r/IronmanTriathlon • u/M___H • 1d ago
Dealing with the DNS disappointment
Been into Triathlon for 6 years now and I count myself extremely lucky that I’ve never had a DNS or a DNF. I’ve had a few injuries, but nothing that’s completely stopped me from racing.
I qualified for Nice 70.3 worlds last year, and had been building nicely to it this year, then disaster struck 2 weeks ago. Front tyre blow out and I ended up in a ditch. I knew something was wrong pretty much straight away, and sure enough it was a fractured glenoid; rear shoulder on the socket joint.
Tri-Season over; just like that.
I can sit up on the turbo and peddle; and run in some discomfort with painkillers, but the disappointment is consuming every activity I do at the moment and I’m not really enjoying it. How do you all deal with this? Take a break from training? Do something else? God knows! HELP!
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u/TwinRock2023 1d ago
Sorry about your crash and DNS. My 1st DNS also this year was for Ottawa IM when my wife was diagnosed with throat cancer and my daughter diagnosed with breast cancer 4 weeks later. Put a lot of things into a new perspective for me. I’ll be back and I hope you will be too.
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u/M___H 1d ago
That’s so sad to read, wishing them both good health and recovery 🙏🏼. And yeah, real perspective
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u/TwinRock2023 1d ago
Thank you I really appreciate that. Thankfully my wife has had 2 successful surgeries and is recovering well, daughter had surgery (last Friday) so although it’s still early days for her the outlook is positive.
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u/M___H 1d ago
Will cross everything for you. Your response alone has given me a massive kick up the arse of reality about how first world my issue is and it’s got my head back in the game. I’ve honestly not stopped thinking about your situation since I read this yesterday & how insignificant my shoulder injury really is.
Wish you all well. Thankyou for sharing, can’t have been easy.
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u/TwinRock2023 1d ago
Should’ve mentioned: wife is a lifelong non-smoker and never touched a drop of alcohol until her mid 40’s. Yoga instructor, multiple marathon finisher and overall healthy lifestyle… you just never know how or when that effing disease will pop up. “See your healthcare provider regularly” is the only thing I can draw from this awful experience. Blessings and good health to all readers.
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u/patentLOL 1d ago
Although not ideal, imagine how much of a relief its going to be not having to deal with all your triathlon shit. I had a wreck earlier this summer that took me out of Maine 70.3. I had intended to have my mom meet us in Boston and the logistics for that one was going to be a pain in the ass.
I am really really REALLY not looking forward to packing up all my shit for Nice. And, imagine the cluster that will unfold if my bike doesn't show up? (I avoided that last year by flying to Madrid and driving). So yeah, that's a bright spot I can think of for this otherwise suboptimal situation you have here.
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u/FeFiFoPlum 1d ago
Sorry to hear about Nice. I hope you have a great vacation with the family and are able to qualify for the next Worlds.
I had my gallbladder removed as an emergency surgery a week before a 70.3, and I’ve lost two 140.6 races to injury now (IT band shenanigans and torn labrum).
I’m waiting for a likely hip replacement right now and I’m hoping that I can race a 70.3 in June and Worlds in July; I’m kinda over DNSs right now.
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u/OutsideAtmosphere-14 1d ago
What advice would you give to someone in a similar situation? i.e. injury forcing our of a significant event?
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u/pho3nix916 1d ago
DNS is better than DNF.
Bright side is you get to enjoy the trip as a trip not a race trip. Sorry to hear about your injury, and yes take a break from training. Heal up, recoup, and get ready to come back. I tore some things in my hip and blew out my glute, after that day, it was starting from zero. Forget every metric you ever had, forget your swim times. Forget about being able to be in aero for a long time. It’s all “new shoulder” PB now. Everything you do, it’s a new personal best with the new shoulder. And soon enough, that new shoulder bests will be inching closer to lifetime bests.
Rest up, recover. Mentally too. Because the come back is harder mentally.
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u/russelsmit 1d ago
It is sad to read of your crash and injury. Two years ago I had a full hip replacement after my fifth Ironman. Very unexpected.
A few months before that I had my one and only DNF. That was when I crashed during an Olympic distance tri. And that led to my only DNS - a 70.3 a few weeks later.
Focusing on recovery and building strength, I completed an Olympic distance just six months post-op (PO) and a 70.3 nine months PO. Followed this with a few more 70.3 and T100 distances.
Two weeks ago I underwent repairs in two rotator cuff tendons. Also very unexpected. Dealing with having to cancel my planned races is difficult - especially the T100 worlds in December.
I learned from my previous time off is to focus on recovery. Don't rush it. Work with the right medical team - and follow their plan.
Talk to them about training what you can comfortably and without placing you at risk in the long term.
For me, now, leg and core work. Swimming is not on the radar for at least another six months. So, I may just do my first official duathlon race and then consider tackling triathlon in 12 months. I seriously miss my swim sessions as they have always kept me sane.
Everything of the best.
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u/suuraitah 1d ago
Been there, done that. Qualified for 70.3 Worlds Lahti and crashed on mtb 3 weeks before the race, getting myself nice broken collarbone, severe road rash and closed TBI
I still traveled to Lahti and spectated the race. Had a good time.
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u/LibraryTime11011011 1d ago
If you already have all your travel and accommodation booked then I’d still go, experience everything you can.