Newbie Q: Marathon DNF

frank-in-toronto said:

Myself and two buddies have begun training for an October
marathon. We're all starting at low mileage per week but
giving our best. At this point we are planning to
walk/drink at all water stands. I like to have a family
member tape the start, somehow get ahead of me and tape
more spots throughout the race. I usually know my pace so
I can tell them when to expect me.

Now my question: if somewhere during the marathon, I
decide to drop out, how do I get to the finish where
they'll be waiting? am i expected to do it on my own? or
is there some kind of sweep wagon?

Without knowing *which* marathon you're talking about I'd
have to say it's kind of hard to answer. Safest bet is to
assume that there *isn't* any sweeper wagon and make your
own arrangements. Consider carrying a mobile phone if you
really think you might not finish. Otherwise grit your teeth
and finish it. You'll feel so much happier with yourself the
day after if you do.

Tim
--
Remove the obvious to reply by email.

the thon that i have done there is ususally a 'sag wag' that
drives by and picks up DNF plodzilla

frank-in-toronto said:

Myself and two buddies have begun training for an October
marathon. We're all starting at low mileage per week but
giving our best. At this point we are planning to
walk/drink at all water stands. I like to have a family
member tape the start, somehow get ahead of me and tape
more spots throughout the race. I usually know my pace so
I can tell them when to expect me.

Now my question: if somewhere during the marathon, I
decide to drop out, how do I get to the finish where
they'll be waiting? am i expected to do it on my own? or
is there some kind of sweep wagon? This is important
because the family member is not a driver. I HAVE to get
to the finish and my car somehow. Just curious. I have
lots of time left to figure this one out. ...thehick

gentolm <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

the thon that i have done there is ususally a 'sag wag'
that drives by and picks up DNF plodzilla

frank-in-toronto said:

Myself and two buddies have begun training for an
October marathon. We're all starting at low mileage per
week but giving our best. At this point we are planning
to walk/drink at all water stands. I like to have a
family member tape the start, somehow get ahead of me
and tape more spots throughout the race. I usually know
my pace so I can tell them when to expect me.

Now my question: if somewhere during the marathon, I
decide to drop out, how do I get to the finish where
they'll be waiting? am i expected to do it on my own? or
is there some kind of sweep wagon? This is important
because the family member is not a driver. I HAVE to get
to the finish and my car somehow. Just curious. I have
lots of time left to figure this one out. ...thehick

My theory is that "not finishing" is not an option.
Therefor, no failure plan is necessary. Concentrate your
planning on how to adapt to adversity and how to make
adjustments if injuries occur. A good fast walk would finish
most marathons ahead of some if not many runners anyway.

Most do. I just recently got to ride the sag wag at
Steamboat. Send them a line and ask.

Teresa in AZ

gentolm said:

the thon that i have done there is ususally a 'sag wag'
that drives by and picks up DNF plodzilla

frank-in-toronto said:

Myself and two buddies have begun training for an October
marathon. We're all starting at low mileage per week but
giving our best. At this point we are planning to
walk/drink at all water stands. I like to have a family
member tape the start, somehow get ahead of me and tape
more spots throughout the race. I usually know my pace so
I can tell them when to expect me.

Now my question: if somewhere during the marathon, I
decide to drop out, how do I get to the finish where
they'll be waiting? am i expected to do it on my own? or
is there some kind of sweep wagon? This is important
because the family member is not a driver. I HAVE to get
to the finish and my car somehow. Just curious. I have
lots of time left to figure this one out. ...thehick

It's called the walk of shame.

frank-in-toronto <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Myself and two buddies have begun training for an October
marathon. We're all starting at low mileage per week but
giving our best. At this point we are planning to
walk/drink at all water stands. I like to have a family
member tape the start, somehow get ahead of me and tape
more spots throughout the race. I usually know my pace so
I can tell them when to expect me.

Now my question: if somewhere during the marathon, I
decide to drop out, how do I get to the finish where
they'll be waiting? am i expected to do it on my own? or
is there some kind of sweep wagon? This is important
because the family member is not a driver. I HAVE to get
to the finish and my car somehow. Just curious. I have
lots of time left to figure this one out. ...thehick

Depending on where the marathon is, you might want to carry
a cell phone with you.

On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 15:38:32 -0500, Alan <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Depending on where the marathon is, you might want to carry
a cell phone with you.

oh. i'll have a cell phone. that's no problem. and i'm not
expecting to dnf. if time permits, and whatever ails me
cooperates, i can walk it. but i'm trying to figure out
things that i don't know yet. what if i get HUGE blisters on
both feet? what if i trip and break my nose?

i'll also bring some money so i can go off-course and take a
cab. i'm at the early stage of marathon training so right
now i have a lot of questions. ...thehick

cell phone is good idea at dallas marathon the course went
left and a Female runner went right and kept going the
medics pulles her from the race - dehydrated badly - her LOC
X2 / cell phone saved her life plodzilla

frank-in-toronto said:

Myself and two buddies have begun training for an October
marathon. We're all starting at low mileage per week but
giving our best. At this point we are planning to
walk/drink at all water stands. I like to have a family
member tape the start, somehow get ahead of me and tape
more spots throughout the race. I usually know my pace so
I can tell them when to expect me.

Now my question: if somewhere during the marathon, I
decide to drop out, how do I get to the finish where
they'll be waiting? am i expected to do it on my own? or
is there some kind of sweep wagon? This is important
because the family member is not a driver. I HAVE to get
to the finish and my car somehow. Just curious. I have
lots of time left to figure this one out. ...thehick

frank-in-toronto <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

oh. i'll have a cell phone. that's no problem.

Leave it with your support crew. you don´t want to look
that uncool.

Quoted message said:

and i'm not expecting to dnf.

Good. But IMHO you shouldn´t be giving the possibility a
moment of thought. Concentrate on the day´s training (or
recovery, as it may be). Never let your mind wander too far
ahead of you *too much*, a week is a long time.

All you need to know about DNFing is that if it does somehow
come to that point, your worries are limited to walking to
the nearest water&aid station where you will find somone
who´ll know just what to do (and if you´re beyond walking,
you won´t have to worry about anything).

Quoted message said:

if time permits, and whatever ails me cooperates, i can
walk it. but i'm trying to figure out things that i don't
know yet.

IMHO it´s sometimes better to leave things unfigured out. It
could, for instance, be that the only little flimsy thing
that keeps a weary runner´s agonized mind from convincing
him that it´s smarter to DNF is his ignorance about the
proper procedure of DNFing:-)

In any case, the things that will a first marathoner will be
surprised by are those that he thinks he knows but doesn´t
*really* know.

Quoted message said:

what if i get HUGE blisters on both feet?

You get your feet plastered at ant the next aid station and
continue your marathon!

Quoted message said:

what if i trip and break my nose?

You get your nose looked after and a painkiller at the next
aid station and continue your marathon:-)

Quoted message said:

i'll also bring some money so i can go off-course and
take a cab.

Seriously, this wouldn´t be overdoing it: it could be a
long and cold wait for the van, and it could be you
wouldn´t be in the right mood to meet your own support crew
for a while...

Anders

On 16 Jun 2004 00:32:10 -0700, [email hidden] (Anders Lustig)

Quoted message said:

frank-in-toronto <[email hidden]> wrote in
message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

oh. i'll have a cell phone. that's no problem.

Leave it with your support crew. you don´t want to look
that uncool.

i'll hide it in my waist pouch. as a balding older guy with
no cool clothes, a cell phone is the least of my drawbacks.
i'm pretty sure my skinny legs will stand out more than a
tiny cell. actually, i was thinking of using it to call my
support crew to tell them I'm getting close to whatever
place we agreed that they would tape me. i'll risk the
uncool for that.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and i'm not expecting to dnf.

Good. But IMHO you shouldn´t be giving the possibility a
moment of thought. Concentrate on the day´s training (or
recovery, as it may be). Never let your mind wander too far
ahead of you *too much*, a week is a long time.

I like that advice. that's what i'm doing. i've accepted
that the schedule from NYRRC is solid. now i'm doing it. a
week at a time.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

what if i get HUGE blisters on both feet?

You get your feet plastered at ant the next aid station and
continue your marathon!

really? boy oh boy. i'm game.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

what if i trip and break my nose?

You get your nose looked after and a painkiller at the next
aid station and continue your marathon:-)

you're tougher than me but OK. I NEVER take drugs, but for
this one time, I'll relent.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

i'll also bring some money so i can go off-course and
take a cab.

Seriously, this wouldn´t be overdoing it:

Thanks to all for the thoughts. this may be old hat to you
experienced folk, but I like to clear my mind of concerns as
best I can. also, my running partner has the same questions.
i'm sharing these ideas. ...thehick

gentolm <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

cell phone is good idea at dallas marathon the course went
left and a Female runner went right and kept going the
medics pulles her from the race - dehydrated badly - her
LOC X2 / cell phone saved her life plodzilla

frank-in-toronto said:

Myself and two buddies have begun training for an
October marathon. We're all starting at low mileage per
week but giving our best. At this point we are planning
to walk/drink at all water stands. I like to have a
family member tape the start, somehow get ahead of me
and tape more spots throughout the race. I usually know
my pace so I can tell them when to expect me.

Now my question: if somewhere during the marathon, I
decide to drop out, how do I get to the finish where
they'll be waiting? am i expected to do it on my own? or
is there some kind of sweep wagon? This is important
because the family member is not a driver. I HAVE to get
to the finish and my car somehow. Just curious. I have
lots of time left to figure this one out. ...thehick

Have fun and enjoy the ride in from mile 11 Frank. Time this
right and you can watch the winners cross the finish line.
Be sure to call the race report in to your friends with the
cell phone.

frank-in-toronto <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 16 Jun 2004 00:32:10 -0700, [email hidden] (Anders

Lustig) said:

frank-in-toronto <[email hidden]> wrote in
message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

oh. i'll have a cell phone. that's no problem.

Leave it with your support crew. you don´t want to look
that uncool.

i'll hide it in my waist pouch. as a balding older guy
with no cool clothes, a cell phone is the least of my
drawbacks. i'm pretty sure my skinny legs will stand out
more than a tiny cell. actually, i was thinking of using
it to call my support crew to tell them I'm getting close
to whatever place we agreed that they would tape me. i'll
risk the uncool for that.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and i'm not expecting to dnf.

Good. But IMHO you shouldn´t be giving the possibility a
moment of thought. Concentrate on the day´s training (or
recovery, as it may be). Never let your mind wander too
far ahead of you *too much*, a week is a long time.

I like that advice. that's what i'm doing. i've accepted
that the schedule from NYRRC is solid. now i'm doing it. a
week at a time.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

what if i get HUGE blisters on both feet?

You get your feet plastered at ant the next aid station
and continue your marathon!

really? boy oh boy. i'm game.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

what if i trip and break my nose?

You get your nose looked after and a painkiller at the
next aid station and continue your marathon:-)

you're tougher than me but OK. I NEVER take drugs, but for
this one time, I'll relent.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

i'll also bring some money so i can go off-course and
take a cab.

Seriously, this wouldn´t be overdoing it:

Thanks to all for the thoughts. this may be old hat to you
experienced folk, but I like to clear my mind of concerns
as best I can. also, my running partner has the same
questions. i'm sharing these ideas. ...thehick

How about adding one of those devices where you can shout,
"I've fallen and I can't get up?" The company will
automatically get help for you.

You PUNK! Finish or perish, there is no other option.
Actually I had my "water wagon" meet me every 5 miles or so,
so had the unexpected happened, I only had to make a few
miles walking. I suspect you could find someone nice enough
to give a runner a lift, but I've personally never
considered going to a race of 26 miles or more unless I was
100% fit, and sure of myself finishing. To do so invites
severe, and possibly permanent injury. Go prepared to
finish, or don't go.

frank-in-toronto <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Myself and two buddies have begun training for an October
marathon. We're all starting at low mileage per week but
giving our best. At this point we are planning to
walk/drink at all water stands. I like to have a family
member tape the start, somehow get ahead of me and tape
more spots throughout the race. I usually know my pace so
I can tell them when to expect me.

Now my question: if somewhere during the marathon, I
decide to drop out, how do I get to the finish where
they'll be waiting? am i expected to do it on my own? or
is there some kind of sweep wagon? This is important
because the family member is not a driver. I HAVE to get
to the finish and my car somehow. Just curious. I have
lots of time left to figure this one out. ...thehick

I just wanted to ad, that mental preparation is equally
important as physical in long races. My feelings are, if you
have doubts about finishing, you shouldn't be there.

[email hidden] (+) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

You PUNK! Finish or perish, there is no other option.
Actually I had my "water wagon" meet me every 5 miles or
so, so had the unexpected happened, I only had to make a
few miles walking. I suspect you could find someone nice
enough to give a runner a lift, but I've personally never
considered going to a race of 26 miles or more unless I
was 100% fit, and sure of myself finishing. To do so
invites severe, and possibly permanent injury. Go prepared
to finish, or don't go.

frank-in-toronto <[email hidden]> wrote in
message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Myself and two buddies have begun training for an
October marathon. We're all starting at low mileage per
week but giving our best. At this point we are planning
to walk/drink at all water stands. I like to have a
family member tape the start, somehow get ahead of me
and tape more spots throughout the race. I usually know
my pace so I can tell them when to expect me.

Now my question: if somewhere during the marathon, I
decide to drop out, how do I get to the finish where
they'll be waiting? am i expected to do it on my own? or
is there some kind of sweep wagon? This is important
because the family member is not a driver. I HAVE to get
to the finish and my car somehow. Just curious. I have
lots of time left to figure this one out. ...thehick