So after a packed weekend with Sof Sole and Team Refuel, I am officially talked out. Or as my kids used to say, I have used all my words.
Here’s my race summary in a sentence though: my first DNF. Things with the hamstring/glute situation were fine–or weren’t totally killing is a better description–for the first mile. Somewhere around second or third one, the muscles got as angry as the lights on the Strip were bright, and I did the wise thing. I dropped out. I won’t lie: it wasn’t easy. But I tried to be the mature, intelligent 39-year-old I pretend to be and do the right thing.
I had a fun little walk back on the Strip to the finish and documented it on Sarah’s iPhone, but like everything else in Vegas this weekend, the information highway is jam packed this weekend, and the pics aren’t coming through via e-mail yet. We have flights that are badass early, so I’ll try to post those later tomorrow.
In the meantime, here are some from the rest of the weekend. We’ll have race reports from the three winners of the free entries from Sof Sole–Leslie, Michelle and Carolyn–coming up this week, as well as SBS telling us how she stripped at night. Spoiler alert: her plantar fasciitis did not cross the finish line with her. Sweet.
so sorry you dnf, but it was smart of you to take care of yourself. i ran last year as my first half & would have loved to go back, but the RnR races are so packed!
I’m so sorry you had to get your first DNF in Vegas. But I’m sure your body appreciates your difficult decision you had to make. But at least you’re surrounded by so many other wonderful bloggers =)
Hey, I missed getting in the picture! It was great to chat with you, Dimity, and meet mother runners Sara and Leslie! Thanks for putting up with my crazy kids for a bit. Today was not a great race for me (even after a pre-race nap) but there will be others. Sarah, loved your shrug and want to go find one for myself! Have a safe flight home, ladies!
Sorry I didn’t get a chance to chat with you, Jana. Shrug (or “bolero” as one gal called it–so Vegas!) is by Pearl Izumi. I think is good deal considering quality, versatility, and cuteness! On sale at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-Izumi-Womens-Infinity-Shrug/dp/B004EPY4CC
Good job, Dimity. You took care of yourself. Don’t worry, you’ll rehab it.
aww, never mind Dimity, your body will thank you for listening. :-)
And remember, tomorrow IS another day….Scarlett!!!
That’s really tough, but so smart of you to stop. One race isn’t worth months or years of pain and struggle to get back to where you were. Way to be an example!
I agree with the others, Dimity. You did the smart thing by listening to your body. It just stinks that the right thing has to be so darn hard sometimes. I’m glad Sarah’s PF didn’t join her for the race.
Heal that body soon! You did the right thing and thanks for writing about it. It’s hard to drop out of any run.
Oh Dimity, I totally feel your pain. When I had my first DNF last month, I knew I had to stop but didn’t throw in the towel (turn off my Gramin) until I stretched at the side of the road and tried to run again. Then, I knew. I second guessed my decision the next day (and the day after, and the day after…) but on the day, it’s what needed to happen. I knew it was a possibility but was a bit peeved that my body felt so good for those first 4 miles. If it had given me a little more of a clue, I wouldn’t have been as surprised, ok pissed! Anywho, it is what it is and we’re moving on now. You did the right thing as much as it hurts. Be well!
Dimity I applaud you for taking care of your body and not getting all caught up in the hoopla – not easy to do! Sending you speedy healing vibes!
Injuries suck :( I was supposed to run the Disneyland Half Marathon the first weekend of September but didn’t even make it to the start line due to injury. I went to the race because everything was booked, and it was so hard watching the finishers – I totally felt like crying. I still know that it was the right thing to do, though, just like dropping out was the right thing for you to do. :) Take care!
I’m so sorry Dimity! Don’t worry, there are plenty of races waiting for you to ace ’em! Get better soon.
You did the right thing. If you hadn’t your post would have been very different…maybe about how you’re now out of running for the next 6 months! So sorry you had to make that decision though.
Well, better to not finish than to hurt yourself! Sorry. :( Can’t wait to see more pictures and hear other race reports!
Can you teach me how to be that smart 39 year old making the right decisions? I’m sorry about the DNF, but, you did the right thing. I’m glad you weren’t writing this after being confined to crutches or worse. Have a safe travel day, I’m looking forward to the rest of the race weekend reports!
Bummer, Dimity! :( Good thing the weekend wasn’t UBER race-focused and you had lots of social distractions. You and SBS need to coordinate stellar performances and stop taking turns at them!
ok love all the pics….
so sorry about the race …I admire you for dropping out. In Long Beach I should have done just that and I did not. It is not an easy thing to do espacially once you have started. Looking forward to the rest of the posts!
Dimity – I am so grateful that you were logical enough to know that you needed to stop but that you weren’t too proud to post about it. I’m dealing with a really bad ITB issue that has my knee locking up by 2 miles. I have a 10K race this weekend and I keep telling myself that I HAVE to finish, even if I drag myself for four miles. I feel comforted to know that a runner that I admire did the smart and sensible thing (something we runners aren’t exactly known for with our “unless you die, don’t stop” mentality). Maybe I’ll be brave enough to be smart this weekend too. I hope I don’t have to, but I feel a little better knowing that it might just be ok if I need to.
Dim – you did the right thing. I ran my 15k last month, with bronchitis and apparently pneumonia too. While I went slow, it was really a bad move on my part to do it at all. I’m still recovering from the evil lung crap, over a month later and realize that if I’d just taken a pass, I’d probably be back to 110% by now. Now I know that whole “above the neck / below the neck” thing is really no joke.
OMG!!! I am so proud of you for even tackling the training! Hang in there girlfriend!
So sorry to hear about your DNF, Dimity! I’m sure you did the right thing, even though it stinks right now. You’ll kill it at the next one :)
So sorry you had to make that decision – but proud of you for making the right choice! I wanna be just like you in a couple of years! :)
So sorry your ham/glutes didn’t cooperate. To be honest, it was a rough race all 13.1 miles and you didn’t miss anything more than a lot of weaving through. You did the smart thing. The bobbing and weaving probably would have made things worse.
You definitely did the right thing, you will love to run another day and now you can enjoy the holidays without having to haul yourself around on crutches. This was very very smart you should pat yourself on the back, pour yourself a glass of eggnog and pull out your racing calender for 2012 and decide where you will make your blazing comeback.
So great to meet you both! Sorry you had to make a tough choice, Dimity, but glad you made the smart one. Praying you are healed up soon! I was rocking my shrug too, SBS! it has become my cool weather race uniform.
Smart, badass mommas live to run another day.…