2019 Tamalpa Headlands 50K (DNF)
Race: Tamalpa Headlands 50K
Location: Marin Headlands (Golden Gate National Recreation Area), CA
Date: August 24, 2019
My original plan in signing up for this race was to run a 50K training race leading into Cuyamaca 100K.
I failed to account for the life stress I would experience during this time.
My son was born on August 6th, 2019.
He was 9 days late and required and emergency C-Section.
I wasn’t running much before he was born (anticipation, etc.) and didn’t run much for a week or two after.
The Tamalpa Headlands 50K took place on August 24th, 2019. I probably should have just pulled out, but I was greedy and was looking forward to a day out on the trails.
There’s nothing really crazy about this one.
I felt pretty great for the first 8 or 9 miles. Then it got hard around mile 14-15 and I pushed through.
On the descent on Matt Davis into Stinson Beach (mile 16ish), my IT band started to lock up a bit. I tried to ease off the gas a bit, but it felt like it was getting worse. I started to worry that an injury now would impact my ability to line up for the Cuyamaca 100K on October 5th.
Having run the remaining trails before, I knew what I was in for the rest of the day and I couldn’t get my heart into the race. I didn’t want to risk injuring myself and having to take multiple weeks off of training for Cuyamaca, so I pulled the plug.
I’m not proud of quitting, though I know I would have finished under these circumstances if I absolutely had to.
My coach was quick to point out the bright side of the effort:
Every time I tried to channel my “why” for running, all I could think about was my son and how much I wanted to be at home snuggling him.
The lesson here is that it’s okay to adjust your goals when life gets in the way. Going forward, I’ll be much more cognizant of what is going on in my personal life instead of trying to be a hero.
A quick note on a DNF
This was my first DNF.
Heading into this race, I was a believer in the idea that you find a way to finish no matter what, etc. Coming out of the race, I think it’s a bit more nuanced (obviously, I’m biased now).
Did I quit? Yes. Could I have finished? Absolutely.
Does a DNF make me less of a runner? I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t really care.
I’d probably feel worse if I didn’t think I was physically capable of finishing and bit off more than I could chew. Perhaps I did, emotionally, but I’m not going to stop lining up and giving myself a shot.
LFG.
