Did Not Finish!
I am very sorry to report that I did not finish.
The Bad News -
I am a DNF (Did Not Finish).
At mile 18, my legs started to cramp again. It didn't seem too bad. At about mile 22, it became more and more difficult to actually run. I walked and was walking as fast as I could. After all, the timer was ticking down. I would try to run from time to time, but knew that I should leave 'good enough' alone and go back to a walk.
At mile 25 (Mile 25!) I entered a porta-potty for a last 'break.' You have to step up into it. I did and when my left foot hit the floor my lower leg muscle cramped and locked hard. I stepped back to take the pressure off and when I put the weight on my right foot, my right lower leg cramped and locked. I got out of the unit, took a step or two and fell to the ground in agony. I yelled for help and a lady came over quickly. She came over, felt my lower legs and gasped. She started massaging the left leg, while both of us yelled for help. The aid tent brought a wheel chair over, helped me to get up, and I was taken to the tent.
They checked me out, but it was just a case of cramping. As I laid there, the toes and upper leg muscles also started to cramp. While I was being iced, I saw the 'end of the marathon' van go by. The Chicago Marathon is a timed event. That really was OK, though, as it would have taken me hours to motivate the last little bit.
So, I cramped up and entered a small case of depression. I am disappointed. All that training and now leg cramps at mile 25.
The Good News!
I am OK. Blood pressure was 130 over 70 and pulse was good. No fever (not even hot), normal temperature. I just ended up with severe leg cramps. I was not hospitalized (nowhere near it). As they were packing up the tent, I hobbled out and caught one of the last buses to the finish line. I did not have my cell phone with me at that time so I couldn't call anyone. The bus stopped right by my hotel, so I didn't even go over to the finish line. I did not meet Maddy, Petra, Melisa or Bill over there. They do know that I did not finish, though.
So, I am OK but somewhat disappointed. It was a lot of time, money and training that went into this marathon. I was sure that I was ready. I do realize that sometimes medical things over-ride what your physical side can accomplish. But the sense of disappointment right now is very real and I am saddened and disappointed.
I'll have to figure out what caused it, so it doesn't happen again. I have talked to my brother about it and it does seem to be a family heredity thing.
Thanks,
Charlie
PS - Petra! The name on the shirt was referred to several times. I actually lost count as to how many! Great idea!
The Bad News -
I am a DNF (Did Not Finish).
At mile 18, my legs started to cramp again. It didn't seem too bad. At about mile 22, it became more and more difficult to actually run. I walked and was walking as fast as I could. After all, the timer was ticking down. I would try to run from time to time, but knew that I should leave 'good enough' alone and go back to a walk.
At mile 25 (Mile 25!) I entered a porta-potty for a last 'break.' You have to step up into it. I did and when my left foot hit the floor my lower leg muscle cramped and locked hard. I stepped back to take the pressure off and when I put the weight on my right foot, my right lower leg cramped and locked. I got out of the unit, took a step or two and fell to the ground in agony. I yelled for help and a lady came over quickly. She came over, felt my lower legs and gasped. She started massaging the left leg, while both of us yelled for help. The aid tent brought a wheel chair over, helped me to get up, and I was taken to the tent.
They checked me out, but it was just a case of cramping. As I laid there, the toes and upper leg muscles also started to cramp. While I was being iced, I saw the 'end of the marathon' van go by. The Chicago Marathon is a timed event. That really was OK, though, as it would have taken me hours to motivate the last little bit.
So, I cramped up and entered a small case of depression. I am disappointed. All that training and now leg cramps at mile 25.
The Good News!
I am OK. Blood pressure was 130 over 70 and pulse was good. No fever (not even hot), normal temperature. I just ended up with severe leg cramps. I was not hospitalized (nowhere near it). As they were packing up the tent, I hobbled out and caught one of the last buses to the finish line. I did not have my cell phone with me at that time so I couldn't call anyone. The bus stopped right by my hotel, so I didn't even go over to the finish line. I did not meet Maddy, Petra, Melisa or Bill over there. They do know that I did not finish, though.
So, I am OK but somewhat disappointed. It was a lot of time, money and training that went into this marathon. I was sure that I was ready. I do realize that sometimes medical things over-ride what your physical side can accomplish. But the sense of disappointment right now is very real and I am saddened and disappointed.
I'll have to figure out what caused it, so it doesn't happen again. I have talked to my brother about it and it does seem to be a family heredity thing.
Thanks,
Charlie
PS - Petra! The name on the shirt was referred to several times. I actually lost count as to how many! Great idea!
posted by CewTwo at 4:37 PM
29 Comments:
You're still our hero, Charlie. Don't you forget it. We'd rather have you safe and DNF than hurt and finished.
There WILL be a next time, and you ARE an inspiration to many of us. Don't you forget it.
From one of your newest fans: you accomplished a great deal today, my friend. I hope the disappointment fades soon. I'm glad you are okay.
Charlie, you will live to run another day and maybe another marathon. You weren't used to running in the heat and I understand it was pretty warm today.
DNF doesn't stand for Did Not Finish. At that stage of the race, DNF means "Did Nothing Foolish". Your body gave up--you didn't.
Though I know it doesn't mean much right now to you, you should be proud of the work that you put in and that you got to the starting line. Everything after the starting line is cake and you just had one less slice.
I concur. Charlie I was thinking or you all day. You did more than most people would even dream of. Be glad of heart friend. There is always next year, another marathon, but only one Charlie!
Kentie
It is disappointing, but you still should be proud of yourself. I am proud of you!
Last year I developed cramps in my left calf. I had no idea what happened since it had never happended before. I think I may have been a bit dehydrated and nerves could have factored. But, I have no idea why it happened. And, it had never happened again.
I am glad there wasn't anything more serious. Take it easy the next few days.
Charlie, you still went further than you ever have before in a race and that is something to be very proud of -- CONGRATS!!!
Whether or not you are prone to cramps, they are a very common problem on hot race days. You might try experimenting with salt caps to see if they help and also do some tests to measure your sweat rate to make sure you're replenishing enough of the fluids you're losing via sweating.
Whatever you do, do not give up your dream to run a marathon. Your training went very well and race day just didn't turn out as you'd hoped. I'm sure a lot of people did not finish too. Rest up, recover and try again ... because that's what winners do!
You took yourself to the limit and that is a truly remarkable and heroic accomplishment. As far as finishing goes, there will be other races. Hold your head up high. Well done.
What everyone said, it's all true. When things don't work out, you just come back another day. Safety first, and you got to enjoy almost all of Chicago's beautiful course (that last mile isn't so hot--it's just Michigan Avenue, and you missed the one hill on the course). Glad you're all right.
Charlie, you are still a champion to me! The fact that you went out there and gave it your all is something not to be taken lightly. In fact, you still hit a personal best today by running 25 miles! That is SUCH a feat in of itself! I'm really glad you're okay. Like everyone says, there's always another race, but only one Charlie! Rest up champ! You deserve it after getting so far!
This was my 7th marathon and the first one I ever considered DNFing. It was just too hot for me.
Road Warrior said it best "Did nothing foolish"!
A lady in my hotel was here watching her daughter run her 12th marathon and her daughter blacked out at mile 22 or so. She said it wasn't just the heat, but there was just no air and it was so crowded.
Congrats on what you did do. I'm gonna have to think a while before I type up my race report, this was a very odd marathon.
Oh Charlie I am soooooooo sorry. I feared something happened when I was tracking you online and it just stopped updating. I am so very sorry this happened during your first marathon. Clearly a let down. Goodness!
But as you pointed out, medical things override life all the time, and thank heavens it wasn't any more serious. Holy moly.
I agree with Greg; DNF=Did Nothing Foolish.
I will ponder better words of wisdom today and get back with ya.
Gosh I'm sorry.
Charlie,
You did a fantastic job. I'm sorry that it didn't work out as you had hoped. It was crazy hot. and wall to wall people the entire way.
I know there will be a next time and under better conditions, you will finish.
The most important thing here is that you are okay. You started a journey that many others would never even consider. I (and my family, who adore you) are so proud of you!
Road warrior said it BEST!! "DNF doesn't stand for Did Not Finish. At that stage of the race, DNF means "Did Nothing Foolish". Your body gave up--you didn't".
You accomplished more than most people ever dream of doing. You ran the farthest you've ever run!! You're still a hero/champion in my eyes!!
I thought of you during my race yesterday, I'll get into in my blog, but YOU helped me SOOO much. You are truly an inspiration. You may be dissapointed now (I hope those feeling fade soon), but we are all SOOO proud of you!! They'll always be another race, but you're OK, and that's ALL that matters!!!
Charlie, you are indeed an amazing guy, and I would never call anyone who accomplished 96% of their goal anything but a winner. You are truly an inspiration to others and I don't hear quit. I used to get calf cramps when swimming as a Teenager: my leg would lock up and I couldn't straighten or even think of standing on it for about 10 min. You were wise not to challenge the situation and risk further injury.
I can't say it any better than all of your friends above. We were dealt a really tough hand with the heat and humidity. There were so many times I didn't think I was going to make it. It was brutal.
Still, you accomplished so much, don't lose site of that. You attempted something 99.9% of the population is too intimidated to even try! If that's not success, I don't know what is.
We all love you Charlie and it was such an honor for Bill and I to meet you and get to know you and your family.
I don't know much about cramps, but I did start taking electrolyte tablets at the advice of a friend who told me it would help me avoid them. I took 8 during the course of the race because it was so hot. They might help you too.
... What everybody else said!!
Congratulations on a great run.
So sorry you didn't(quite) finish.
Sure is OK to be so disappointed.
All that investment was not so much in that particular marathon as it was an investment in you... You ran well and are healthier than you have been for a long time.
Good job, Charlie. You are a hero and an inspiration.
When's the next race?
Ohh so close, I applaud you for pushing through the pain to that point. There was NOTHING you could do about it and you knew it, We are just so thankful that you are OK.
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While I am deeply disappointed that you did not finish this race (I really hurt for you) I KNOW that this journey to the start line was the most important thing. In our society we put too much emphasis on completion and attainment. While I wish you would have finished, I believe that on this marathon training quest you probably learned more about yourself than you thought you could: You picked up new running friends, and you learned how lovely this community of runners can be. Our success as humans is determined by how we handle adversity and disappointment. So Charlie, pick yourself up, and get back on the road and know that life is what we face on the journey NOT what we see after the finish line. I'll be right beside you.
Charlie.. I can completely understand your disappointment, but in training for and running the race in my mind you are a finisher.
I am glad that it was only cramping and that you are doing fine. It was a very hot race day - probably more so than any of your training runs and that makes a huge difference. On the bright side you are fine and you got to spend a great weekend with good friends. Take care my friend and recover well.
Sorry to hear about you DNF, the following is a quote from Amby Burfoot running writer and winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon:
"Losing isn't contagious. It's not a fatal condition, and it's not forever. It's more like a cold that makes you miserable for a week but then goes away, and you're fine."
You'll bounce back soon!!!
Wow, man. You are such a trooper. I am still way proud of you. Now maybe I can find a marathon for us to do!
Congrats on the 25 miles! You trained diligently, and it was just some bad luck I'd say. I'm so glad that you're ok! There will be another race down the road.
Everyone has said it so well. You are still a finisher and should be very proud of all you have accomplished.
Vince Lombardi said, "The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall."
Rise up Charlie!
Oh Charlie - you truly are a hero. Just reading this my heart aches for you but I really hope that you can take all the wise and kind words of your friends here on board because they are true!
You are fantastic for going on this journey and for doing all this - the medal was just the icing on the cake and YOU will get it. Absolutely. It's all in there - but sometimes the forces conspire against us. I saw so many people out there in such a bad way and I just kept hoping that you and Melisa and Bill were okay - it was a tough day out there and you did the right thing. You really did.
Big hug - it was a pleasure to meet you. And now perhaps you should come and run here - it's raining and about 7 degrees celcius...
Charlie, don't feel disappointed. It take courage and determination to go as far as you went. You didn't stop because you mind stop working. You cannot control the cramps that could be caused by the hot weather.. What's wrong with Chicago? They should start thinking on moving the race a couple of weeks.
I knew something happened when your markers didn't show anything else. I was concerned and wish you were well. It was really nice to track you and Petra, Melissa and Maddy. I felt I was there.
Take care, and keep running
sincere-lee
lizzie lee
Howdy Charlie! The Las Vegas Marathon is a great first (to finish) marathon as it's flat as a pancake making it easier to run. The race is also held on December 7th, which is much cooler and better temperatures for racing...last year at the 6:00 a.m. start the temperature was 39 degrees, but quickly warmed to 62 degrees when the sun eventually came up. The Las Vegas Marathon has music/bands/choirs/singers at every mile marker, which is a great distraction from your suffering.
Hello Charlie
How are you doing?
That suggestion of doing Las Vegas in December is a pretty good idea...
In any case, hoping you are of good cheer and hope.
Thanks!
Good job!!
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