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The Forever Runner
How to Recover After a DNF
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-7:06

How to Recover After a DNF

(Even When It’s Not Your Fault)

Coach Herb discusses how runners can recover emotionally and mentally after DNFing a race, noting that DNFs can happen for many reasons, including race cancellations. It references the Moab 240 being canceled mid-race due to extreme weather and explains the race director’s responsibility for runner, volunteer, and spectator safety, drawing on the speaker’s experience canceling a 50K mid-race because of high winds and falling trees. The speaker shares personal DNFs from over 80 ultramarathons, often due to injury, and a recent hike on Mount Eleanor where they stopped short of the summit due to factors like low heart pumping volume, beta blockers, steep terrain, and elevation. Key tips include not dwelling, creating a clear story explaining what happened, getting moving again soon after, and talking it through with a friend or loved one to move forward.

00:00 DNF Recovery Intro
00:13 Moab 240 Cancellation
02:08 DNFs Happen to Anyone
02:44 Mount Eleanor Example
03:21 Step One Tell the Story
05:13 Step Two Get Moving Again
05:41 Step Three Talk It Out
06:27 Wrap Up and Takeaways

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