Have you DNF'd yet?

If you are going to DNF, go big or go home.  First IM, got me an ambulance ride and everything.

Sorta like the first ding in a new car.  Now that it's happened to me, while I wouldn't want it to happen again, I would have a different perspective about it.

Never have I ever DNF'd a race and only had a couple DNF training sessions and they were bike mechanicals. I've cut sessions short, but always made it back home under my own steam. I am not so cocky to think it could never happen in a race though. I won't knowingly go into a race that I think I could possibly DNF due to existing injury, illness, or lack of training. I'd rather DNS than DNF, but I hate DNS too.

Right now I am scheduled for the Philly marathon but I have a wicked case of patella femoral pain syndrome, or runner's knee. I haven't run in over a week and I have pain still under certain conditions. I will not toe the start line on 11/17 if I think there's a chance I will DNF. I may or may not get a cortisone injection just to avoid the DNS, but the smartest play is to not get the shot and not race. I am not always smart. I would give my kid a tire though, for sure. 

The superstitious part of me thanks you for kindly waiting until after my season ended before posting this, lest my answer of "No" ensure that I ended up not finishing my last race

Absolutely it can happen to anyone - in every race, even within our own bodies, there are things out of our control.  

We can only take care of what we can control (and that isn't much) - and we're at the mercy of the rest.  Sure, we can take steps to mitigate the risk factors, but they will never be fully eliminated.

I thank you for this, and in return, here is a bunny with a pancake on its head (Tom would approve):

Thanks, but it's not like I gave up a Kona slot.    It was just a regular early season 'B' priority race for me.

I didn't, and still don't, consider it a big deal.  I'd like to think I'd do the same in that situation for any team mate, coaching client, or friend too who was doing this as their "big race".  Not only for my son.

I have the same attitude, Brad.  I've DNS'd several times for different reasons, and I've had coaching clients who have DNS'd if we decided together that racing wasn't a good idea.

Twice.  Same course!

First oly was (supposed to be) the Philly Tri.  Got a blow-out coming down a hill on the first lap of the bike.  Put a 1" hole in my tire and I had nothing in my kit to use as a boot. Tried to ride on it with a new tube, but flatted again a few miles down the road.  Walked it back.  Always carry a $1 bill in my kit now, but never had it happen again.  Found a race (longish sprint) 2 weeks later to enter so that I could 'redeem' myself.  Turns out that 'back up' race is still one of my favorites to do, so the DNF had a happy-ish ending.

A few years later, on the same Philly Tri course, I was on the 2nd lap of the bike.  On a poor section of road, I let myself get forced into riding through some of the worst of it and nailed a pothole that I didn't really see in advance.  Got a flat which I tried to fix, but the tire "blew off" the rim when I tried to reflate it.  That's when I realized that the wheel had been "taco'd".  Walked it back again (much further this time, but still way too far to even think about walking it the rest of the course).

I was also close in a HIM this year.  Major cramps in both legs at the end of the swim.  Writhing on the cold, wet ground in T1 for about 20 minutes trying to relax and work them out.  Wondered why I was even thinking about going on, but ended up finishing the bike & run reasonably well and was glad I persevered.

Several DNF and DNS each. Largely injury concerns where it didn't make sense to keep going, or even start. It's great when people can get through everything, but I don't consider it a like a badge of honor. Life happens sometimes, this is just for fun.

Not yet.  Closest I came was at Mayor's Marathon last year, crippled up with cramps at mile 23.  Had there been a way to the finish line I would have DNFd but considering there wasn't, I got my butt off the ground after 15 minutes of pain and torture and ran it in to finish.  I've blown up but I have yet to DNF.  

no DNFs but i was DFL in my second oly distance race.  that was even worse cause i should have known better, DFL purely due to not having eaten enough calories day of.  fell apart on the run.  was so mad at myself, i just left and stayed in bed all day.  i felt like a complete a55hat.

I DNF'd a tri once. It was my own damn fault. I didn't look up the course or race bible at all beforehand. I just entered the tri last minute for fun with some other BTers. I didn't realize that the bike portion had 3 loops and I only did 2. I wasn't using a computer and didn't have a watch. I had a really awesome time before I DNF'd.

I've DNF'd bike races. I guess it is my own damn fault, but I rarely pull out on my own volition.

Nope.....but I keep trying.

Umm, here's a picture of my kitten!

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Not yet, but I've got a DNS and a DFL under my belt! 

Forgot, I've DNF'd at least one tri where I knew I coudn't run.  I think just one, can't recall another.    I had paid the hotel and race and just going for fun.  I don't see a problem starting a race you don't intend to finish if injuries prevent that

I've DNF'd several times for various reasons. A couple running races due to injury (twisting my foot, which then caused me to miss two weeks of training and begin a very slow recovery, and also to miss the last half-marathon I'll likely ever enter). Several bike races after getting dropped out of the pack (in criteriums, lapped riders are pulled). A duathlon when the bolt holding up my Softride beam broke (only a half-mile in -- decided to just bail rather than ride the whole thing standing up). Never have DNF'd a tri (yet --  knock on wood).

Ah!  The planned DNF.  It's easy to forget those.

I didn't know we were supposed to include pics of our friends............. my hound:

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Yes, my first race of this year (sprint) I got a flat out on the course and had to get a ride back. I turned in my chip and finished the run just because.

I really did not care one hoot since I just decided spur of the moment to race this event, it was only 20 min from my house and my race was comped because I volunteer for the RD. So, no harm done.

I've also raced a couple of HIM Aqua/bike that shows in the results as a DNF but in my mind I did what I set out to do so again - I don't care.

I race pretty much only small local races so I don't have to worry about a bunch of extra race stress.  You know that saying "Dream Big or go home", I'm the opposite. Stay home and don't stress . But I'm lucky that there are about 10 races ranging from sprint - HIM during the season (April - October) within 45 min of my house. If I had to travel and get a hotel and all that I really might not race at all!

If I had invested money on the race, travel fees, gas, annoyed my family with my training nonsense (only speaking of myself as annoying not a reflection of all triathletes ) and then DNF'd at a bigger event I would likely be a lot more upset about it.

Agree!