I was (almost) DFL in a college xc race before. It may have been the most miserable race of my life. It was at altitude against nothing but schools that train at altitude. Plus I was coming down with the flu. I still went out the first mile as if I was at sea level and not sick which made for a bad experience the last 4 miles.
Not sure if I was DFL in this race, but it sure felt like it. League championship 1600. I'd missed a week of training getting wisdom teeth removed, but I wasn't very good anyways. PR of about 4:50. Race goes out quick, and I'm dangling near the back. Come through 800 in 2:22, so on serious PR pace, but knew I wasn't in shape to hold it. I cratered and staggered home in about 5:01. There was enough of a gap in front of me near the end that someone accidentally walked onto the track in front me. Had to yell "track" down the finishing stretch. It sucked.
I was DFL in a conference 800, but it was my own damn fault. I was last after 400 and it was so incredibly fast... I basically just quit on it. I know I could have caught maybe three guys if I had kept at it, but my heart and mind was just done. The only thing I'm proud of that day is that I did not step off the track.
toro wrote:
DFL at the Olympic 800 final this year was 1:43.77.
Unreal.
It sounds like you're the 7th man on a team that qualified for some race. As someone who was always in the JV race if there was one, I cherished the opportunity to be out running the very same race as my teammates. I may have never been fast enough to mix it up but running the same race made me feel more of a part of the team. Badge of honor.
And if you're on a team, it shouldn't be something to laugh at. You should take it as seriously as your teammates. Contribute to the atmosphere of focus.
My frosh year of hs I was no. 1 on a slow team. The first meet of the year (first race I'd ever run) was a flighted race and I was in the flight with all the other no. 1s. I didn't DFL but I was close to it. I didn't see it as a badge of honor. I hated it and blamed the sport for being a stupid sport. Told myself I'd never run a race again. I'm glad I changed my mind.
Three times that I can think of off hand. Once I had been sick leading up to the race and may have been a full lap behind in the indoor 5k. Once when I was border line to get into a race and only found out when I didn't have time to warm up. I was not very happy with either race and that I was in last didn't help but it didn't make things much worse
The first time I was moved up into a faster heat in HS. I PRed and I think it was my first time under 4:50. I didn't realize I was in last until I finished and somebody said I was bringing up the rear. Since I'd just PRed I didn't really care.
If you think you are borderline to finish last treat it the same as you would being seeded first. Be aware of it and knowledgeable of your ability relative to the field then run your own race. If you are a 5:00 miler racing 4:30 guys try to run even splits and see if anyone comes back to you later. If you are a 5:00 miler racing 4:40 guys be ready to tuck in and see if they can pull you to a fast time.
Ultimately, the one thing you cannot control is your competition. If you run a good race and finish last it says more about the people you are racing than anything about you.
I twice set an 800 pb by getting DFL. It's actually pretty rare to still have an outstanding race relative to your fitness level and be the trailer.
In both cases I didn't even realize I was last.
In fact in the second race I felt like I had the possibility of winning from 7th at the bell and did not gain a step on anyone.
I could hear one guy behind me but it turned out he dropped out with 100 to go, probably to save face. I'd rather finish last than quit when that seems possible.
finished last in a 1500 once. I'm more of a 10k guy. I pr'd though.
Back in the day when all indoor races were run in yards, I found myself in a 6-man 1000y race with several NCAA qualifiers. I ran in the back the whole way, nearly catching one of the qualifiers at the line. Ran 2:13. It probably doesn't mean much to most of the younger kids, but it was a PR for me and I was proud that I didn't give up even though I was completely outclassed.
teahteshs wrote:
It sounds like you're the 7th man on a team that qualified for some race. As someone who was always in the JV race if there was one, I cherished the opportunity to be out running the very same race as my teammates. I may have never been fast enough to mix it up but running the same race made me feel more of a part of the team. Badge of honor.
\
You nailed it lol. I actually beat the 6th man earlier in the season, but he's been running well lately.
Dennis Reynolds wrote:
203 wrote:Don't worry too much about it OP, chances are most of Letsrun has been DFL at one point.
Not Flagpole, NOT FLAGPOLE!!!
CORRECT! I have NEVER finished DFL...was good right from the very beginning.
DFL male in a run-swim-run. 1 mile of ocean swimming. 5 miles of run on beach. Way too much of that swimming nonsense to fake.
I got hypothermia and staggered in. Thought I'd be blowing by people in last run, only to pass one teenage girl. Everyone else was done.
Never again.
Up the Irons wrote:
In college...finally made the fast heat of the conference indoor 3000...got sick the day before...DFL...got some pity claps out of it
I got dead last in the fast heat of the conference indoor 3000m too. I wasn't sick though, just got 6th the 5000m the day before.
I'm an 800 meter guy. I was never good at cross. I raced NCAA Pre-Nats one year and I was in DFL right in front of that damn trail car. It sucked hearing that motor right behind me. I didn't finish DFL, but hearing that motor just added insult to being at the back of a huge pack.
I never finished DFL... until I reached Master's status.
I was in a Master's 5000m and it just wasn't my day. I faded and faded and faded... I have to say it wasn't easy getting it handed to me like that.
Flagpole wrote:
Not Flagpole, NOT FLAGPOLE!!!
CORRECT! I have NEVER finished DFL...was good right from the very beginning.[/quote]
Not ever getting DFL does not mean you are good. As someone pointed out, DFL in the 800m at the Olympics was 1:43.77. You think you're better as a runner than that dude?
I DFLd in a couple track races. The worst part was definitely the pity claps and the "good job" that I got from people. No, it f-ing wasn't a good job!
Dr. J. Naismith wrote:
DFL male in a run-swim-run. 1 mile of ocean swimming. 5 miles of run on beach. Way too much of that swimming nonsense to fake.
I got hypothermia and staggered in. Thought I'd be blowing by people in last run, only to pass one teenage girl. Everyone else was done.
Never again.
This one reminded me of my favorite DFL when I was living in the Caribbean in the 70's. My roommate, a former college swimmer, and I entered a 3 mile ocean swim. The course was from a beach, around a peninsula, and finishing in the harbor of the capital. We trained seriously for a couple of months. Each swimmer had a row boat to follow for safety, because we had to go way out off shore. Well, my roomie and a local were neck-and-neck, and I was way the heck back in last. My boat left to watch the race. I was all alone far from land and all I could think of was "shark." I finished about 20 minutes after the winners, and ran home, about five miles.