Tag: DNF

How Anton Krupicka’s DNF Helped Transform Ultrarunning

He lived in Leadville during that long-ago summer of 2009, out of the back of his white Chevy S-10 pickup, which he affectionately called, “The Roost.”Anton Krupicka was focused on a simple task: run faster than anyone h...

The Discovery Run

Dear Ann, When races go seriously wrong and my dreams are shattered, I ask myself, “Why am I running ultras?” After a DNF at Lost Souls I had trained hard and was ready, but then everything I wanted was denied. I went o...

When You Should DNF

Unless you’ve only run a couple of races, the odds are that you’ve suffered a DNF (“Did Not Finish”) before. There are many potential reasons for a DNF, but with smart planning and tactics most are avoidable. Some ult...

My First Attempt at 100 Miles

Arriving in Houston, Texas, a little more than a day before the race, I was hopeful. The hotel was charming and very hospitable. The weather was unseasonable cool but ideal for racing. The town square of Sugar Land prove...

On DNFs

Although there has been some debate about whether it’s correct to call them “words,” the Eskimo really do have 50 different words for “snow.” This only makes sense, as these Arctic natives live in a world of snow. It mak...

How to Avoid the Dreaded DNF

At some point in life, almost all of us have to deal with not completing a race. The term “DNF” (Did Not Finish) is a dirty word in ultrarunning. Logging a DNF can lead to months of soul-searching. So it’s important to t...

The Quest For A DNF Grand Slam Ends At Vermont

There’s a lot to be said for finishing a race with the back of the pack — especially if it's a tough 100-mile through the mountains. Never mind those fleet-footed sprinters striving for first place and record-setting glo...

Knowing When to Fold

There have been numerous experiences in my life that have been beneficial to my development as an individual. Many of die experiences I have had are a result of my quest for fitness and, more specifically, my love of run...

From The South: When To Quit

DNF. What an awful abreviation. It looks lousy in the training log. It sounds worse to say. Nobody wants to DNF, yet in almost every ultra someone does. Often a high percentage do. There are individuals who have ne...