31 thoughts on my first DNF

One for every mile

1: The left heel pain started a few weeks ago, but I didn’t think much of it because I’ve always had soreness in my left heel. Usually it goes away on its own. Probably some form of taper tantrums, I figured. It will go away like it always does. Sure, sure. 

2: The pain didn’t go away on Sunday during the Vermont 50. It was there when I woke up, and it was there when I started running. Honestly, it had been there since last Tuesday, humming ominously low in the background. Crazy how the pain showed up unannounced and never went away. Life, man.