My first and hopefully last DNF (Did Not Finish)

Today was the day of our Hot Chocolate 15K. I was scared to death knowing that my pace has been near the 15 min requirement I was worried but thought maybe I can pick up time here and there to make it work. Hubby was so supportive and truly believed I could do it.

Here is us before

We were both a little ill from the whole idea of doing a 15K. Our corral start was based on what we entered as our pace, so she was way ahead of me and I was in the back. At first it was going good. We took off and I felt like hey I'm not doing so bad, but I forgot to start my watch so my watch milage was a little off. I started feeling like it was time to walk and looked at my garmin and I had ran for almost half a whole half mile.  It had been just under 5 mins since turning on my watch and me being at a half a mile!  I thought perfect if I can keep this up this is going to be no problem.  Just after mile one there were porta potty and I had to pee, I stopped and that took 2 mins and who knows how many people passed me then.  Then it happened. I could see the pacers and the police car that was right behind them.

I thought ok no big deal now you know were they are just make sure they stay about the same distance behind you. The amount of up hill incline on this run was crazy. We went all the way down to Pike Place down at the water then we had to get all the way back up to Woodland Park via the Battery St tunnel and across the Aurora bridge, to our turn around point. I knew there were a few people behind me but I could no longer see them and I could see the pacers on bikes. So I came to grips with the fact that you know what finishing last wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, just keep going they are still about a half a mile behind you.  

I was pacing a couple other walkers that were walking faster than I was so I played leap frog. I would run and pass them, then let them pass me and so on. I get to the bridge like the flatest part of the entire run just a little over a mile from the final turn around. We has been climbing a steady incline to this bridge and I was telling myself that I would make up this time on the bridge and going down the hill we just came up, and they cut me off. O_O Right as I got to the bridge they told me I had to turn there, what?  I quickly looked for the pacers that were still in the same spot I left them so WTFrick??? Still confused I look at my watch and I still have plenty of time to make it in my 2hr and 20 min limit they give and they are cutting me off here?  It was a blow to the gut, I was devastated, I had failed. Then just as the fog in my brain started to clear BFF runs up behind me. I was happy to see her and told her that I failed. We both agreed getting turned around was better than having to catch a ride from the fail bus but still. We hit the mile 8 marker and I am at just about to 6 miles. I told her I had already decided not to accept the finisher medal when I crossed the finish line because it would be a lie and the constant reminder that I was not a 15K finisher. I was trying to keep it together and thankfully BFF decided to see if she could finish in under two hours I cheered her on and told her to go for it!  The second she left, my throat tightened and the tears started to flow uncontrollably. I hoped the soft sobs I was letting out were just coming off as heavy breathing from running to those around me. I couldn't stop the tears until the 9 mile marker. Almost to the finish I knew I'd have to wipe the tears off and be ready to reject the medal.  4 different people tried to had me the finisher medal and I am surprised I was able to get out a no thank you. I almost lost it again when BFF hugged me as we were going to our cars.  

The drive home was full of anger and tears. I got home and when I was ready to talk told my hubby about how I don't understand why I was turned around when the pacers were no where near me.  I also told BFF via text about this fact as well. We figured out that this whole 2 hr and 20 min time limit started when the first corral was let go. So me and all the other slower paced people they place at the back of the pack didn't leave until a half hour later. So us slower paced people really only had 1hr and 50 mins. We were all behind the moment we started.  I guess there were some pretty pissed off people they were making do the turn around. BFF's hubby was there and witness a lady telling them how she has kept a 14 min pace and they should be turning her around. Sure enough looking at the stats they ended right after 2 hrs and 30 mins which means when I reached the bridge I still had an hour to finish 4 miles. I could have completed it but they turned me around. 

So no after pic for me I was to upset but as I realized they had cut me and many other people short I started to think I probably could have completed if they just let me stay ahead of the pacers.  I had to remind myself that: Did not finish still trumps Did not start.