Let go of your fear of being last

I’ve felt it too: that unease when you realize you might be the last finisher, with all eyes on you as you complete your run. I once signed up for a race in a small town I was visiting on holiday. When I arrived pre-race, I was the first one there, and as I retied my shoelaces and fastened my race bib, the other athletes began to trickle in. For a small-town 5K, these were intimidating runners: sporting race gear from their previous Boston and New York marathons, and chatting about negative splits. One racer had clearly run to the start-line as his warm-up, and when one of his friends asked him how long and far the commute was, I was mildly horrified at the swift pace he’d managed to keep up. As we lined up to start, I realized I might very well finish last.

There is a lot of satisfaction in finishing every run! pic.twitter.com/daENUTpqrC

— John Stanton (@JohnStantonRR) July 20, 2021

I’ve heard many people express concern about signing up for an event: “But what if I’m last?” It can be a barrier to participating in a race, or to getting out and enjoying a group run. Here are a few reminders to give yourself if you’re worried about finishing at the back of the pack; or if you do finish last. While many events now include walking participants and it’s highly unlikely that you will actually be the final finisher, there is also no reason that being last should be such a worry.

Some races honour the people who finish last

In many marathons and ultras, the people making their way into the finish in last place are the most celebrated by the largest crowds. Western States Endurance Run calls it “golden hour”: a special hour when the athletes who have been out on the course suffering and working for the longest amount of time, finish. Crowds give standing ovations to those exhausted people making their way in. Ultras are unique in that most elites have experienced a “bad” race and ended up finishing like a regular runner, simply working to place one foot in front of the other. Perhaps that’s brought a better understanding of the hard work that goes into those last-place finishes.

Try to bring the attitude that surrounds that final hour at Western States to your next race: no matter what place you finish in, you are a testament to grit and strength. For some extra motivation and a reminder that any finish is to be celebrated, watch this heartwarming video of 70-year-old Gunhild Swansonfinishing just six seconds under the cutoff time.

You’ve completed the same distance as everyone else, no matter how fast

Whether it’s a 5K or a 50K, if you finish the race you’ve achieved something huge. You set a goal, you trained, and you executed your plan. Even lining up at the start is something to celebrate and be proud of, no matter how your race turns out. If you do finish last, realize that you should not be any less proud of yourself. If it was a long race, give yourself extra kudos for the time you had to spend out on the course. Know that you’ve done something many people are envious of, particularly those unable or unmotivated to run. Celebrate your success, rather than staying focused on your position.

I wasn’t last in my small-town race; however, I had experienced that last-place feeling when completing an 800-metre track race as the final athlete. It is surprising to give your all and finish at the absolute back of the pack, and then it feels liberating. I was worried about being, last, it happened, and I was just fine. I was proud of my efforts and looked forward to besting them another time.