DNS is short hand for did not start.
In other words, you registered for the race, maybe even picked up your bib, but chose to not to actually cross the start line.
If you race often enough, eventually you may choose to DNS a race. Maybe you already have.
In fact, I was really considering one recently. And I have one future race that I may skip.
Here are a few reasons why you may opt to DNS:
1.Weather
Some runners will race in any weather conditions.
But safety should always be a concern whether it be because of ice or extreme heat.
2.Injury/Sickness
It obviously depends on the seriousness of the injury but it may require you to skip the race.
broken foot = no race
Sometimes, it also may be because the injury will get worse if you do race. (Unfortunately runners are not always good listening to their body.)
Then there’s sickness. That also depends on the nature of the illness. They say above the neck is ok but below is nay.
3. Schedules/Commitments
Family or work commitments can force to you miss a race. Life happens.
Also flight cancelations or travel plans can interfere. (I’ve learned the hard way to never schedule my arrival the day before the race.)
4. Training Plan/Mileage Requirements
Your training calls for a long run and you signed up for a short race. You may decide, if it’s an important race that you are training for, to skip the race.
Or you should be tapering and this race is challenging. Again, it may be in your best interests to DNS this race.
5. Lack of Mojo
For whatever reason, you just don’t feel like it.
Racing should be fun!
It should never be a “have to” but always a “want to.”
or at least FUN afterward.
Once you’ve made the tough decision to DNS your race, it’s entirely normal to go through a wide range of emotions from relief, to anger, to regret. Don’t let anyone kid you. FOMO is real!!!
But hopefully those situations will be few and and you will run many races…
Happy Running! Have you ever DNSed a race? What reason influenced your decision? Please share.
Welcome to Fit Friday Five! Please join the hosts Me (My First 5K and More), Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida
My First 5K and More... 
Injury has knocked me out of a few races in the past. It is just not worth it and there is always anoher race to run.
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Sorry to hear that. But yes it is the smart thing to do.
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So far, knock on wood, I have never DNS’d a race (although there was the one I should’ve, and I paid the price). It tends to be easier to know you’ll go when you sign up later!
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Yes on waiting until the last minute. And of course if you are not racing much.
I hope your streak continues.
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The only half I didn’t run is the one that got canceled in the Pandemic.
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Oh yes, i’ve DNS’d a few races due to injury, and it’s always heartbreaking. Especially when it’s a marathon that you did all the training for, including a 22 mile long run, and then got injured during the taper… but I digress. As you pointed out, there are plenty of excellent and valid reasons to DNS. Nowadays I’m a little more cautious about signing up for races too far in advance, but that’s still no guarantee!
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It is so sad to have to skip a race you’ve trained for.
I hope that doesn’t happen again.
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I’ve never had a DNS but like Judy, there was one where I should have and paid the price later. I wasn’t able to run for a couple of months after that race.
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Good for you in being able to run all the races you sign up for.
Unfortunately injuries happen.
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Yep lack of mojo was mor e than weather on mine. I could have and have run in icy rain, but no interest in a random four miler, so I went back to bed
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For a big race I’ll run in the rain but I’ve done the same for a random 5k
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I have DNS’d thanks to injury and family schedule conflicts – never fun, but sometimes necessary.
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Yea sometimes you have to.
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Yes to all of these. I am less likely to DNS due to lack of mojo, but it can happen, for sure!
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Same. I have had to some of those reasons but not lack of mojo.
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These are such valid points Darlene and you’re 100% right that as runners we sometimes don’t listen enough to our bodies to know that it may be better to call it.
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Exactly. If we pay for the race, we think we should do it and sometimes we should sit it out.
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