Did Not Start.
Did Not Start. The Covered Bridges Half Marathon.
Flowers on our hike
On Sunday it was the Covered Bridges Half Marathon. I did not start this race. And you know what. I am 100% ok with that. I signed up for this race awhile back. It’s one of those races that fills up quickly. We are talking in 8 minutes. My friend Olivia waited patiently for registration to open and then clicked sign up as soon as was possible to get me a spot. I was looking forward to this race. It’s been on my list of races to do for a long time. The course sounds simply gorgeous and not super hilly which is crazy for Vermont. The race t-shirts and medals are cool and the course features covered bridges hence the name. I also knew that I would see several friends at the race including Carly from Fine Fit Day.
Family Hiking
As race day approached my heart just wasn’t in it. I have been running but my longest run has been about 8 miles so I knew I didn’t have the mileage to complete a race that would make me happy. It would probably be a slog. Also, leading up to race day I have been continuing to struggle with depression which has made some days really tough even to get out the door to go for a run. The Doctor that I am working with has been making some changes to my medicine including one last week and I am still adapting to it so didn’t want to end up feeling strange on race day. Sometimes the adjustments to a new medication can make things hard. I just didn’t feel like putting that kind of pressure on myself to race a half marathon would be a good idea for my mental well-being.
Radar Tower Adventurers
I thought I would miss the race once I had made my decision and while it would have been fun I ended up being super happy with my decision. While I did not race, I spent Saturday afternoon hiking with my family on a trail to Holt’s Ledge on the Appalachian Trail which gave us gorgeous views. We ended up running down a ski trail together at the Dartmouth Skiway which was a blast. Then on Sunday, my husband and some friends and I went to East Haven, Vermont and hiked up to an abandoned Cold War Radar Base. This hike rewarded us from 360 degree views from the top of one of the radar buildings. It was a clear day and we could see Jay Peak, Burke Mountain, and the White Mountains in New Hampshire. We ended our adventure with a swim in the Moose River.
Wow! What a view!
While I hate to DNS (did not start) a race I am happy with my decision because it was what was best for me at the time. even though I missed this race there are plenty of others to do! This weekend I am contemplating racing the Ascutney Mountain run which is a 3.7 mile race, all uphill with a 2300 ft ascent. It’s been awhile since I have raced any of the mountain races but I am ready to mix things up a bit and to give this one a go!
Happy Hiker
Have you ever chosen to miss a race that you were registered for?
4 responses
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Sometimes a DNS is exactly what you need and I’m proud of you for recognizing that! The race(s) will come and go but you need to take care of YOU first. Looks like it was a great weekend and you’re happy with your decision so that’s really all that matters 🙂
I too have chosen not to start a race I signed up for and had been looking forward to. But, the adventure of the day before the race took a toll on my body and I knew I was not going to give it my all. Good for you for doing what was best at that time. Enjoy what you do and keep moving forward. I enjoy your stories and follow you. Best of luck with your depression. Rooting for you.
You are so smart to listen to your mind and body and back off of this race. Running and racing should bring us joy and when it loses that spark, then we have to take a step back. i love that you chose to hike a beautiful trail instead with people who care about you. I love your bravery for talking about a subject that so many people shove under the bed and refuse to talk about. Depression is a huge topic in our world that needs to be openly discussed without fear. You are wonderful for doing this my friend and we are all supporting you. I send you love as always. xo
Good for you for being in tune to your needs and taking care of yourself — and thank you for sharing your reasons honestly. The mountain run sounds crazy!