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Would you enter a race knowing you could come in last?
pobalita
Posts: 741 Member
One of my 2014 goals is to run one half marathon or more per month. I've found only two races in July that don't conflict with my marathon training or other obligations, or aren't ridiculously inconvenient to get to. One is a road race - and I do ok on road races - but, it's is two hours from my house and it doesn't appear to be very well organized. It doesn't look that appealing to me. The other is a trail run that is much closer to home and well organized; I've done 10-mile races on this course before. However, when looking at my times on recent comparable trail runs and comparing them to the last few halfs held on this route, it looks like there is a good possibility that I could come in last. (It wasn't an issue for the 10-mile races because they are much larger.)
I know that I can't predict who will be there or how many people will run, but based on what I do know, last place in the trail run is a possibility. Would you enter a race if you thought this might happen? Part of me says to just suck it up and forget my ego, but, really, I don't want to be last.
I know that I can't predict who will be there or how many people will run, but based on what I do know, last place in the trail run is a possibility. Would you enter a race if you thought this might happen? Part of me says to just suck it up and forget my ego, but, really, I don't want to be last.
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Yes, I would and I have. My first triathlon I was DFL (very small race) and in at least one other very small road race. It's really not that bad. Plus, always leaves room for improvement.0
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Yes. But I am not competitive and don't care if everybody else is faster than I am . Lots of people are. I am faster than others. Its a crap shoot who decides to run a particular race. I do it for fun.0
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Not being able to finish is more of a concern than finishing last. I'd rather get DFL any day of the week than a DNF.0
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Since it's one of many halfs you will do this year and you are also tackling a marathon, I would consider it good for the ego and motivation and suck it up. If I were only looking to do one or two races in the year I would probably look for one where I would have a better chance at being middle of the pack.
Agree DFL>DNF.0 -
Would, did, and was last, but it was fine. If I thought I was going to be last by like hours I might not, I'd hate to be a significant hold up, but someone's gotta be last.0
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If I thought there was a chance I would be swept then I would not enter but simply finishing last would not bother me (much ????).0
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I would still do it. Knowing that I would come in last would only give me a little bit more of a challenge to be second to last. Plus its the finishing that counts. Anytime I cross a start line I am determined to finish, no longer how long it takes, no matter how, even crawling. And if you do come in last, then next year you train to better.
I just finished a half marathon, I really got my butt handed to me in the hills and the warm weather.. But I finished, I did not make my time goal and I definitely did not PR but I crossed that finish line.
FINISH WHAT YOU START!!0 -
Absolutely... I have come in last in my gender/age group in a couple of races - and was very nearly last in a 10K back in March (3rd from DLF in a field of about 200 runners).
The only person I'm competing with out there is myself.
The day I was nearly DLF was a 6 minute PR in the 10K distance... no way I can count that as anything BUT a victory.0 -
If I didn't do races where there is a legitimate likelihood of me being DFL, I wouldn't race at all. I race myself and the sweeper bus, and honestly tell myself that people finish ahead of me so they can cheer for me when I finally get there. It's a lie and it's cheesy, but being DFL is a very real possibility for me at every event.0
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DFL = Dead f'ing last???
ETA: And yes, I would run, but to be honest, I would try my damnedest not to be DFL.0 -
If I didn't do races where there is a legitimate likelihood of me being DFL, I wouldn't race at all. I race myself and the sweeper bus, and honestly tell myself that people finish ahead of me so they can cheer for me when I finally get there. It's a lie and it's cheesy, but being DFL is a very real possibility for me at every event.
❤️❤️❤️???????????? Since the majority of races I run are put on by the race company I work for or the running club I'm in I usually know a ton of people running them as well. I always say "save me a place at the finish" to all the runners who undoubtably finish ahead of me lol. "Keep my spot warm" etc. Its all in fun. Who wants to finish first and worry about following the lead cyclist anyway lol.0 -
Yes, sure. Somebody has to be last? I was almost last a trail half race. I was 3rd from last.0
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Not being able to finish is more of a concern than finishing last. I'd rather get DFL any day of the week than a DNF.
This all the way!
I'm a little competitive and I probably wouldn't like to be last but I'd still do it. I race to beat myself, not anybody else.0 -
Someone is always last. Who cares! I would do it. Do the race you want to do!0
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I was in a race where I was DFL... and first place. I think that's actually the worst. But heck yeah, I'd gladly be last as long as I was having fun.0
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Definitely do the trail race. I just completed my first trail race yesterday and it was so much fun. All of the changes in terrain and scenery kept me from being bored and the time flew by. I'm not sure your pace, but I am not a fast runner and I was in the middle of the women (only 50, so it was a small group). You may not need to be concerned about being last and even if you are, who cares!?0
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Finishing last means you finished ahead of the sweepers. My goal, ever since running trails (for the past year lol) has always been to just finish. One of these days I will concern myself with being "competitive" but for now, finishing is always the main goal.
Last weekend I ran a 24 hour timed event. I completed 75 miles...in 23:30. There was one guy on the course longer, and he did 100. The RD, who I volunteered for before my first ultra last year, emailed and congratulated me. I was 4th overall, but only because I just wouldn't quit. The rub is I know I wouldn't finish 100 miles in the customary 30h cutoff. I gave all I could. I am coming off an injury, so I know I probably wasn't at my best, HOWEVER it's going to be a long tough road to beating cutoffs in August. I don't give a $#!+ if I'm last. I want to beat the sweep.
One of the great things about trail races is you will still have supporters at the very end of the event cheering you on as you finish. It's a great feeling to finish. I'm sure winning is a good feeling too, but finishing is awesome. So long story short, GO FOR IT!0 -
Definitely. I am signed up for an 8k race in July where I probably will be last, based on last year's results. I know I can improve on my best time and that is my goal for the race. Several people from our running group will be there so I will have the biggest cheering section when I cross the finish line!0
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I've been last finisher in a 21k trail race. Thought I was 2nd to last, but turns out the person behind me dropped out (it was 2x figure-eight course, he dropped with 1/2 loop remaining).
No one working the race seemed to care & there was still food left over. Felt great to finish, no matter my time!0 -
Finishing is a victory in and of itself. Even if you come in dead last, you still beat the guy who stayed home on the couch.
Excellent point!0 -
Hell yes! its all about finishing, beating my own preconceptions about my ability, pushing through and enjoying it.
Comfort zones are great, but who knows what you can be capable of outside of your comfort zone unless you do it0 -
Forgot to mention this, but for my first trail race I didn't think I would make the cutoff at the end. I was just hoping they didn't stop me on the course, that they would allow me to finish. That was my biggest concern, that I would not be allowed to continue. Thoughts of "will I be last" never entered my mind.0
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There's a special pride in being DFL!
But....Finishing last means you finished ahead of the sweepers.
Not sure how much experience you have, but are you aware of the existence of sweepers? One of the standard things that happens at a trail race is a volunteer starts running the course after everyone has started, and makes sure nobody's limping along with a broken ankle. If you're too slow at a trail race, the sweepers might ask you to wait for a ride at an aid station. You won't finish at all! I really have no idea when / if they'll be sweeping the course you're hoping to run. But DFL ain't no shame. Being swept.... frustrating.
The sweeping time usually isn't anything personal about slower runners - it typically has to do with permitting and sunset. It might be worth an email to the race director if you can't find info about course cutoffs in the race info.
Aaaaaaaaaand....... being swept is the reason I get out and bust my rear to get faster. The brutal reality of trail racing is that not all races are accommodating of slower runners, and many of the fun races aren't even accommodating to MEDIUM paced runners. I run a 5K in the lower half of the 24 minute range, and there are still many many races that I'm too slow for.0 -
When I was in college I was the worst runner on my track team at the end of the season. I wasn't the worst at the *start* of the season but everyone who was worse than me quit the team...and meanwhile I became a much better runner. I finished several races in last place.
As an adult, I haven't had that happen in a race but if the race was something I wanted to do, I wouldn't let the possibility of losing stop me. I prefer to find challenging races where there are no guarantees.
In fact one of my least satisfying races ever was one that I *won*! I felt like there just wasn't any serious competition in the race -- there are lots of people in my area who can easily beat me; the only reason I won is because those guys didn't enter.0 -
OMG!!!! I went through the same exact mess in my head on Friday (the day you posted this)
Small races always freaked me out for the very thought of "coming in last" so I never signed up for small races.
Sat 10th May 2014 saw a 10K absolutely wanted to do it but it was a small race. I was determined to overcome this fear this time ... Signed up for the race jus' 10 minutes before it started, got kids large shirt b'coz they ran out of adult size and freaking ran and PR'ed the race.
I kept passing people and no one passed me. In real high humidity of 94% hilly course I ran 1.09.53 (official chip time).
I amazed myself and it jus' couldn't get any better.0 -
The last place runner finishing a race had a superior performance to all those who didn't run at all.0
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It was a very real possibility for my 40-mile race last year. As it turns out, 4 people finished after me, but I would have felt the same way if I was the last finisher. My goal was to finish, so mission accomplished!0
This discussion has been closed.