#DFN in ultra events aka #atleastyousteppedup

Two friends of mine in different Ultra event event have experienced the DFN (Did Not Finish) in the last week .
The two events the Lakeland 100 and the London-Edinburgh-London Cycling event . The former dropped out after 107km ( 60 miles ?) with bad feet and rubbish weather the latter at 400 miles plus with a knee injury .
Wells chaps bloody well done epic effort . Ultra's are just that "ultra's" no amount of training physical and mental can control what happens . They are by there very nature on the edge (of do'able or lunacy ). To be honest stuff happens . What you have done and tried (and no I wont say failed to do ) is extraordinary . The tiredness the effort that makes you verge on the edge of hallucination is a brave places to visit . In a ultra you visit that place in the bad patches and stay there . The analogy I use is put your your hand on a hot plate and keeping it there .
To call DFN failure is wrong is because the biggest challenge in a ultra is getting your head in the right place to get to the start line . The rest of humanity is #DNS (Did Not Start) .
I heard of the valiant efforts over the early part of the week and reflected on it and then amazing Mike Wesch of the ground breaking (machine is us/ing US)

 

posted the video on his youtube channel .reflections of students from his latest class the video especially the last moments explain about what you gain from going to dark places and then emerging in the sunshine . If youve never been in those places you never fully appreciate the sun on your back

So Both of you Live with decision not the regret , learn from it Regroup and start looking for the next challenge .

I will leave Words from the 24 hours of Moab dirt bike race in the USA describe whats its like ....

"Somewhere during the night you will hear a voice say, "Why am I doing this? I am never doing this again!" Look forward to this voice. Welcome it. Laugh at it. Embrace it. Look forward to hearing it again next year. Just know that it will come and that you will ride past it and be stronger when it fades into the shadows."

-- Chris Tirpak, 4x Sufferer of Canaan and Moab

Youve  heard those voices and learnt to laugh oh so loud at them for the joy of being alive!!
Enjoy the sunshine !!

Great work