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The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
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 2010-07-15 11:49 AM |
Melon Presser  52116   |  Subject: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)I've you've been last and you know it ... clap your hands ... Feel free to provide details, or anything good about it, or anything you learned. - I got my own police escort on the bike - The sightseeing was fantastic without all those athletes blocking my view - Spectators felt sorry for me so they cheered even harder and some came to run alongside me - The volunteers just went crazy when they saw me (probably 'cause they were relieved to FINALLY HAVE ME COME THROUGH so they could pack up and go home already) - Brennan (RD/MC) STOPPED THE AWARDS just to scream out over the mike, "IT'S YANTI, COMING IN TO THE FINISH LINE!!!" ... so EVERYBODY knew I was DFL.  heh. |
| 2010-07-15 11:52 AM in reply to: #2982984 |
| Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) Okay I don't believe I've ever been DFL, even in my own age group but I have been second to last. I would rather be DFL, at least then the whole crowd goes wild. When you're just another waddler you don't get that boost of applause |
| 2010-07-15 11:53 AM in reply to: #2982984 |
Master 2638  | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) My friend Linda and I did finish last at a 5K run (that we walked) in 2002. I was pregnant and we didn't even walk fast, but we had a great time. : ) Not much cheering for us, but we did not mind. I was just glad to be able to get out there and walk. |
| 2010-07-15 12:00 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
| 243 | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) I have been DFL twice, most recently at the HIM this May. Had a flat on the bike and stayed with a girl for about 30 min who had trouble breathing. Anyway, the 13 mile run was a "walk" from the heat and digestive issues but had more folks come out a yell for me, brought me COLD water, and were so fabulous. Very much worth the struggle. No one at the front gets that, I bet! The first time was a long distance du that I rolled up to the finish line about 20 after the cutoff to find about 5 very large women waiting with ice cold bottles of water for me! Loved it! |
| 2010-07-15 12:05 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Champion 14571 the alamo city, Texas | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) Just DFLed at an oly and June and I should be pissed...but I am not because I know WHY I was DFL...and because I STILL FINISHED...even though after the first 5K of the run I was ready to walk off the course, I walked every last painful hot step. I STILL TRIED MY BEST. And this is maybe the first time ever that this was good enough for me. And, man, did it motivate me for the next race! |
| 2010-07-15 12:07 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
| Master 2009 Charlotte, NC | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) My first HIM I was DFL. I learned how 56 miles on a bike was much further than I initially thought. I learned I am pretty tough mentally, even if I really shouldn't be doing something physically. I learned not to underestimate how hard tris can be. |
| 2010-07-15 12:07 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Master 1366 PNW | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) I did a 5K race for a corporate games type event for my company. Anyone can run, but the top two times for men and top two times for women get scored. We only had one other woman running so we were destined to be disqualified. I agreed to run the night before the race having only done my very first sprint tri (and my first ever 5k) the previous week. I was not only DFL...but I was DFL by about 4 minutes! The only people who even saw me cross the finish line were the 2 people doing the timing (luckily). No one cheered. No one cared. It was almost the most anti-climatic finish ever (my first century was way worse even though I wasn't DFL). I ended up with a silver medal. My team got second place overall BECAUSE I RAN.  |
| 2010-07-15 12:15 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Champion 10157 Alabama | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) |
| 2010-07-15 12:20 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Champion 18680 Lost in the Luminiferous Aether | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) The first century I finished I was DFL. The crowd had gone home and the only ones left were my husband, my son, and one of the SAG drivers who followed me the last miles to keep me safe. They were were enough of a crowd for me. |
| 2010-07-15 12:24 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
| Veteran 260 LaGrange, GA | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) I got an email from a race director last week offering a FREE entry into a sprint triathlon. The only catch...you had to be that guy...DFL! They went on to explain that everyone dreads the thought of being last and to avoid that feeling for one of the triathletes they were making this offer. I thought it was kind of a neat idea and even talked to my wife about doing it. Anyone else see this in an event in their area? |
| 2010-07-15 12:28 PM in reply to: #2983086 |
Melon Presser 52116 | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) triton63 - 2010-07-16 1:24 AM I got an email from a race director last week offering a FREE entry into a sprint triathlon. The only catch...you had to be that guy...DFL! They went on to explain that everyone dreads the thought of being last and to avoid that feeling for one of the triathletes they were making this offer. I thought it was kind of a neat idea and even talked to my wife about doing it. Anyone else see this in an event in their area? How funny! But only the first person who responds to it gets the offer I bet. They only need one DFL. At the old Danskin races (maybe the new ones too, but not the same person, she no longer co-owns/runs Danskin tri) Sally Edwards would be the voluntary DFL and run in with, then behind, the last athlete. Edited by TriAya 2010-07-15 12:31 PM |
| 2010-07-15 12:32 PM in reply to: #2983099 |
| On your right | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) TriAya - 2010-07-15 1:28 PM triton63 - 2010-07-16 1:24 AM I got an email from a race director last week offering a FREE entry into a sprint triathlon. The only catch...you had to be that guy...DFL! They went on to explain that everyone dreads the thought of being last and to avoid that feeling for one of the triathletes they were making this offer. I thought it was kind of a neat idea and even talked to my wife about doing it. Anyone else see this in an event in their area? How funny! But only the first person who responds to it gets the offer I bet. They only need one DFL. At the old Danskin races (maybe the new ones too who knows) Sally Edwards would be the voluntary DFL and run in with, then behind, the last athlete. That sounds about what I do, but it's because they out kick me at the end. |
| 2010-07-15 12:34 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Master 1843 Roswell, GA | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) I was DFL last year at AG Nationals. In my AG I had spent the season front to MOP depending on the race. Didn't care and am even proud of it. I was the worst of the best! Believe I will go back again this year for some more DFL! |
| 2010-07-15 12:40 PM in reply to: #2983119 |
| Extreme Veteran 412 Panama City | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) worse than DFL...I'm in the military and our units had a mini-olympics day. (track and field+softball tourney). Every event had to have a male and female competitor. Our unit didn't have a female, so the lowest pt score (me...) had to compete against the girls. And yes, the races are seperate, first all the guys for a mile run around the track, then the girls+me. We have stadium style bleachers and every lap I had to listen to the heckling from the stands. I lose both ways, either I lose to girls, or what i did, out kick a girl to the finish line and hear hundreds booing me and listening to "way to go tough guy" or "hey look, he's the fastest chick"...sucked Edited by brycoy 2010-07-15 12:40 PM |
| 2010-07-15 12:47 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Veteran 1097 Elizabethtown, KY | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) The Team Magic events (TN and AL, primarily) normally have a designated DFL'er. Pretty cool concept. And they put on some good events. |
| 2010-07-15 12:48 PM in reply to: #2983086 |
Elite 3091 Spokane, WA | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) triton63 - 2010-07-15 12:24 PM I got an email from a race director last week offering a FREE entry into a sprint triathlon. The only catch...you had to be that guy...DFL! They went on to explain that everyone dreads the thought of being last and to avoid that feeling for one of the triathletes they were making this offer. I thought it was kind of a neat idea and even talked to my wife about doing it. Anyone else see this in an event in their area? At my first "long distance" tri, a 1/4 IM in 2006, I had an experience like this. I had only done one sprint prior to this event and I came in a bit, well, under-prepared. I was in effect DFL, but there was a guy who had designated himself as being DFL and this was announced at the pre-race meeting. He stayed with me for the whole run, truthfully more of a run-walk. He was an older gentleman, probably close to 60. He was a multiple IM finisher and we talked a lot about his experiences in triathlon and my new interest in the sport. The crowd at the finish was incredible, really a touching moment for me. The event organizers gave me a prize for finishing--a really nice pair of sunglasses. I still have them and will tell the story about how I "earned" them with pride. Thankfully this was my last DFL. |
| 2010-07-15 12:51 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Extreme Veteran 482 | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) At my first Oly last year I was DFL for most of the swim. I was swimming along, minding my own business, happy that I was freestyling it the whole time and I notice about half way that I'm surrounded by kayaks. I ask the kind young people, "am I in last place?" and they look me right in the eye and say "oh no ma'am, there's a few others back there". I look around and guess what, there isn't anyone else out there! I put my head back down and kept swimming. I got about 200 yds from shore and I see 2 people ahead of me. I never swam so fast in my life! I passed them both and that ended my official DFL steak! When the official results were finally posted, I was actually 7th from DFL on the swim! Phew!! LOL!! |
| 2010-07-15 12:51 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Elite 3683 Whispering Pines, North Carolina | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) |
| 2010-07-15 12:52 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Extreme Veteran 555 Carrollton, TX | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) I haven't been DFL, but I volunteered a sprint last weekend and saw the woman that came in DFL walking her bike to her car after the race, sobbing. It was so awful.  |
| 2010-07-15 12:59 PM in reply to: #2983167 |
Extreme Veteran 887 Lake Placid, NY | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) tri_d00d - 2010-07-15 1:51 PM First tri I was DFL out of the water... Small flotilla of kayaks following me in... x2. Did just BARELY beat ONE person by 1 second at the end though...LOL. Hey, I like the kayaks. It's like having your own personal entourage. Getting punched, kicked, and goggles knocked off while in the 2:00/100 crowd is for suckers. |
| 2010-07-15 1:02 PM in reply to: #2983135 |
Member 44 St. George | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) brycoy - 2010-07-15 12:40 PM worse than DFL...I'm in the military and our units had a mini-olympics day. (track and field+softball tourney). Every event had to have a male and female competitor. Our unit didn't have a female, so the lowest pt score (me...) had to compete against the girls. And yes, the races are seperate, first all the guys for a mile run around the track, then the girls+me. We have stadium style bleachers and every lap I had to listen to the heckling from the stands. I lose both ways, either I lose to girls, or what i did, out kick a girl to the finish line and hear hundreds booing me and listening to "way to go tough guy" or "hey look, he's the fastest chick"...sucked You should have had fun with that one. Worn a wig and heels. |
| 2010-07-15 1:06 PM in reply to: #2983170 |
Champion 16743 Somewhere I can be nekidd | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) thedallasceliac - 2010-07-15 1:52 PM I haven't been DFL, but I volunteered a sprint last weekend and saw the woman that came in DFL walking her bike to her car after the race, sobbing. It was so awful. That makes me sad. |
| 2010-07-15 1:06 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Master 1929 Midlothian, VA | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) As close as I could get without being DFL.... My third race and first Oly. (Actually the distances weren't quite oly, shorter bike, longer run I think.) I don't run much at all as it is, my knee was sore from the previous race, and the run distance was longer than I had ever done in a single day, period. Jog, limp, walk, repeat. For close to 2 hours. Torrential downpour didn't help much either. I saw ONE young lady come in after me, and the results online said (2). Maybe the other one was in an earlier wave and beat me but had a longer time. No cheering for any of us though. The rain had run everybody off. RD and his wife called to me by name as I finished, but that was about the size of the 'crowd' at the finish line. Oh well. I was hoping not to be last, but was prepared for it since my run isn't up to par and I was hurting. What DID bother me was that all the FOOD was long gone....no free cheeseburger for me....sigh. At least if you start at the bottom, there's only one way to go. My times should improve dramatically, since I plan to put more emphasis on running, and I'll eventually upgrade from the MTB. Yay! -eric |
| 2010-07-15 1:15 PM in reply to: #2983170 |
| New user 83 | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) thedallasceliac - 2010-07-15 12:52 PM I haven't been DFL, but I volunteered a sprint last weekend and saw the woman that came in DFL walking her bike to her car after the race, sobbing. It was so awful. I have to admit I thought the idea of a designated DFL'er was a bit of an odd idea but having read this I can certainly see why it can be a nice thing to have. Emotions can run so high. My heart goes out to that lady and hope it only drives her to compete again and not give up. |
| 2010-07-15 1:44 PM in reply to: #2982984 |
Regular 853 | Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last) I came in last when my oldest daughter ran her first 5k. She was 10 at the time, and decided she wanted to do it fairly close to the date. She really wasn't prepared for 3.1 miles so she did some walking. Her time was just over 30 minutes, but this particular 5k is very competitive, and it's a small race with mostly HS and college cross country participants. I ran with her the whole way and she finished just ahead of me. We could feel the heat from the ambulance behind us. A few weeks ago, I did my first duathlon. I've only been riding a bike for just over a year, and before the start of the race I already knew I was going to be last. I live in a rural area, and there were only around 30 participants, and I could tell they were experienced on the bike and run. I ended up coming in 2nd to last on the bike, but only because that dude got not 1, but 2 flat tires. Then he passed me on the run. So yeah , I ended up being last. I did get a medal though. I'm 40, so apparently I was the oldest gal there. Won my age group! haha!! jami |
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