Would you run a race knowing you would finish last?

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  • julieh391
    julieh391 Posts: 683 Member
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    I'm not planning on doing my first 5K until October pretty much only because I don't want to be last. I'm giving myself months to get ready, build stamina, and then build a little speed, in the hopes that I'll be able to finish somewhere in the herd. I see that most people would be fine coming in last and just be proud that they finished, but that's not me. I did a 25 mile bike ride last year and came in nearly last, and honestly, I was embarrassed. My husband (who is a major cyclist) was so proud of me for finishing, but it was hard for me mentally being passed by pretty much everyone.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
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    Probably not. Unless it was some sort of grueling endrance test where just finishing was a victory. And then only if I felt I wouldn't be last by too much of a gap.
  • thetrishwarp
    thetrishwarp Posts: 838 Member
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    Yeah. To me, finishing a race is a big deal. And running is a personal sport - if I run it once and come dead last, whatever, I'll still know what time I need to beat the next time.
  • LadyKatieBug
    LadyKatieBug Posts: 178 Member
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    I have
  • primalchaos
    primalchaos Posts: 135 Member
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    Your honest opinion

    Yes
  • dbrightwell1270
    dbrightwell1270 Posts: 1,732 Member
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    It is impossible to finish last. You beat everyone who sat at home on the couch and had too much fear to even try.
  • jennifer52484
    jennifer52484 Posts: 888 Member
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    YES... Especially if this race was the first one you have ever done and finishing was an award on its own.
  • margieward82
    margieward82 Posts: 406 Member
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    Heck to the NO! I don't mind being middle of the pack, but last?!? NO WAY!
  • dre3173
    dre3173 Posts: 26 Member
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    I would. But then I have never been very competative. As long as I finish thats all that matters.
  • bellygoaway
    bellygoaway Posts: 441 Member
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    For me right now, the answer is yes. I would just want to know I could finish it. Of course I am a while away from entering any races.
  • kuregisto
    kuregisto Posts: 124 Member
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    Definitely. Every race I'm in, I know I'm only there to finish, not to win.
  • PlunderBunneh
    PlunderBunneh Posts: 1,705 Member
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    The idea of running a race and NOT finishing last hadn't even occurred to me. I'm new at running, so it would be about the experience for me.
  • _GingerSnap_
    _GingerSnap_ Posts: 339 Member
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    Yes. At least you finished a race and its still an accomplishment.
  • seebeachrun
    seebeachrun Posts: 221 Member
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    I would and I have. Or rather I expected to. I was pleasantly surprised not to be last.

    Exactly that.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
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    Hmmm...this comes as a difficult question to me right now. Quick response would be, absolutely, I definitely came in last in races on the high school track team...BUT I just talked myself out of doing a race this coming weekend because I feel like I haven't been running enough to set a PR. I feel guilty spending the money on the race if I am not going to do better than last year. After missing the pre-registration deadline, now I feel guilty about cheating myself out of the opportunity to surprise myself.

    All of that said, when I ran this race last year my goal was to not die and I managed to not die or be last! You might surprise yourself!
  • KCoolBeanz
    KCoolBeanz Posts: 813 Member
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    I did. I ran my first 5K last year, and fully expected to be last. For me, it was more about conquering a fear and proving people wrong. To my surprise, I came in 7 spots ahead of where I thought I would! More importantly, I did it :-)
  • atsteele
    atsteele Posts: 1,358 Member
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    Yup. In fact I am so slow that I actually surprised when I don't finish last! As long as I run the whole race, that is a victory to me.

    My first 5k my goal was to run the whole thing and to not finish last. I thought I was last, but I wasn't :smile:

    The cool thing was, there was a huge crowd of people standing around cheering me on the last 0.1 mile - I nearly teared up! Not only was I proud of myself for finishing, but the support I felt from strangers was amazing! Sometimes it's tough for me, because I get both strange and curious looks before races because I have to run with braces (not sleeves, but stabilizers) on both knees so I don't cross the finish line on a stretcher with dislocated kneecaps... makes me feel a bit self-conscious, but then I think about how far I've come and how a year ago I struggled WALKING 3 miles, and that feeling goes away.

    You are such an INSPIRATION!! I hope that you can continue to run and keep those knees healthy!!!
  • zippo32
    zippo32 Posts: 1,419 Member
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    Sure would. No shame.
  • mikethom
    mikethom Posts: 183 Member
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    First of all, I walk, not run.

    Second, I almost always come in last or near last, who cares? The important thing is to have fun and get some exercise. I don't even care if I finish, although I always have. And I can think about all the people I beat who didn't even try...
  • Ladyslippers
    Ladyslippers Posts: 186 Member
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    I walked a half-marathon with Team in Training and crossed the finish line hand-in-hand with a friend I made in the last 5 miles of the route. We were BOTH last--of the walkers for the half-marathon. There were walkers and runners of the full marathon still behind us. Heck, I wasn't more than a quarter of the way into my walking half when the running leader of the full marathon (a half-marathon course run twice) lapped me. For just a few moments, I could see him and the pace car and police escort behind me and wore a huge smile as he went past...because for those few moments, I was AHEAD of the leader. :) (Never mind he'd passed that way once already, lol.)

    It's about challenging yourself, not about coming in first. Or last.

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