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What is it like to come last?
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The people at the back are the real inspiration to the by bytanders
An elite athlete goes past and they think 'oh I could never do that' - the back of packers go past and one or two start to think 'thats where I would be if I did it' when they start to get those thoughts they are halfway to doing something but not many get that from watching the elites - they appreciated and admire them but see it as too big for them to aspire to whereas aspiring to be faster than say...................... the likes of me - thats doableand thats what gets them out and trying it
I have been last across the line a couple of times in triathlon. Luckily I had the support of all the pirates at the first one but the second time even they thought I had given up and gone home so there was just me and my hubby (though a couple of pirates saw my bike still in transition so were lingering just in case around the transition area) Even the marshals didn't know I was still out there!
Nothing wrong with being last. Achieving a goal is what it is about
Just saw this thread. I have just done my first ever race. 5 miles, cross country (or multi-terrain as they call it) I was third from last. I thought all the way around that I was going to be the last one back then suddenly I realised there was some one behind me.
As she caught me up I tried to engage her in conversation and suggested we "be last together" she just grunted and over took me! So, that was it for me.
Determined not to be last I overtook her and for the next 2 miles, we tailed each other. I eventually got ahead of her and saw another straggler in front of me. I caught up with her and found her to be much more freindly than the other girl. We finished together (well, I was 2 seconds ahead of her) and cheered in the last girl as she crossed the line.
So - I havent been last, but I was damn close. The support from everyone was amazing and I would rather be last in every race than not race at all.
I did my first event last summer, a 10k in East Yorkshire as part of my training programme and was worried about coming last (I've always been competitive) but I did a reasonable time and I finally got it into my head that actually the time for me was the most important thing, even if I finish last but do a PB by 1 second I've actually improved...it took me a bit of time to get my head around it but it works for me. Good luck!
Owing to pathetic navigation on my part - non-existent in truth - and the onset of desperation at various points
I tipped up dead last at the Winter Hill Fell Race [10 miles, 2800 ft ascent] a couple of years ago. The guys recording results were just about to pack up but registered my time and gave me a cup of squash and the news that three other runners, unfortunately injured, were still on the course.
Last October, I laid the ghost of Winter Hill...
I did my first 10K a few weeks ago and was about 10 minutes slower than everyone else i know! Before that my only other race had been a 5 miler. I try and forget everyone else and run my own race competing against my best time to date. Anyway there are lots of people who don't even get up and try.
Good luck.
Finished last for the first time ever today after 14 years of trying.
Very happy about it as well was fell which isn't my specialist subject and know it would be hard. For my ability ran the perfect race and got the applause at the end.
I was last in my only 10k to date. But it was my first race, and there were only 34 runners *and* someof them dropped out before the final lap. It was a 3 lap race and I was lapped by 2 runners.
However I got an enormous cheer as I finished, and yes the achievement for me was to run the distance, which I managed. A little worried though that it is *still* the fastest I've ever run over that distance - what do I need to do so as not to come last tis year!!
My children cheered me on all the way, with encouraging shouts of "you're doing really well Mum - even if you're last"!