Anyone have experience getting DFL?

Every race someone gets last, not that big of a deal.

Haushinka wrote:

There is a significant chance that I will get dead last in my next race because it is the highest level of competition I've competed against. Although, I may actually beat a few people if I have a good day. How do you deal with this? Is it a badge of honor? Something to laugh at? Be ashamed of?

I know someone who finished DFL in a 5k at Madison Square Garden, back in the day when they still did that. As he was doggedly running his lat few laps someone shouted to him "hey turn off the lights when you're done."

I've been there before. I was injured for almost all of outdoor season during my senior year, and I managed to convince my coach to run me in the 3200 at state sectionals because it would have been my last race in high school. I thought I was fully healed (I was on PR pace after three laps) but I found out the hard way that I wasn't.

Anyway, to avoid the dreaded sympathy clap, I kicked about as hard as I could in the last 200, much to the shock of just about everyone. That was actually a pretty stupid decision as I had to walk with a limp for the next week or so and couldn't run again until July. Nevertheless, it was probably better than not racing at all.

Been their my SR year in high school. I was 3rd at the CA State Meet in the 1600 my JR year so my coach sort of forced me to run it my SR year. I was hurt from early Dec-early Feb that year and I gave it my all just to qualify for the Final. I made the final and was totally gassed from the prelim and got a big last place.

It was funny though. I always say the funniest races you will ever run is your worst races. The best races nobody cares about since most people get envious, but the worst races are good for laughs as you look back on it.

My first XC race ever was a competitive D1 college meet. It was the worst race of my life and I got DFL. Honestly it sucked. The thing that sucked the most was that I knew how bad of a race it was and yet nobody would actually TELL me how bad of a race it was. When I came in at the end my coach was like "first college race!" even though I ran a good minute and a half slower over 6K than I knew I was capable of running at the time.

I beat myself up for it for a while before realizing I had to just suck it up and learn from it to become a better runner.

If you really do your best and get DFL then I guess it might not be a big deal.

Jason Pedersen wrote:

43 Rory Tunningley SO Texas 31:16.30

44 Jason Pedersen SR Northern Arizona 31:58.78

48 guys started, so I "beat" a couple guys that DNF'd I guess.

You're a mensch for finishing, good sir. Just found your blog, good stuff.

DFL in a mile about 10 meters off the back in 4:03

I have- deep sand trail race normally only done by the crazy fit folks. It was held at an Army Ranger camp, and run by those guys. I think I got bonus points by telling a couple of aid station guys 'I'm not going to do only easy stuff in my life; I like trying things that are hard'.

Never been DFL, but also never won one. High school SR, pretty much always ran varsity. Training partner is faster so never won XC. I'll get it this indoor season when I get my training partner to do the 2mile so I can win the mile

Some people in here seem to be confused about it being a badge of honor. Finishing last in itself isn't honorable, it's handling it with grace and sportsmanship and pride in spite of being last that is honorable.

teahteshs wrote:

Some people in here seem to be confused about it being a badge of honor. Finishing last in itself isn't honorable, it's handling it with grace and sportsmanship and pride in spite of being last that is honorable.

Yeah, I'll do my best, maybe try to pick off 4, maybe 5 guys. Who knows?

Thanks for the responses guys.

I once finished DFL in an invitational 400m when I was in high school. I was a scrawny distance runner. The other runners were university 400m runners. I hit the wall twice (once with 150m to go, and again at 50m). My splits were approximately 26s (a PB)/34s and I came home in 59-point with a full-blown pity clap. I was dead last by almost a full 6 seconds.

I was actually happy with the race, because I broke 60s. I thought it was funny to get a pity clap in a 400 (albeit mildly embarrassing at the time).