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2010-09-02 4:48 PM
in reply to: #2982984

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)

DFL in the swim for my first triathlon. My ego made me go take classes and get a professional teacher.

 

1/2 mile swim improved by more than 15 minutes. It might even be 20+ minutes better.... Yes, I was that bad and wear it like a badge of honor.



Edited by daharryone 2010-09-02 4:49 PM


2010-09-02 4:53 PM
in reply to: #2982984

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
yes...here's my story.
2010-09-02 6:23 PM
in reply to: #2983099


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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)

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.


I think Sally Edwards run SheRocks races now.  Not sure but somebody told me that.   
2010-09-03 6:15 AM
in reply to: #2982984

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)

Yesterday my 17 yo son came home after his first cross-country meet where he raced his frist ever 5K.  Out of 50+ runners, he came in DFL.  I told him I was very proud of him for getting out there and participating.  He is 250 lbs/6'3" and will always be a clydesdale.  We had a long talk and I told him how I admired him for getting out there and trying.  He never missed a practice or training session and even trained in the rain when practice at school was canceled.  Finally, I pulled up this thread on a mini laptop and handed it to him to read and told him in EVERY race, there is someone who finished DFL.  He read and tried to smile even though I could tell he choking back the tears.  My feelings were mixed between tears and laughter - tears becuase I felt bad for Nick and laughter becuase, f-it, it's just a race!

~Mike

2010-09-03 10:29 PM
in reply to: #2985703

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
This is what happend with my wifes first Tri.
My wife was second to DFL and this older woman named Sandy was DFL. She rode an single speed bike and when she came into T2 the sponser asked if she wanted to finish? She said she was going to walk byt she would finish.
The Crowd cheered her out of T2 and cheered more when she came into the finish.
Her  and my wife both got towels from the RD because they had the guts to go the distance.
It was really a special day.
2010-09-03 10:57 PM
in reply to: #2982984

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
In my first (and so far only) 10K I was DFL in my division (wheelchair racers). We start 10 minutes before the first wave of runners. The runners and their motorcycle escort overtook me at about 3 kilometers. I had my own bicycle marshal behind me the whole race. The last 1.5 km is up a wicked hill - I had caught up with the next-to-last wheelchair racer at the bottom of the hill, and he wound up beating me by over 2 minutes. I think my bicycle guy was getting pretty frustrated with me inching my way up the hill.

But I did the course 12 minutes faster than I'd ever done 10K in practice, so I was pretty thrilled with my results. And since there were no other 50 year old female wheelchair racers, I figure I came in first in my class.


2010-09-05 7:56 PM
in reply to: #2982984

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
BT's newest DFL! I didn't finish last overall today but I finished last in my age class (11/11 age 20-29). It really doesn't bother me at all because I have only been swimming, cycling and running for 3 months now. Check out my race report! All advice and comments are appreciated, especially since all BT interactions I've seen have been positive and constructive. I've made great progress from sitting on the couch! Laughing
2010-09-05 8:00 PM
in reply to: #2982984

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
This guy is my favorite DFL of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNvOrSFbhM0

2010-09-05 8:47 PM
in reply to: #2982984

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
Add me to the DFL list.  Today I was the slowest run out of 103 finishers in an Olympic triathlon.  I was 91st overall, but 1:07 got me 103rd place on the run.  Oh well, someone had to be last.  Today it was me.
2013-06-18 11:03 AM
in reply to: rowdypaint

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
OMG - thank you all. I laughed, I cried, I feel inspired!
2013-06-18 11:24 AM
in reply to: MuscleMomma

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
I DLF for the Men, was 13/38 for the swim, and 16/38 for the run, but that darn 38/38 for the bike was what killed me. 4 mi in on the 12 I striped a pedal, right out of the crank arm. Zero threads, smoother than a baby’s bottom. The run could have been faster, but pedaling those 8 miles was one heck of a one leg drill. The run felt like I had an anchor tied to my leg. I did help a lady put her chain on the bike portion I was asked too if I wanted to ride back, and said no. I finished, my alarmed wife checked with the race people because it was taking me forever, 12 mph with one leg seemed all right by me. I think this year barring any major mechanical failure I stand a great chance of building on my success in the swim and run, and I can only go up from the DFL in the bike.


2013-06-18 11:35 AM
in reply to: GotBackup

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
I was DFL in my AG and 2nd to last OA at my first triathlon but I didn't care, I had a great time. Come to think of it, I think it was my 3rd race where I finally got out of DFL in my AG
2013-06-18 12:18 PM
in reply to: UWMadTri

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
Thank you so much for bumping up this post!!!!!!

This means a lot for me, and my upcoming first HIM.
2013-06-18 1:02 PM
in reply to: MuscleMomma

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)

Originally posted by MuscleMomma OMG - thank you all. I laughed, I cried, I feel inspired!

I'm so glad you came over here and posted about your own doubts so that this thread resurfaced! I, too, had a great time re-visiting it.

I don't think I've come in DFL again in a race, but I do have 3 pretty big (Ironman) DNFs to my name now ... and no joke, with extremely fond and wonderful memories of each one and all the events surrounding the races. Really really proud of my efforts and deeply touched by the amazing support I got from strangers, bystanders, volunteers, and dear friends. I wouldn't trade all three for one Ironman finish. Although, I do hope to finish at the fourth

2013-06-18 1:08 PM
in reply to: TriAya

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
I was DFL on the run leg of a sprint I did last fall. Just felt like crap, had a cramp, and just poked along to the finish. Luckily the swim & bike were good, but the run was DFL in my AG. By alot.
2013-06-18 3:32 PM
in reply to: jdotten

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
DFL at an adventure race in 2011.

The first running segment went pretty well. Then the first kayak segment was a joke. Everyone passed us. The biking section was horrible. It was horrible thanks to me! The entire path was boulders and it was hilly. I'm not one to take risks. I barely want to mountain bike on flat terrain! After 2-3 miles the sweeper came up and stayed with us for the entire bike portion. Then we had to kayak one more time. By the time we made it in, awards were being given. Pretty sure no one realized we were still racing. Ha!



2013-06-18 7:02 PM
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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)

I was DFL in my age group in my first sprint triathlon, with a time of 1:46:xx.  You know I would have been pissed, I probably was a bit at the time, but

I finished

It's hard to grasp at the time, it may not mean much at the time but in retrospect that's what really matters to me. 

When I look back on it now I'm amazed I even made it to the start line.  I started 2012 off as a 255lb pack a day smoker.  I was at the start line of my first triathlon weighing 205lbs or so, and only 3.5 months smoke free.  It was a challenge, one of the toughest ones I have ever done.

I can't wait for that triathlon on July 13th this year.  I'm hoping to blow last years time out of the water (I hope, lol).

That's why I also love the triathlon community, I never felt judged for being slow, or finishing last.  All that seemed to matter was that I finished a triathlon, and I am a triathlete.

I love the quote

DFL>DNF>DNS,  being DFL you're still ahead of so many people.

Now I've come to this year and have a HIM looming, I'm getting nervous again!  I know I will finish, if its DFL, that's ok with me.

 



Edited by Justin86 2013-06-18 7:04 PM
2013-06-18 7:55 PM
in reply to: Justin86

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
I was DFL in my AG my first tri, by about 10 minutes. Given that I only had about 4 months of training under my belt, and before that hadn't run a mile since middle shool, no big surprise.

Anyway, at a sprint last year an older woman was DFL. She got the usual big ovation from all the volunteers and others still hanging out at the finish line. After the awards one of the race sponsors held a drawing for a new tri bike. And guess who won it?
2013-06-18 7:58 PM
in reply to: Fourteenkittens

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)

Yes in my first Oly.  Well last in my age group.

I usually come top half out of the swim, then it gradually falls apart.  so then I think I'm a good swimmer and sign up for an OWS where they are all crazy endurance open water swimmers and lo and behold I come DFL again.

love it - still faster than if I didn't do it.

2013-06-18 9:20 PM
in reply to: TriAya

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
If it makes you feel better, Yanti, even I have been DFL, on multiple occasions. Several times in middle school, I was third out of three in distances ranging from 200m to 800m. Somehow it was particularly humiliating to get a ribbon for being dead last; maybe that helped motivate me to actually train! In college, I was once not only DFL but actually lapped by the field in a track 10,000 at the famous Hayward Field. No excuses, just having a mediocre race (36 minutes and change) while being massively outclassed by truly talented runners. My coach tried to get me to drop out and said I had shamed the team; I refused as I'd never dropped out of a race, and couldn't see why being DFL constituted an acceptable excuse. That was the tip of a long iceberg of unhappy events that led me to quit the team as a junior. At any rate, it was unforgettable--if you've ever seen the Prefontaine movies, there's a special clap the Eugene crowd gives for records, hometown favorites, or occasionally a struggling athlete seeing it in anyway, and they did it for me that day. I finished.......and have never had the desire to set foot on that track again.

As for tri, in my first Oly, my bike leg was so epically bad I think I was only ahead of ten people or so at the end of the bike, though I ended up MOP--it was a very hot day and hot running is kinda my specialty!
2013-06-19 1:13 AM
in reply to: TriAya

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
sorta DFL at an ITU elite race... I was the last guy to finish but the officials had pulled a few off the bike for being lapped by the leaders (yes this is a rule in elite draft legal races).


2013-06-19 4:54 AM
in reply to: Rogillio

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
Didn't DFL, but I think I've made a pretty impressive place drop:

I was 28 after the swim, placed 457/539 in the men's group - 507 on the bike and 524 on the run. On the bike I felt I was passed by literally everyone in the race. In the beginning I was passed by people from early waves and I kept thinking, I'm still 10 minutes ahead and I got passed by some from the "elite" wave even 2 hours into the ride. But towards the end I started to look back to see if there could possibly be any more bikes behind me and the other athletes would cheer on me as they passed. When I finally got to T2 there were as many bikes racked as when I left.

Originally posted by Rogillio

The crowd only cheers those that come in first and those that come in last!

~Mike


Or if you suffer.. they really don't want you to stop, apparently they enjoy seeing you suffer.
2013-06-19 5:13 AM
in reply to: triton63

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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
Originally posted by triton63

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! 


I have sometimes thought, what if we change the rules: First place goes to the last over the line, but DQ those who don't make the cutoff. No mass start but a mass finish. You may start any time after the horn, but once you start you must never stop moving. That would really call for good pacing ... maybe prohibit wearing a watch.
2013-06-19 12:00 PM
in reply to: jdotten


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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
I had my first ever sprint tri in May. The night before I didnt get any sleep and was up throwing up 2 hours before I left. I was well read up by then on what to expect so I told myself it was all nerves!

The tri was delayed because of weather, which didn't help at all. Ended up throwing up at the turn around on the bike and again halfway back. Another 5 times on the run. I thought it was hilarious when I was going to town on the side of the road and people run by and yell "stay hydrated!". Had to stay positive and finish because I knew if I went back home and told everyone I DNF I would never hear the end of it.

Ended up 3rd in the Clydesdale division...outta 3....and male 75/75.

Turns out I had a 102 temperature and couldn't hold anything down for the next 2 days. Made for a very rememberable and hard triathlon. Fingers crossed that I do about 1000X better at my 2nd ever tri this next Saturday.
2013-06-19 3:43 PM
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Subject: RE: The DFL thread (if you've ever come in last)
Well, since this thread has been bumped up, I started in tri after this thread existed in 2010. We're not supposed to blatantly plug our blogs, but I'm going to violate this time. You want a DFL story? I have tons of em. Three seasons worth. From 51/51 in a local pool-swim sprint in May 2011, to being the last across the line at Eagleman last weekend with only one person logging a longer time.... About half my races half been DFL, including tris, 5ks, half marathons, and a DFL at a 5k swim. (Where I raised the most money and won an ipad.)

I've been having the time of my life in DFL territory.

Edited by TheClaaaw 2013-06-19 3:50 PM

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