running - 3.75 mile loop on a flat dirt and gravel trail. I ran JFK50 back in 2009 and did fairly well (34th overall) despite my pace bombing the last 10 miles or so. I set my goal for the 24hr event at 100 miles but I've been training as a triathlete, not a runner. That means only 2-3 runs for roughly 30-35 miles per week. I fully realize that isn't optimal to run 100 miles but I still felt confident that I could do it - 24hrs gives a lot of buffer. But the problem is that I basically consider anything less than 100 miles a DNF. For whatever reason I don't see anything short of 100 miles as being any sort of milestone past the 50 I've already done. So I had 2 options for the 24hr run - go for it and run myself into the ground to hit my goal, or DNS and spend my weekend training to be the best triathlete I can be this season.
As I'm finishing this post I have several friends 15 hours into the run - I'm at home with sore legs from running 18 miles yesterday and riding 65 miles today. I'm bummed that I'm not out there with them. I wasn't raising money for a charity or anything but I was looking forward to "running for cancer" for my dad. But I'm happy that I made the right decision - Ironman is 111 days away and it's time to get serious. I wouldn't have been able to give my best at either event if I ran the 24hr this weekend. Instead I'll swim/bike/run my ass off for the next 4 months and dedicate this IM to my dad.
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