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Original poster

Anyone come last in a run - help me I'm panicking!

79 replies

applelolly · 03/05/2018 18:37

I am running a 10k run on Sunday. I used to run about 8 years ago, then fell off the wagon and basically did very minimal (no) exercise for about 5 years. I got back into running in Jan. I signed up for the 10k in feb thinking I would be ready for it by May!! My running has not been as much as I would have liked. I have been doing 5 k twice a week, and for some weeks I added in a 3rd run which I built up from 5k to 10k. I have only done 10k about 4 times though. I am also 3 stone overweight (although have lost 1 1/2 stone) and I am SLOW!! I am hoping for a time of around 75 mins for the 10K . I am now panicking I will be LAST. I know someone has to be, but I would feel so embarrassed.
Has anyone actually come last in a run? Please come and tell me it will be fine. I am dreading it!

OP posts:

Watto1 · 03/05/2018 19:40

Not quite last but the only people behind me were an octogenarian, a man with only one leg who was using crutches and a person dressed as a giant shoe!

theeyeofthestormchaser · 03/05/2018 19:45

God, Watto, that made me laugh a lot.

But you did it! You’re not sat on a couch...

SwanneeKazoo · 03/05/2018 19:47

Years ago a couple of mates and I signed up to a 10k obstacle type course, together with a few other people from the military fitness sessions we had been doing for a while, so we were pretty fit. The Wednesday before the race, which was on the Sunday, I came down with a UTI and couldn't even stand up straight. However, by the Saturday I was feeling better so decided to go to the race anyway, although I wasn't 100%. It was over the other side of the country so we had to get up stupid early to drive there and only just made it in time for the start (we weren't driving, it was a van hired and driven by the fitness instructors). It was twice round the same course, the first time round we were doing well, we weren't up at the front but there were lots of people behind us. However, we didn't realise that you could stop after the first 5k circuit but loads of people did, so eventually we found that we were running on our own - we couldn't see anyone in front and there was no-one behind us either. We kept going (no choice really, we had to get back somehow). At one point I got stuck thigh-deep in the mud and had to be man-handled out by one of the marshals. Our fitness instructors came out to find us and shout encourage us on. Eventually we got back, barely anyone else was there at the finishing line, the car park was practically empty - we were the last by a long, long, long way. The real kick in the teeth was when the timings were published. For some reason all the people who had dropped out halfway through were assumed to have done the whole 10k course so of course their timings looked amazing compared to ours . Plus, because I was over 50, I was categorised as a super-veteran . Never done another race since .

Roomba · 03/05/2018 19:51

My ex came last in a fell race, behind a 78 year old woman who took a wrong turn and got lost in some woods for a while in the middle

He still got a massive cheer from all the supporters when he finished. And lots of people saying keep up the good work, we want to see you here again next year. So he did, and came 4th the next year!

athingthateveryoneneeds · 03/05/2018 20:31

I have a huge grin on my face reading this thread! Can't wait to run a few races myself!

Original poster

applelolly · 03/05/2018 21:56

There are some amazing stories on this thread! Well done to all of you!
Half of me thinks "it doesn't matter what time I do it in, I'm out there doing it and that's what matters" but then a bigger half of me thinks "everyone will be looking at the middle aged fat woman who thinks she can run a 10K when she really can't."
Going to try to stick with the more positive thoughts!
Sadly I can't check results for last year as this is the first year of this run. There is also quite a nasty looking long hill from 6 - 8km , although to be fair where I run is hilly anyway so I have practised hills. I am just hoping there is a mix of abilities running, and not just all super fit club runners. We shall see.

OP posts:

GummyGoddess · 03/05/2018 22:04

If everyone is thinking you can't run a 10k but you finish then you've proved them wrong even if you are last!

SinkGirl · 03/05/2018 22:04

Love all these stories.

I’ve been wanting to do C25K but there’s a lot against me - Top of overweight range, twins to look after, ME, fibromyalgia, endometriosis and a mangled foot (which. Physio seemed to fix last week, until a few hours later and now it’s even worse).

My fear of being slower, fatter and shitter than everyone else would put me off ever running a race but maybe it wouldn’t be so awful, if I ever manage to get to that stage!

Hobbes8 · 03/05/2018 22:19

I did the Nike 10K years and years ago. I don't think I was totally last (there was definitely a really big guy behind me for a while and he didn't overtake me) but I was well behind the pack. I got a huge cheer when I finished and my friend, who'd come to cheer me on, had told the announcer my name so I was cheered over the line by name.

Nike give you a chip which you tie onto your shoelaces (or at least they did at the time). After the race you can look up your chip online and see a little video of yourself crossing the line. Mine was hilarious! When I rounded the corner and everyone started cheering I was really geed up and did a huge sprint finish with people cheering and high giving me. It looks like I won the whole thing.

I'm still super slow and I'm doing the colour obstacle rush in a couple of weeks, heaven help me!

carrie74 · 03/05/2018 22:24

I help to organise a local 10k route, which attracts club and fun runners alike. I've run it once and did it in 73 minutes, and there were about 100 people behind me, so 75 minutes (and don't forget the extra kick you get from the crowd at the start and the support going round), is very decent. We love the stories from non-runners (well, less experienced runners really, if they've entered a race, they're all runners!), they're so inspirational!

We also 'employ' a final runner, so even if by chance you were the slowest, you might still not be the last to cross the finish line! And I can speak from experience, everyone will be cheering you on to the end.

BikeRunSki · 03/05/2018 22:31

OP, I did my first 10K event for many years about 6 weeks ago. It took me 72 mins! I had only done 10 K twice in "training" which was very sporadic at best. The last K hurt but I did it! I could also do with loosing 2 or 3 stone. A friend of mine was last by miles in a marathon a few years ago, he had huge crown support!

otornot · 03/05/2018 22:35

Love this thread!

Original poster

applelolly · 04/05/2018 06:21

Thank you all so much. I am feeling so much more positive about it today! I will go out there and give it my best and enjoy it (well as much as possible whilst staggering round!!)

OP posts:

Original poster

applelolly · 04/05/2018 06:26

sinkgirl you should seriously give the C25K a go. When I started running for the first time ever about 8 years ago I was also then about 4 stone over weight, could not run to the end of my drive. I did c25k and over 18 months - 2yrs I lost 4 stone and built up to running a half marathon. Sadly , as previously mentioned, I then fell off the wagon, stopped running and put all the weight back on. But still I did it once so I know it's possible. And now I'm determined to do it again!(only this time I will keep the running up and the weight off!!)

OP posts:

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 04/05/2018 06:41

I’m always one of the last. My fastest time is 1.08, slowest 1.20. It doesn’t feel disastrously slow. Officials and other runners are always so kind!

Good luck!

BillywilliamV · 04/05/2018 06:46

Nobody cares, most people will have gone home.
But you will have done it! Which is more than 95% of the rest of the population.

Undercoverbanana · 04/05/2018 06:50

Runner here. In my experience, the back runner always gets a lot of support from others and a really good cheer. We know how hard it must be for the back runner, physically and mentally and we genuinely admire it. Do you know anyone else doing the event who could finish and then run back to run in with you? I often do that for a friend at Parkrun - she gets a great reception from the marshals and other runners. I think she is bloody awesome. She has health issues, is very overweight (due to health issues and medication) and power walks Parkrun like a woman possessed. Sweat pouring, face like thunder. We love her.

rosy71 · 04/05/2018 06:55

I've done a few 10ks and the last runner is usually 1.20-1.30 so I'm sure you won't be last. You'll also go faster in the race than you would on your own so will probably run quicker than 75mins. There's usually a tail runner/bike at the back so if you are last, you won't be alone.

Lotsofplanetshaveanorth · 04/05/2018 07:38

I was nearly last in a 10 k recently - accidentally chose a proper race instead of my usual ‘fun’ type ones. 75 minutes was slower than most BUT my children did the last 500m and my heart felt huge! I just beamed for the rest of the day. As has already been said ‘you lap everyone on the couch’

Bumply · 05/05/2018 20:39

I typically have 5 or 6 runners behind me in races, but I've come last a few times.

I remember one 10k there was me and an older guy at the back of the field. He took one look at me and sprinted 20m or so ahead. We ran the whole race with that distance between us and both got a cheer from spectators as we finished.

Another 10k I had the tail runner just behind me the whole way. He was good at not stressing me out. Just letting me run my own race, but every time we passed a marshal he praised my consistent pace and said how well I was doing. It was like running with my very own cheer squad. I gave him a hug when we finished.

Original poster

applelolly · 05/05/2018 21:06

well, tomorrow is the day! I'm sooo nervous! And its going to be hot It was over 20 degrees bu 10am here today, and tomorrow is meant to be hotter. Just hoping I can actually finish now LOL

OP posts:

KayM2 · 05/05/2018 21:28

About a 1000 years ago I was a member of Colchester Athletic Club, because I was taking kids I taught there, so though I might as well. They did League X country events, @ 5 miles, in two circuits, so I though I would be OK with that.... and I wasn't. What made it memorable, though was the way it ended. I was poddling along, tailed off towards the back, but with a few distant figures behind, and a little chap with a cloth cap about 30 yards behind me..... puffing and redfaced. So a hundred yards from the end I stopped and sat on a fence to wait for the poor little chap. He beamed at me, and we chatted cheerfully as we approached the finish. Then, like a rabbit hearing a gunshot, the bXXXXXd set off at an amazing pace, leaving me to come in, and find that the distant stragglers had dropped out after one lap, and I was ..... last.

KayM2 · 05/05/2018 21:29

Good luck. Applelolly.....

tattychicken · 05/05/2018 21:37

Yep, last in a 7k last weekend. Overtaken by a gorilla and a man with a baby in a sling.

PiggyPlumPie · 05/05/2018 21:39

Good luck for tomorrow! You'll be fine with that time.

I've been overtaken by a chicken, a one-legged man, had the ambulance follow me etc.

My DM still runs at 75 and is often last. She shuffles round a 10K in just over 1:30 and is not always last.

Enjoy it!

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