I came in last in my race this weekend - and loved! NSV

AsellusReborn
AsellusReborn Posts: 1,112 Member
in Success Stories
One of the best things I have ever done for myself is teach myself to run. I was the girl who couldn't run, I wasn't built for it, even when I was overly thin. (Which I am obviously not now, LOL) I had no cardiovascular fitness so running was impossible for me - I didn't run the mile in high school. So teaching myself to run was an amazing journey of self empowerment and proving that my hard limits weren't so hard after all.

But one of my biggest fears - as I am definitely a slow, slow runner lol - was coming in last in a race. My first 2 races were big - a few thousand people - and while I was in the bottom third-ish, I wasn't last. My first 5K on 9/13 I was 1936 of 2501 - my second on 9/23 was 1844 of 2312, and my third 5K was 266 of 371.


But this weekend was my first 10K. It was supposed to be 2 weeks ago but it was cancelled due to weather, so it was smaller than it would have been originally - but it was a whopping 48 people in the 5K and 21 (yes, twenty-one!) in the 10K. I came in at a solid 21, 10 minutes behind number 20 - but I'm not upset like I thought I would be. I was sort of waiting for the excitement to die down and me to get upset at coming in last, but I'm actually really happy.

Like I said - I'm a slow runner. My first 5K was a 13:00 pace, my second a 12:51 pace, my third an 11:54 pace. My long runs are usually a 13, 13 1/2 pace. My pace for this weekend was 12:26. So not only was I a good chunk faster than my first two races only about a month ago - but I paced myself consistently (my splits were just about dead even!) and I -finished-! 4 months ago, when I just started my weightloss journey, I did not dream of running - at all. I didn't start the C25K program until 7/31. Me running a mile would have been met with disbelief - much less 6.2. I have come so much further than I ever thought I was, even if I never get faster or lose any more weight. I am healthier and in better shape than I have been since...ever...even if I'm not the thinnest I've ever been.

And you know what? I got a finisher's medal. It's a win!
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Replies

  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    I think that is AWESOME and I am on a similar journey. Congratulations to you!!! And keep on running!!!:flowerforyou:
  • mlwatts2
    mlwatts2 Posts: 244 Member
    Celebrate the improvement!! GO YOU!!!
  • cckellympls
    cckellympls Posts: 39 Member
    I love this post! Thanks! I am a slow runner and i am doing the C2 5K training right now. I don't have a race in mind to run but i want to be able to run.....race or not. Who cares what your place was! I am glad you are celebrating your success!!! You are running and you are improving your own time. That is awesome!!! Keep up the fantastic work and cheers to your personal journey!!! When i get on that treadmill tomorrow and start week 7 of my training i will be thinking of you!!!
  • gramacanada
    gramacanada Posts: 557 Member
    You deserve more than a finisher's medal. You deserve a Parade!
    Super well done. If I had one I would award you "The Silver Sneaker Award"!
    Great job!
  • NicoleNeverman
    NicoleNeverman Posts: 41
    Good on you! That is so great to hear. I just started to C25K program, just starting week 2 today. I hope I have as much success with it as you have :smile:
  • AsellusReborn
    AsellusReborn Posts: 1,112 Member
    Thank you~!!! :) Good luck on your journey - it is amazing!


    Thank you, mlwatts! :)


    Corinne, there is nothing wrong with slow - we're running, and that's the important part! :)


    Oooh, I love the idea of the silver sneaker! :D


    Good luck with the c25k program - it will do great things for you; you'll be amazed at what you can do with it :)
  • MGMum
    MGMum Posts: 29
    Way to go Heather! It's awesome you're doing so many races! I'm finding it tough to get out for my normal runs, let alone a race! LOL
  • AsellusReborn
    AsellusReborn Posts: 1,112 Member
    Way to go Heather! It's awesome you're doing so many races! I'm finding it tough to get out for my normal runs, let alone a race! LOL


    Thank you! Lol, races are fun! I only have one more this year - I have one on my birthday in a few weeks as a way to celebrate a day I usually dread. Then no more until my half marathon in...January I think it was!
  • PatriceMG
    PatriceMG Posts: 232 Member
    I started c25k but didn't finish it in time for my first 5k. A color run last month. Finished, but had to walk a few times. At a fast pace tho. I was happy to finish. Got back to the c25k this week and hope to finish it before my next run. A mud run. I plan on running the whole thing. The planned future races help to keep me motivated! Neither of these are timed so I don't know my pace. A 10k is awesome! I hope to do one sometime in the future! great NSV! Congrats!
  • aStrongerSteph
    aStrongerSteph Posts: 161 Member
    Awesome accomplishment!
  • LJCannon
    LJCannon Posts: 3,636 Member
    :drinker: Awesome!! You have found the REAL Motivation for Running -- The Pure Joy of it!!
    I have that same feeling for Walking. You are a Winner in My Book just because you Finished and -- More Importantly!! -- You ENJOYED IT!!!


    :flowerforyou: :drinker: Congratulations:heart::happy:
  • DesireeLovesOrganic
    DesireeLovesOrganic Posts: 456 Member
    Great job!!
  • meggolego
    meggolego Posts: 69
    Congrats! That is awesome! I just signed up for my 2nd 5k, it's on Nov 18!

    I used to run cross country in middle school and came in dead last every. single. race. (except once, who knew there was someone slower than me?!). It was so embarrassing. I didn't run after that season. I started C25k this past spring and now i'm addicted to running! I'm hoping to do a half-marathon next year, just need to start training!

    I'm to the point where I'm always on the lookout for new running clothes, without feeling like everyone around me is judging me buying those clothes. Running is definitely the best high!!
  • Cheeta_HH
    Cheeta_HH Posts: 489 Member
    Great post! Congratulations on your 10K! You should definitely be proud of your accomplishment and your healthy attitude! I can't wait to hear about your next race.
  • gargisingh
    gargisingh Posts: 123 Member
    It is win- total win! And, I am so glad that you are proud of it! I can totally relate to not being a runner ever as a kid, until now. I do not remember a single race in which I was not last during my school days. And, last like really last. I would get booed too. When I started running as an adult (and oh! the courage it took to fight that inertia and pain!) I started even slower than you. I took more than 6 hours to run my first marathon. But I did it and I got a finisher's medal too.
    I can totally resonate with your pride right now! Awesome! Heartiest congratulations! :flowerforyou:
  • sarahmaren
    sarahmaren Posts: 18
    You're awesome! Good grief if you're a slow runner there is no hope for me! :) Congrats on a great finish no matter what!
  • Rabbit914
    Rabbit914 Posts: 246 Member
    You are getting progressively better and even in you didn't come in first you're coming in first in your own race and that's awesome. I ran my first 5K this last weekend and my only goal for myself was to run in the entire thing without stopping and I did that. So i don't compare myself to others, but know that I accomplished MY goal and I'm psyched! Congrats to you and good luck in all your future races and future goals!
  • DangerJim71
    DangerJim71 Posts: 361 Member
    But you didn't come in last.... there was a bunch of people sitting on the couch that day who you left choking on your dust!!! You should be very proud of how hard you worked to get across that finish line. Excellent job.
  • josavage
    josavage Posts: 472 Member
    That's an awesome improvement on your time - way to go!!!
  • jennyrebekka
    jennyrebekka Posts: 626 Member
    This is the best NSV i've seen in a long time!! BIG CONGrATS to you!
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member
    You're awesome! Good grief if you're a slow runner there is no hope for me! :) Congrats on a great finish no matter what!

    That's what I was thinking. I did my first race on Saturday. I wasn't ready for the 5k so I did the 2-mile run. There were also 2-mile walkers. I had a lady who walked the whole course beat me when I was running. Needless to say, I was dead last by a long way from the other runners. I'm doing about 17-minute miles. I have to laugh at myself. But, hey, ya gotta start somewhere, right?

    OP, great job!
  • karenwill2
    karenwill2 Posts: 604 Member
    you are amazing!
  • Fred4point0
    Fred4point0 Posts: 160 Member
    Awesome success story. You're a WINNER because you showed up and completed what you started. You're also a Winner because you have a great attitude even though you came in last place. If you keep on running one day you will be first. The first shall be last and the last shall be first.
  • marikevr
    marikevr Posts: 389 Member
    Finish dead last beats did not finish, that trumps did not start any single day!

    YOU DID AWESOME!
  • starlite_79
    starlite_79 Posts: 88 Member
    AWESOME post!! you should be very, VERY proud of yourself! i just ran my third 5k yesterday. posted my worst time yet, but the course had hills which i've not trained for and i was sick all day on friday, so i'm perfectly happy with the fact that i just finished. hoping to work on improving my 5k time (usually run anywhere from 12:15 - 13:00/mi), and then perhaps start training for 10k distance.

    congrats again on your totally fantastic achievement!! :drinker:
  • codapea
    codapea Posts: 182 Member
    Yay! I love this! I started MFP July 19th and started running August 25th, so I am month behind you. I'm so impressed that you did a 10K, way to go! Like you, I NEVER thought I could run. I didn't to the C25K program, I just went outside and started pushing myself to run as slow as I could for as long as I could. I just did my second 5k this weekend. Our paces are pretty much the same, too, so you are totally inspiring me to try for that 10k distance now. I still have 40lbs. to lose, but running has shifted my focus from weightloss to fitness and it is so empowering! It's so funny when people look at me and are like "You run? You're doing a 5k? You?" Hahaha, heck yeah I'm a runner and I plan on looking like one someday, too!


    ^^^^ @starlite_79 "You don't have to go fast. You just have to go." YESSS!!! That is going on my profile!
  • shmunster
    shmunster Posts: 538 Member
    Awesome, you finished it and thats all that matters! Well done!!!
  • selig0730
    selig0730 Posts: 509 Member
    thats awesome...finishing is the first step and then you can make up time on the next race..so great job
  • danimal5867
    danimal5867 Posts: 390
    I love it! Any race you finish is a good race, and maintaining a consistent pace throughout is awesome. Congratulations! Keep on running.
  • AsellusReborn
    AsellusReborn Posts: 1,112 Member
    Thank you all! :) I appreciate the lovely compliments. It's nice to have a race where looking back I can't find anything wrong with it other than it was nighttime, dark, and cold, lol!

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