(G) Sometimes you’re just not good enough; or your skill, at least, is not.
That’s what happened to me on Saturday at the Vegan Power 50K in Pittsfield, MA. My skill at traversing intricately woven tree roots in a speedy pace was lacking.

Could I have finished? Yes
Could I do it in the time allotted? No

I was not good enough for the challenge. It’s tough to come right up to your limit and know that this is your best and it’s not anywhere near enough. It’s humbling and I thought I was already pretty humble about my “skill set.”
There were, of course, those far more skilled than I just speeding through the course. And when you’re out there struggling on the same terrain their adeptness is even more impressive.

So how do you feel when you don’t finish, you don’t exactly quit, but you are time stopped because you’re too damn slow?
Bleh… that’s how you feel.

You’ve slugged it out for 20 plus miles, you know you could make the distance but not fast enough.

It’s empty.

I am never going to win a race or do it in an impressive time so finishing is really all I’ve got.

When that’s off the table, you’re:
Tired
Hungry
Dirty
Stinky
and a DNF’er

Did. Not. Finish.

A couple days removed and it feels better but still I’m left with a hollowness about it.
Bright side, you can always work harder and get better.

But in the meantime, I’m taking it easy this week and resting on my … DNF. 🙂

We’ll leave it to Lowi to represent this week at the Slacker.

(L) Wow, if I wasn’t feeling enough pressure about running a half this weekend, now I really do!  I mean I only have to run a measly 13.1 miles and there is very little threat of a tree root getting in my way. I have to admit I am feeling a little nervous about my upcoming race since I have trained very little.  According to Swaggy J, though, once you have established a running base you can easily run a half marathon.  My questions is:  How recently must one have established that base?  Don’t answer that.  I don’t want to psych myself out.

On the positive side, I have been weight training and running some mileage so I am not completely a sloth.  I hiked/ran for two hours this weekend while out in the mountains, too, which felt really good. Plus, it was at 9,000 feet which is right around the altitude of my race.

I am considering a longer run this week just to mentally prepare.  You know how nutty we sisters can get when we board the crazy train.  So, I think if I can run a minimum of 6-7 miles I will relax a little.

The bottom line is I have registered and I am committed to doing it.  I am going to go out and give it my all and I will let you know how this sister did next week!

Sunshine & Sarcasm,

Lowi & G

The Torture Report began in January 2014 as a weekly update of our journey to completing a 50-mile race. Since then it’s continued on to become a chronicle of how we try mightily to find fitness, health and sometimes the finish line. We aren’t always successful but we keep showing up and telling you all about it on Tuesdays.