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My OMGWTFDNF Report: The curse of the turkey or Cinderella or both.

Let's just get this out of the way: I got my first ever Did Not Finish last Saturday at Coastal's Cinderella trail run in the Oakland Hills. I don't like really like the idea of seeing DNF after my name, but maybe we can petition to officially change it to OMGWTFDNF. Takes a little of the sting off.

Here's me walking to my doom, I mean the start. 


It just wasn't my day. It was a series of unfortunate events.

  • Almost ate it a few different times right off the bat due to some steep descents and gnarly footing
  • On one of those times, my foot slid underneath me causing me to fling my arm out and catapult my phone out of the zipper pocket of my handheld into oblivion. Lucky for me, the girl behind me saw where it landed in the foliage. 
  • Saw a girl get completely mowed over in front of me by one of the lead 10k runners that came barrelling up behind us on single track. 
  • Saw a turkey. Pointed at it and said "heyyyy" with what was probably an idiotic smile on my face. 
  • Took two more steps, still smiling like an idiot, and then sprained my ankle. The same ankle I sprained 11 months ago. That kept me from running for 3 months. 
  • Cried. Cursed. Shook my fist at the sky. Slapped a tree. Got it together. 
  • Hobbled/ran to next aid station 3 miles down the trail. 
  • Got a chair and some ice and then my new friend Eric from the Fish Ladder aid station drove me back to the start/finish area. We talked ultras and party schools in the midwest.
  • Got an x-ray and got to see my own skeleton for the first time. 
Currently, it seems to be improving and not as bad as my previous sprain. I think calling it a day at mile 8.2 and immediately icing it instead of continuing to run 30 miles is making a big difference. You live, you learn. 
Left Photo:2012, Right Photo, 2013



And now, to end on a happy note, here's a video of people running in slow motion to catch trains. I need to go ice some more.

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Comments

  1. KarenMay 14, 2013 at 8:00 PM

    Ouch, glad it isn't broken!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shatterday: Far AwayMay 14, 2013 at 8:14 PM

    xoxoxoxoxoxo blame it on the turkey!

    ReplyDelete
  3. notthatlucasMay 16, 2013 at 12:33 PM

    Oh man - that's a rough way to end! (Always have to watch out for Wild Turkey.) I love those trails, but they are a bit challenging in places (I've fallen several times there).I'm glad to hear the ankle is responding better this time (and that you were wise enough to know when to stop - that's a hard call to make). And this is really your first DNF? Wow - that's impressive!

    ReplyDelete

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