Lessons from the Trail: Why I DNF’d at Mile 24

By Mark, Founder & Head of Trail

My passion for trail running means every chance I get to run is a chance for a new adventure. This past Thanksgiving weekend, my partner and I found ourselves in Santa Fe, New Mexico, chasing that familiar urge to find local dirt. We signed up for the Bosque Bigfoot Trail Runs in Albuquerque, a 50K consisting of four 8-mile(ish) loops, with a beautiful stretch running right along the Rio Grande.

This race was more than just a training run; it was another step toward my personal goal of running at least a 25K (15.5 miles) or more in every US state.

The Altitude is the Real Uphill

Coming from New York at sea level, we knew the elevation was going to be a factor. Even after acclimating slightly in Santa Fe at 7,000 feet before dropping down to Albuquerque 5,000 feet, the air felt noticeably thin. The course itself was deceptively flat, which means no walk breaks up a hill or mountain, you’re always running; but the challenge lay entirely in the atmosphere.

The weather was gorgeous: mid-30s at the start, quickly warming to the mid-60s. The problem wasn’t the heat, but the dry air. You sweat, and the moisture evaporates instantly, giving you a false sense of cooling while silently accelerating dehydration.

The Mid-Run Crash: A Lesson in Fueling Strategy

I started the race on my usual routine: water and electrolytes every 2 miles, and a gel every 30 minutes. For the first two loops, I felt fantastic. But deep into the third loop, things went sideways.

I started to feel crampy and just completely unlike myself. My immediate test is checking my saliva, which started showing signs my body was stressed, and the fuel mix wasn't agreeing with me anymore.

I tried taking a salt tab, a move I usually avoid because it always makes me thirstier and leads to quick-cramping water consumption. Starting the fourth loop, my body gave a hard "Nope." With three hours left before the cutoff, I made the tough decision to take the DNF (Did Not Finish).

The Post-Race Breakdown: What Went Wrong?

Looking back, I learned three critical lessons that every trail runner should consider when traveling and training:

1. Dehydration and Thirst: I think the altitude and the extreme dryness accelerated my dehydration much faster than I realized. In a dry climate, you need to consciously increase your electrolyte/water consumption, even if you don't feel thirsty.

2. Fueling Fatigue is Real: My steady mix of sweet electrolytes and gels, which works fine at sea level, became impossible to choke down at elevation. Train Your Gut by varying your fuel texture (salty, savory, liquid) to prevent palate and stomach fatigue.

3. Listen to the Body’s "Nope": I could have walked the last loop, but my body was shutting down. Sometimes, the bravest decision is to stop and address the root cause. I returned and immediately chugged water and electrolytes, and felt my body slowly return to normal.

After all these years of trail running, I'm constantly learning and evolving. The DNF was a valuable lesson in managing the elements and listening to my body's limits. I did finish with a 40k though, so I'm crossing New Mexico off of my list.

I have my heart set on the next adventure, and I hope you do too.