If you knew you were going to be last would you still do an event?

[CastMeAdrift]

I have a 10km trail run event on Saturday. I’m new to trail running (and only just started doing over 5km runs in the summer having always enjoyed just doing 5kms ).

I sprained my ankle at the beginning of September and couldn’t run for 4 weeks so lost fitness.

I can run 10K in 1.03 on roads. But just did 8km of the course today and I’m looking at 1.20 if I’m lucky!! It’s very hilly and very technical and sections of soft sand which really take it out of me.

Im definitely going to be last as it’s not the sort of event that non serious runners do (I.e. me! I got signed up for it by someone else).

Would coming last bother you? Would you run and just drag yourself over in whatever time or not do it? It’s giving me anxiety. Which is ridiculous as running is meant to be enjoyable and it’s been something I’ve really liked getting into since first lockdown.

Being last is fine if it's a friendly race with a few fun runners; but if it's a race that's full of fast club runners and few others then I wouldn't.
I would check the results from the last time the race ran, and make your decision based on that.

I've done trail 10ks where you'd be in a group of happy runners with a 1:20 finish time, but I've also run others where you would be half an hour or so behind the runner in front of you. Which would not be fun..

.. *thinking of one race I did a few years ago where I was 72nd out of 75, and I run a 10k in just over 40 mins...

It probably would bother me but I wish it wouldn’t. I would feel anxious and stressed that I would be last, especially if everyone else was serious with running and I wasn’t.

I would totally respect someone else for doing it though! I would think they were really tough and very cool.

I came joint last at a cycling event, it was twice the distance I'd ever done before but I went for it. I was only one of two women out of the 200 or so eventers so felt very intimidated even without being fit enough!
I had the 'sweeper bus' following me for the last 35 miles, cheering me on and playing music for me, yet really encouraged me and I went on to do loads more events and got better and better.
Give it a go, if it is awful just pull out half way and go home for a hot shower and a cup of tea knowing you tried

I don’t think you’ll be last always a few that haven’t trained and walk/ run .
Even if you are do it , it doesn’t matter as long as you finish .

Hell yeah! There's usually a tail runner/walker and they're usually really friendly and encouraging. The back is where all the best fun happens!

If you can 10km in about an hour you won’t be at the back.

Trail race organisers expect a significant time addition based on road times

I organise both road and trail races

If you're sure it's only going to be serious hill runners, I honestly wouldn't bother. I've never been a fast runner, but I remember the humiliation of being last by a fair distance in a 10km once - and that was at 65 minutes, which is a lot faster than I am now. It's easy to say that someone has to be last, unless that's you.

Can you check results from the last time the event was held ?

I would do it and do it at my own pace and enjoy!

Unless: (1) The organiser info specifies a challenging ‘slowest’ completion time before event closure. (2) I was concerned about potential injury at the event. And/or (3) I’d feel pressure to run much faster than usual, risking injury.

Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement! You’re right in that I should just do it and enjoy it. So what if I’m last! Like someone said at least I will have done it which I will be so proud of. Rewind pre covid and I couldn’t even jog half a mile.

I hadn’t even thought to look up previous times. The person who finished last in 2019 (no 2020 obvs) did it in 2.12. There was a good chunk of people over 1.20 so I don’t think I’ll be last just more in the back of the pack. Obviously not the super serious event I built it up to be! The person who signed me up was a ultra marathon runner pre kids so I thought maybe it was for the super serious types.

Oh I feel so much better now thank you everyone. I’m actually looking forward to it now. I do love trail running and I’m so lucky to live on such a beautiful coastline. I don’t usually worry about times I just enjoy the scenery and freedom. Will lock that mindset in and go for it.

When I was new to competing, it wouid have bothered me. But it shouldn't then, and it definitely wouldn't now.

The back is a very friendly place to run, and you as well not be last anyhow with the time you think you can do.

Yes, I'd go for it.

I've been in the last 5 earlier this year - running personal worsts (three times in a row!) when rehabbing an injury - leg was strong enough but fitness has plummeted. Still had a sense of achievement - it was definitely worth it.

Was just scrolling down to suggest checking results from previous years 😊 always my first action when signing up for a race - or considering dropping out of one!

Hope you have a brill time!

Obviously not the super serious event I built it up to be!

This is invariably true, whatever the event!

I was horrified when I saw publicity for my first 10k, which was all about elite runners and a course good for running PBs. I was convinced I'd be struggling, not just at the back, but well adrift from everyone else.

On the day, I ran a respectable time (bit over an hour) and was pretty much in the middle

I suggest you have more confidence. It sounds like to you a massive win would be to finish, so ignore all others and shoot for that!

If you finish and come first - well done! If you finish and come last - well done! All else is just a ranking that you try to beat next time.

If you start feeling bad because you know you will come last then you are missing the point of competing for the vast majority. I am sure all marathon runners don't give up as they doubt they could beat the bloke that did it in under 2 hours...

yes, it would really bother me and its why I dont run competitively! I would hate to come actual last.

I've come in with the tail walker a few times at parkrun, admittedly due to a small child rather than my own prowess, but it's good experience.

A lot of runners are doing races that they signed up for a year or two ago and their circumstances have changed. Often they're forgetting what they even signed up for and have little training, so for the vast majority of races, those at the back are likely to be a bit slower than is typical at the moment anyway.

One of the early races I started doing is a somewhat undualting trail race (often gritty path) and it was a relief to see that many of the gnarly club runner types also walk up the hills Trail times are usually a good bit slower than flat road times. 1:20 sounds pretty mainstream.

Yeah, I would. I can just about do a normal 10K in 1.20 but I think of trail running as less of a race and more of a challenge. I'd do it and make it my goal to finish without walking, or to finish having enjoyed it all, not to finish in a certain time.

I don't mind being last, but I hate the attention. I hate being cheered on in general & especially because I was last.

Honestly, no l wouldn't this time

@lljkk

I don't mind being last, but I hate the attention. I hate being cheered on in general & especially because I was last.

The patronising losers clap makes me want to cry. No thanks.

It's different being last in parkrun which prides itself as welcoming newcomers and walkers, and a serious race.

Even parkrun is a bit embarrassing for me there days , I'm so slow I no longer wear my 100 parkruns tshirt and get patronising "well done, you can do it" on my last kms from bystanders who have finished 20 minutes ago.

As others have said, trail running is slower than road running. Make sure you support that ankle well, and if in doubt over the ground, drop to a walk - trail runner with a wonky ankle here, you need to nurse it a bit. I put tape on mine if it’s feeling extra wobbly, just for a tiny bit of support. It’s also quite a handy ‘I have been injured’ signal, if you’re feeling self-conscious about your time (although I don’t think you should, tbh).

I absolutely hate Park run. I hate the photography for a start and I hate the jolly officials cheering you on. I persevered for ages but eventually had to accept it wasn't for me when I realised I was glad it was cancelled during Covid.

Could you reframe it as training for an ultra?

Could you reframe it as training for an ultra?

Not if it's a 10k trail race...??!

Coming last - no problem at all. I see it as my civic duty. I relish in it.

Running that course, however slow, on that ankle. I think that's a no. You really need to look after that and give it time to be back to 100%.