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.

@SummerHouse

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%.

I laughed at the “civic duty” bit.

I cross country ski and in one of my first races the course control followed me in a snowmobile pulling out the course markers as I passed them and shouting encouragement at me as I held back from asking them for a lift to the finish.
I still got a trophy because there were only two senior women racing (I probably misjudged the standard of the event). You will still have done better than anyone who did not even enter.

Well done op, that's fantastic!

When's the next one?

Well done on the trophy Cardi!

Well, also congratulations to the OP and good luck for next time!

I’ve had a trophy or two since (once announced when I was in the hotdog queue, I’d had no idea I had done that well); I’m never going to be the fastest, but I’m always polite to the course marshals and other competitors. If it weren’t for people like me, races would be a lot smaller and it would not be nearly as satisfying for the winner.