Woman Who Just DNF’d Her First Marathon Figures She Has Nothing Left to Prove
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A local woman attempted her first ever marathon Sunday and dropped out of the race at mile 17, Dumb Runner has learned—accomplishing what she’d set out to do, which was to prove to herself and others that she’s not capable of finishing a marathon.
“My race went just as I’d expected,” said Julie Andrews, 35, adding that she can now cross “attempt marathon” off her bucket list. “I knew all along that I would DNF, and sure enough, I did.”
DNF, shorthand for “Did Not Finish,” is the notation made in race results when an athlete drops out of an event.
“As far as I’m concerned,” Andrews said, “I have nothing left to prove.”
Andrews, a self-described casual runner who has completed about a dozen 5Ks, said friends had been encouraging her for years to tackle the marathon distance.
“I would always tell them that was a bad idea, that I just couldn’t do it,” she said. “I know myself well enough to know that I simply don’t have what it takes to run 26.2 miles.”
The prodding persisted, however, and Andrews finally gave in earlier this year, agreeing to sign up with a friend for the Trapp Valley Marathon, held annually in mid-August.
“I followed the training plan, did my taper, showed up on race day, and failed,” said Andrews. “I was, like, See? I told you so. It was total vindication.”
Asked what’s next, Andrews said she wasn’t sure—though some friends have been telling her she should do a triathlon.
