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I’ve never had a DNS or a DNF…until this past weekend, that is. Some of you might have remembered that I was supposed to do the Copper Gobbler Snowshoe 5k race on Saturday. Having spent the holiday over in Cedaredge, I even got up extra early Saturday morning to make sure I could do the (icy) drive to Copper with enough time to spare. The snowshoe race didn’t start until 11am, but I was an easy 3.5 hours away. Soooo…..that meants icy and snowy mountain passes for me! Good thing I’m an expert driver 😉
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I taught Danica everything she knows!
Anyway, like an hour into the drive, I started to feel weird. Not weird in my typical way that you’ve all known and grown to love (!), but weird in the, “my chest is kinda tight and I can’t really get a deep breath” kind of way. Of course, I had both my inhalers with me so I started using them. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to do any good and I began to get really frustrated. I was just sitting in the car; what in the world was going on?
This kept up for a good hour, and of course, I started working myself into hysterics. After all, I’m female and I was in the car by myself. Naturally. Unfortunately, the emotion and tears only makes asthma symptoms worse, so I just got all sorts of uncomfortable. Finally, I threw in the towel and pulled my car over n Gypsum, a small mountain town outside of Vail.
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Are you sensing the trend in my t-shirts here???
I called Cindy, who was already at Copper waiting for me, and tearfully told her that I wouldn’t be able to race with them. I was having a hard time breathing in the car, so I knew there was no way that I should be snowshoeing at 9-10,000 feet. Of course, she understood and told me to get myself down the mountain safely to my steroids that were happily tucked away in my medicine cabinet. And she was right, so that’s exactly what I did.
After I got home, took my meds, and calmed myself down, I had some time to reflect on what had happened. First and foremost, I daresay another trip to the doc is in order because there is no reason that should have happened: I’ve been on my meds as prescribed, so who knows. Apparently my lungs decided to further rebel.
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You’re welcome for that PSA.
The kicker of everything? I went for a run yesterday and I was fine. No problems, no struggles breathing, no tight chest, nothing. In fact, I felt great and it was a GLORIOUS run. Explain that. I think my lungs are staging a coup d’etat and trying to overthrow me. They won’t win; I assure you of this!
So that’s my story of how I got my first ever DNS. I’m sad that my record is now marred, but on the bright side, I’m healthy and breathing like a mad woman today!
And you know what else is awesome?! I only have 2 more day of work until we are closed for the winter!!! Mountain, snow, and playtime; here I come!!
Keep a look out for another giveaway this week!
Truth time: how many DNS, DNF, or DLFs do you have in your racing history?