DNS vs DNF

I'm in a similar position as you. My IM is in 3 weeks. My last run was May 7th. My knee has improved a lot since then by not running along with wearing a brace all the time other than sleeping, swimming or cycling. I've been swim and bike training and done some walks. Longest to date is 10 miles in one day split into 2:05 walk and another walk.

I'm planning on swim and biking and do what I can on the run but it will be walking w/small 30" bits of running.

I've cleared doing IM with my orthopedic surgeon. Walking 26.2 miles may make my knee swollen and be painful and he won't do surgery until it calms down post IM so surgery is scheduled a month after IM.

I will try to finish. If pain is to great I will stop but for me I decided participating is better than not participating. I need to work within my limitations. Last year I was on the run at 8:45 which gives me 8:15 to walk the Mary. My bike should be faster this year but who knows about the swim. If I can get on run by 8:30 I would have 8:30 to walk the mary.

If doing an IM would harm me, I would not do it or stop after the bike if the run was the issue. For me swim and bike causes no issue just running.

If I recall correctly you were in pain after riding long?

Is the possible post IM mary walk pain worth it to you to try and do it? Same with the bike?

What does your doctor say?

I wanted to add that I know it is a tough decision and wish you luck in finding peace with what you decide.

I did opt to drop out of IMLP this summer with injury issues and it was tough for me. I was able instead spend the day with my Dad on his 80th birthday. You have mentioned going and supporting friends...do you think that would be positive experience vs. racing with plan to stop after bike or see what you can do on the run or not.

I know I would have had a tough time going to IMLP and not racing.

Good luck!

I don't actually have knee problems now, but if I trained well for a marathon distance I would.  Maybe not right away, but they would deteriorate much sooner.  I've learned to like the 70.3 distance more.  It's still not easy to do.  If I want longer, I'll look at events like Leadman or TriStar.

I am a little confused on the price to pay part. Did you mean physical price or monetary?  I aquabiked an Olympic this summer because my calf was too sore for the run.

I'm having two osteotomys...HTO to realign my leg so my weight is on part of my knee I still have cartilage. Second one will be top of my tibia so my patella tracks normally.

Knee is to far along to have microfracture. I have 3 bone on bone places where June 2010 my knee's cartilage was normal for my age.

Goal is to put off knee replacement as long as possible.

Maybe it is just being stubborn. As I turn 50 next month, I think about 10 years ago what I was like. In many ways participating in tris has changed my life so dramatically I am/will be profoundly sad if I'm unable to participate in the future.

I personally think the whole 'dnf is better than dns' is hogwash. 

If you are a first time IM'er and you don't finish it can be pretty devastating, others can shake it off but not finishing a race that is an entry into an exclusive club may put a hamper on your ego; especially when you see the 'some don't have the heart to finish an IM' posts..

I'll stop ranting now and get to my what you should do...

If you are having to set best case scenarios just to finish, and a dnf will hurt you either physically or emotionally, then I would not do it.  Otherwise, I say go for it.

I am going through the same thing after reinjuring my achilles, luckily things are going good now (although I'm scared to run and get reinjured) and my plan is to train my tail off with a heavy bike focus and make an honest assessment when my taper starts on Nov 6th. 

Doing what you can sounds good.  I swam and rode like I was going to run.  Calf wasn't feeling up to it, so just walked up to the guys at T2 and turned in my chip.  And that was that.

My Dad was a 2:50 marathoner and one of his brother hit ~2:41.  Add in a third brother and while in their 50's there have been 5 knee replacements and 2 hip replacements.  This is on top of multiple knee surgeries over the years before that.  My dad had the one Kathy is looking at too, but I can't remember the exact location in the knee.  Muscles I may push, but if a joint becomes sore, I stop well before I need to.  It's already been pushed too far. It's going pretty well so far with the volume I'm putting in.

Sounds like you'll be ok going for it with the idea of being prepared to stop.  Enjoy the first two legs and be cautious on the third.  If you can keep the bigger picture in mind and not get caught up in the event too much, it's not that hard to stop.

I think it depends on what you want to get out of it and also finances. I have a friend who was signed up for Oceanside 70.3 and injured herself and was under orders not to bike or run. But she'd paid her entry fee so decided to go down there and do the swim and then support her friends.

I've also entered a race knowing I was going to DNF after the bike because I was under orders not to run. But it was a local race. And again there was a big group of friends there to support so it was worth going even if I didn't race at all.

OTOH, it costs a lot to do an IM if you have to travel significantly to get there. So it might not be worth it to go and spend all that money on lodging, food, plane fare, etc. if you aren't going to do the whole race.