[spin]

<p>Ok ... I've been "training" for a 15K recently with the goal to finish the season off on a good note (I was terribly disappointed with the run this year). I finished my run today and a neighbor asked me how far I went .. I told him I put in ~ 8.5mi which was good enough to give me confidence heading into the event next weekend.  He laughed and said ... 'hate to tell ya, but the race was today' ... NOOOOOoooo .. I said 'no way' and frantically looked it up while he watched with a grin on his face .. sure enough, while i was doing my final long run, the event was going off.  <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/BangHead.gif" style="width:25px;height:20px;" title=""> .. this one was so pathetic, I don't even think i can call it a DNS!!</p>

 

[hobey]

<p>D'oh! No other 12-15K races coming up where you can test your fitness?</p>
<p> </p>

 

[Stitcher]

<p>That's better than calculating the time difference the wrong way and nearly missing the start of a goal race.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Can you go out next weekend and do the event supported by friends?</p>
<p>Is the route known to you?</p>
<p> </p>

 

[pcsronbo]

<p>whoooooooooooooooooooooooops! <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/dontknow.gif" style="width:37px;height:15px;" title=""></p>

 

[Tri-Tammy]

<p>Ouch! </p>

 

[MBannon]

<p>Idiot!!!  is exactly what I'd be calling myself.  Bummer, man.  Major bummer.</p>

 

[hobey]

<p>Actually this is almost as good as the time BD went to race a du and didn't realize that his front bike wheel was still sitting in the garage until he got to the race.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>BD says you can call it a DNR (Did Not Remember) or an IFF (I F-in Forgot). <img alt="biggrin.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//biggrin.gif"></p>

 

[cak73]

<p>That's a bummer!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't know how I've managed to not do something like this myself...</p>

 

[Alaska Mike]

<p>I trained for several months for a 28 mile trail run in Alaska.  I was up late the night before the race getting my gear together and overslept the next morning.  I was supposed to meet some training buddies to carpool to the start and they waited a bit hoping I would show up (I didn't wake up until after the start) and they ended up getting to the race just as the starting gun was going off.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Stuff happens.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mike</p>

 

[Thor]

<p>I'm with Mike: stuff happens.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Use your fitness, instead, to do something else, be it another race (of whatever distance you can find and that sounds good and like fun), your own little journey, or something entirely new. Maybe use it as a fun way to experience something cool. You'll go in with little to no expectations, and I bet you'll have a blast and maybe find a new hobby or distance.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There are far too many cool races to worry about just one.</p>

 

[mmoonptdeux]

<p>Like Mike & Thor said, stuff happens</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I showed up to the 2007 San Francisco Half Marathon all geared up to break 2 hours in the distance for the first time.  20 min before the start, I realized I hadn't strapped my chip onto my shoe. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>After utter deflation, I finally came to the conclusion that since I got up this freakin' early the morning in the first place (had to get up 3:30 AM for the 5:30 AM start) and paid my money, I might as well run it. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Knocked out a 1:57 and change...all unofficial.  And with the early start, there was no photographic evidence either I was out on the course, save for one lone pic, where a photographer caught me holding pace balloons for a friend of mine right before the start.</p>

 

[jenotter]

<p>Oooohhhh...that bites. But I agree with Stitcher - you should run the race next weekend on your own!</p>

 

[spin]

<p>Thanks for all the support and sharing of similar stories .. I knew I could count on team LIT to help me keep it all in perspective.  I have an idea of printing out the course map and knocking out the race with a co-worker that also couldn't race that weekend (for legitimate reasons <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;" title="">). Stay tuned for a RR ... or would that be a MRR (mock race report)?</p>

 

[Tri_coach06]

<p>The night before the Miami Marathon a few years ago my dog got into the garbage and ate a bunch of chicken bones. We spent the whole night in the doggie emergency room while they flushed her out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I went to the ER dressed and ready to race if she got out and was OK. The doc released her and we drove like hell to get to the race. I parked and started running to the start. I was about a quarter mile away when I heard the gun go off. As I ran up the corrals were empty and I just ran right through.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As I approached the halfway point I saw Lucy and my poor little drugged dog on the side of the road. I had the choice, go straight and finish the thon, or take a left and finish the half. I made the left.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Stuff happens.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>CS</p>

 

[Heather H]

<p>thor and Mike are right, stuff happens, but it still sucks!! Hope you have a great race this weekend! At least you won't have to deal with crowds or get up super early.</p>

 

[spin]

<p>A quick follow-up and "RR" - I was able to twist the arm of a coworker and run the course this morning. My folks were in town and watched my kids so I wanted to get the event out of the way in the morning .. not too popular with my coworker who was out late the night before.  I pulled race maps from the event page and met him near the start line.  I really didn't look too closely at the map .. just printed it out and threw it in my bag .. a move i would soon regret.  The map wasn't very detailed (very few cross roads) and was not even close to scale. We took off from the parking lot and were confused less than a mile in. we werent too disappointed if we didn't follow the EXACT route, so we began to improvise (another word for get lost).  We stumbled around the area and spent a vast majority of the time off course as apposed to on course.  When we were done, we estimated over 10 mi were logged.  I had a blast. Beautiful weather this morning and good time spent w/ a coworker who just moved to the area <3 months ago.  We added a short little jog through the campus of a local college where i got my masters degree (havent' been back for over 10 yrs and things changed .. wow).  Great day ... and I saved at least $30 entry fee <span><img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span></p>

 

[Yo Sake]

<p>Glad to see the smiley face at the end.</p>

 

[Stitcher]

<p>Yay....</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good job on making it work out in a good way.</p>
<p> </p>
<p></p>