Coming in last, I mean really last.

Congrats on signing up.  That's a big step.  What do they call the person who finishes last- triathlete.  Now that we have established the baseline here's the rest of it.

You signed up so now the equation is DFL>DNF>DNS.  Dead f****** last is greater than did not finish which is greater than did not start.  The course may have a cutoff time but if not then take as long as you need to take.  It's a sprint though so the RD's usually know some people might be slow and plan accordingly.  I am officiating a sprint this weekend and the race goes off at 6:30 and I'm budgeting until 10am.  It probably won't take that long but if it does it does. 

Since you haven't raced yet no one has DNS, DNF or DFL'd.  Last years results are simply that, last years.  Where you finish depends on who shows up and how they do.  Since it's your first you automatically get a PR.  You are not allowed to give up.  Pain in temporary quitting is forever.  Most people you know won't even attempt a tri so you ahead of them already.  The last person probably gets louder cheers than the first person. 

The best advice I could give you is the HAVE FUN.  As long as you accomplish that on your way to the finish line that's all thats important.

I finished my first sprint tri in June as the last person across the finish line. I don't know how far the next person was in front of me, but I definitely was the last one to cross. Parts of the course were not even together anymore when I was done.  And I had a police escort on the bike.  But I knew from looking at the previous year's times that I would be probably last going into it. My goal had nothing to do with anyone but ME. This was my dream and my goal to accomplish. And I definitely did that and I was SO proud. I didn't care if I was last - I did it! And you know what else? When the official results came out, I actually didn't have the slowest time. You never know what kind of day someone else may have. Or you never know who else decides to make that race their first attempt, just like you. And you never know what boost adrenaline will give you on race day.

So go for it. As long as there isn't a race cut off, you are fine. Besides, there are benefits you know - EVERYBODY cheers really really loudly for you at the end when you are last First or last - you still are a triathlete!

See Marmadaddy's answer for the perfect answer.

Remember: The Ox is slow, but the Earth is patient.

Part of me thought someone would pat me on the shoulder & "better luck next year".  I think I will be sending that part of me on a little vacation until I cross the finish line.

 I absolutely LOVE the folks at this site.  Thank you all.

Nan - 2008-07-10 1:54 PM Did I post this? During my 2nd tri, the volunteers stopped dismantling the finish line just long enough to congratuate me on finishing. Then they pointed me to where the transition area used to be. Well, at least my beater bike had a kickstand cause it was still standing where the bike racks used to be. The only people who gave me crap about the race were the people who didn't sign up in the first place. Good luck!!

Good point about the bike.   I will have my cheering squad keep an eye on it.  

Nan - 2008-07-10 1:54 PM Did I post this? During my 2nd tri, the volunteers stopped dismantling the finish line just long enough to congratuate me on finishing. Then they pointed me to where the transition area used to be. Well, at least my beater bike had a kickstand cause it was still standing where the bike racks used to be. The only people who gave me crap about the race were the people who didn't sign up in the first place. Good luck!!

Hey we all start somewhere.  Which is the point.  You gotta start somewhere to end up somewhere.  I was lucky - they were doing the awards so plenty of people around.  And also don't forget about the BT'ers!  I saw a few before my race and they cheered me in.  Find out if some are doing the race and connect with them.  I've never met a more supportive bunch than triathletes.  Seriously.   

You have such a great attitude!!  Just do it!  Who cares - as you put it - you are doing this for yourself - no one else.  You are going to be a triathlete!! 

I find this clip (while meant for ironman - I'm about to do my first mini-sprint too and it works) motivating:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2d7IvIq20I&NR=1

Goodluck to you!! 

A girlfriend of mine and I were talking the other day about this exact topic.  She keeps telling me she can't stand the idea of being last.  I finally cornered her and asked her what is the big deal about being last?  She said she doesn't want to be the slowest fat girl in the race.....You know what I say.....WHY NOT!!!!????!!!!

 You are you worst enemy in this situation.  Only YOU care about being last.  The fans will be cheering you on....probably more than the first place person.

Like the hoobastank song always moving forward. Never give up never stop because death is always right behind us waitting for us to faulter and slow down.

Good luck, and high spirits. We are not here to win every race but to finish what most people will never start.

Ox

Coming from someone who is just getting into races, just remember one thing:

 (And I apologize if someone has already posted this)

DFL>DNF>DNS

(Dead F'ing Last>Did not finish>Did not Start)

I've come in dead last and before the race I thought it would be the worst, most embarrasing experience in the world,but you know what? I felt good that I finished a tough race, hung in there through horribly hot humid weather and kept moving forward......and I was even cheered into the finishing chute by other competitors and it felt great.

I'm a plus size athena and not someone you would think would be a triathlete.  I'm getting better and more fit each race I do. This is a great sport whether your short, tall, fat or skinny.  It doesn't matter. Its the effort and heart you put into it. 

Keep on trucking....as I always say....don't give up and keep moving one foot forward.   

And...as my husband always reminds me....if you take longer to finish, it just means that you're getting more bang for your buck!    

Very, Very well said.

My first tri I came in last. My second tri I had improved my time by 15 minutes! Position? Still last! Do I care? No way. I improved by 15 minutes! What do you think I tell people... that I came last again, or that I improved my PR by 15 minutes.

BTW - No one will at the event will care, however you will be cheered and clapped for every yard.

I think marmadaddy's post was the best post I have read on this entire site. I would suggest you print out like a thousand copies and post/stuff them everywhere!

You know what? Every single race has someone come in last. Every blessed one of them. Without fail. There is not a single race run anywhere on earth that doesn't have someone come in last. That is a LOT of races, with a LOT of people coming in last. You would definitely not be alone.

And as the equation says, every last one of them beat every single person who never started the race!!!

I thought one of the coolest things about my first tri (a week ago) was that almost no one asked me how I placed. I didn't bring it up, they didn't ask. What I told them was that in the middle of my run, I realized I had the biggest sh*t-eating grin on my face, and even as I watched karbates from on here motor away from me (jealous I couldn't keep up), I was having the freakin' best time of my life! And as I sprinted down the hill to the finish line, I passed three women, every single one of them cheered me on. What a cool thing is that?

Also remember, tucked away in there somewhere, that the equation says DNFing is better than DNSing. So even if you don't make it all the way through, you've gotten WORLDS father than the chickens who never started. Put your feet in the water, take a deep breath, and make the greatest plunge!

Friends of mine are embarking on their first solo tri this Sunday.  I wish I could be there to route them on, but I did leave them with this quote and well wishes:

 "If there were ever a time to dare, to make a difference, to embark on something worth doing, it is now. Not for any grand cause, necessarily, but for something that tugs at your heart, something that's your aspiration, something that's your dream. You owe it to yourself to make your days here count. Have fun. Dig deep. Stretch. Dream big."

The hardest part of the race is not crossing the Finish. it's getting to the start.  Don't let the mind games get to you. The power of belief is a most awesome thing.

If your only goal is to finish, then that's all that matters.  However, don't be surprised if you do better than you think.  If your dedication and determination are half as deep as what you share here, you could well do better than you imagine.

I know your story all too well from my own experience and I applaud your effort.  The other poster is right, don't you dare quit on yourself.  You can do this.

Donna

Im hitting the wall and started to get discouraged when looking at finishing times - I really needed to reread this post and remember my own mantra - Im not training to win, Im training to get better.  And if I finish last, at least I will have finished. 

Thanks to all.  We will help each other up when the other is down so the favor can be returned in the future.

Another thing to keep in mind is that those finishing at the back of the back of the pack generally have more people cheering for them than those at the front. I'd read similar sentiments before my first (and, to date, only) race, but I was completely shocked to experience it.

Seriously, there is nothing like having your race number and name announced over a loud speaker and being cheered for the last half mile of a three mile run. Tri people are incredibly positive, in my experience.

Think about that for a second - other people in the same race will be cheering for your finish. Triathletes actually seem to want their fellow racers to complete the race! (I'm still blown away by that.)

Amanda,

You really need to sign up for this tri - commit to it!

Look at it this way...if you finish last, you still accomplish something pretty gosh darn cool...you finished a tri, and can proudly call yourself a triathlete.  Think about that...that's pretty awesome, in my opinion. 

I've been last, initially I thought it sucked...and then I realized, you know what, I finished and finishing is better than not...I could have given up and said it was too hard, but I didn't...and you shouldn't either.  I swear I could go on and on about being proud of the new strength you have, and how far you've already come, and how you're .  (I can go on and on sometimes )

In the end, it still comes down to this: DFL>DNF>DNS    

Maybe we should all get tattoos????