DNF - Black Mark or Better Than a Bad Time?

Months of preparation and dedication to fitness and health come before any serious race, whether it be a half-marathon, marathon, triathlon or Ironman competition. Before lining up at the start, athletes will wonder how they'll place. Will they beat their previous best time? For some elite athletes, the question is "Will I win?" Odds are, there aren't too many competitors who lace up their running shoes while thinking they're going to drop out of the race.

But not everyone who starts finishes. In the New York Marathon, for example, about 2 percent of runners take a DNF (Did Not Finish) each year. A non-runner might assume that fitness level is the major reason for taking a DNF, but seasoned competitors know differently. There are many reasons competitors might take a DNF -- out of necessity and sometimes by choice.

"You definitely try to avoid taking a DNF," said Rhonda Armstrong, who has completed four Ironman competitions as well as multiple marathons. But she knows first hand that there are times that it can't be avoided. "Sometimes you can train and train and train, but your nutrition is off," said Armstrong. She recalls one Ironman competition where after completing her swim, she kept getting ill during the bike ride. She knew something was wrong and opted not to run the final marathon. Armstrong also stated that sometimes people in the medical tent won't let athletes continue if their health is at risk.

Other times, athletes -- particularly elite or professional athletes -- opt not to finish because they aren't on pace to get a good time and/or they're preserving themselves for another race. Armstrong has seen many triathletes not complete the run -- not because anything was wrong, but because they were treating that particular race as training for an upcoming competition. Armstrong accepted a DNF in one triathlon because of unavoidable circumstances. "I crashed my bike at mile 62 and then I stopped at a medical tent. When I got to mile 100 I knew I didn't have enough time to make cut-off," said Armstrong.

Races are designed to challenge your fitness levels. Months of training help prepare you for the race, and the competition and camaraderie of other runners is extremely motivating. Certainly, crossing the finish line is one of life's more exhilarating moments. But it's important not to push yourself past your physical limits and no matter how hard you train, other factors (such as heat and humidity) can cause even seasoned competitors to falter.

If you're a runner, chime in. Have you ever taken a DNF? Would you rather have a DNF ora bad time?