Intriguing question: Let me suggest that if the reason for running is to
make money, DNF often makes sense, but if the reason is to prove how tough
you are, DNF is failure.
Tom Derderian
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sandrak" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2001 9:00 PM
Subject: t-and-f: DNFs: a growing trend?
> Are there any statistics about the historical occurrence of DNFs in track
> and field? (leaving aside rabbits)
>
> Is it my imagination, or are they on the increase? The comment "I knew I
> wasn't going to win (or move on to the final), so why bother?" seems to
have
> come up more frequently in the past few years. This is often couched in
the
> 'why-bother-risking-(further)-injury' concept. If DNFs are on the
increase,
> does it say something about a change in psychology among athletes or in
the
> culture of (professional) athletics? Or sports in general. Or 'society'
in
> general (though it would be interesting to see if there are cross-cultural
> differences in the rate of bailing a race).
>
> Sandra
>
>
>
