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 planning to run the Boilermaker 15k on July 12 for the first time… but I made the tough decision not to…

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.

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 flight arrival the day before the race and that subways can cause arrival problems.)

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 interest 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 a “get to.”

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…

Experiencing a sore foot for several weeks had me skip those runs that would prepare me to run 9.3 (hilly) miles. Even if my foot felt better, I would not be ready and I could risk injuring myself further and put my goal half marathon on Sept 12 in jeopardy.

I will have to stay off social media on July 12 so I won’t have to read my running friends’ posts about this fun race. LOL

However, maybe I will run this race next summer!!

Happy Running! Have you ever DNSed a race? What reason influenced your decision? Please share.

---

and tomorrow:

I’m also linking up with: co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs