Embracing the Golden Hour & the Unique Experience of Finishing Last

Discover why finishing last might be the greatest victory in ultrarunning. The Golden Hour—that final stretch before race cutoff—represents a magical convergence of determination, community support, and raw emotion that captures the true essence of our sport.

What does it really mean to be a DFL (Dead Freaking Last) finisher? Far from failure, crossing the line in the final moments before cutoff demonstrates extraordinary resilience and heart. While front-runners showcase incredible athletic talent, back-of-pack runners reveal something equally powerful: the unwavering commitment to continue when every reason exists to quit.

My own experience finishing a Peak District 100-miler with just 14 minutes to spare stands as one of my most treasured ultrarunning memories. Running through the town of Buxton after 33+ hours on trail created a profound contrast—ordinary citizens going about their day had no idea of the extraordinary journey I was completing as the last - and only - person still on the course. That sensation of quiet accomplishment embodies why many of us are drawn to this sport.

The finish line during Golden Hour often witnesses the most emotional scenes in ultrarunning. Crowds gather, volunteers cheer, and fellow runners return to welcome the final finishers. Watch the last hour of Western States or any major ultra, and you'll witness the hairs-standing-up-on-your-neck magic as runners cross with seconds remaining on the clock.

For back-of-pack runners, embrace your journey. Chat with volunteers, appreciate the scenery, and when you approach that finish line—no matter how exhausted—find that last burst of energy for a strong finish. Your DFL achievement may inspire someone else to believe they can accomplish something extraordinary too.

What's your Golden Hour story? Share it with our community and help celebrate those who embody what ultrarunning is truly about: perseverance, heart, and crossing that finish line on your own terms. Follow Choose to Endure and join our growing community of back-of-the-pack heroes.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, hello again and welcome back If this is your
first time with us.
Thank you so much for stoppingby.
I really appreciate you takinga minute to give us a listen.
Here.
You are tuned in to Choose toEndure the show dedicated to the
back-of-the-pack runners, wherewe share stories, interviews,

(00:21):
gear and training tips specificto the tail-end heroes of the
Ultra Universe.
If you haven't had a moment todo so yet, please consider
heading over to your favoritepodcast app hit, follow, rate
the show and, if you're gettingsomething of value, leave a
review and let others know.
My name's Richard Gleave.
I've been running Ultras since2017, and I have taken on and

(00:47):
finished numerous ultradistances at this point, all the
way up through 220 miles, and Iwill say I'm, unashamedly a
member of the back of the pack,just like many of you, maybe,
who are listening today.
Just like many of you, maybe,who are listening today.

(01:07):
So, on this episode, we aregoing to dive into one of the
most unique and possibly one ofthe most emotional experiences
in ultra running, and that, myfriends, is finishing DFL, or
last as it's commonly known, andtypically, when you finish last
, you may also be finishingduring the golden hour, and this

(01:28):
is the final stretch of a race,usually the last hour, where
grit, determination andcommunity come together in a way
that's really nothing short ofmagical and perfectly okay to do
so.
For back-of-the-pack runners,finishing last just isn't about
failure.
It's about perseverance, heartand crossing that finish line on

(01:52):
your own terms.
In this episode, we're going toexplore what makes that golden
hour so special, share a fewstories that try to capture its
magic and discuss why finishinglast is really more of a badge
of honor.
So let's get into it.
Discover raw, inspiring storiesfrom runners who've been right

(02:15):
where you are.
This is the Choose to EndureUltra Running Podcast, with your
host he's English, notAustralian Richard Gleave.
Okay, so let's kick off bygoing into what is golden hour.
A golden hour, if you aren'taware, refers to the final

(02:39):
stretch of a race, the hourright before the final cutoff
time.
For many races, if you watch,this is probably the most
emotionally charged time of thewhole event.
While the winners may havecrossed the finish line hours
and in some cases even daysearlier, the golden hour, that

(03:03):
last hour of the race, that'swhere the heart of ultra running
really shines, in my opinion.
It's where volunteers, racedirectors, fellow runners, all
the crowd.
They all gather back togetheragain to cheer on those final
finishers and help celebratetheir perseverance and their

(03:26):
determination to get over theline before the race cutoff.
It's absolutely fantastic andit will make the hairs on the
back of your neck stand up.
The golden hour is a reminderfor me that ultra running isn't
just about speed or podium spotsanymore and I say this a lot
but it's about the journey.

(03:47):
It's about the struggle and thetriumph of ordinary people
completing something incrediblydifficult.
The finish line during thatgolden hour often has more
emotion and more support than atany other time.
Everybody is going to berooting for you because they
know how hard you've worked toget there.

(04:08):
Going to be rooting for youbecause they know how hard
you've worked to get there.
If you've ever watched theGolden Hour at Western States on
the live feed, it's incredible.
I remember watching finalfinishers cross that line last
year with just seconds to spare.
The crowd's going wild.
Pacers are on the track therein Auburn.
Everybody's cheering people in,everybody's willing these folks

(04:33):
to get over the line before theclock ticks over.
You can see the sheer joy andthe relief on the runner's face.
These moments just captureabsolutely everything I love
about ultra running and thesport in general the celebration
of effort, the celebration ofindividual resilience and the

(04:58):
community aspect of peoplepulling you over that finish
line when you think you've gotabsolutely nothing left to give.
It's really, really incredible.
And I would say, if you'venever done it, even if you
aren't racing a race, go standat the finish line of a big
event like Western States ormaybe Cocodona or some of these
other big events.
If you can watch them online,do that too.
Just go watch that golden hour,the last hour.

(05:20):
It's absolutely incredible.
But for a minute, let's alsotalk about the unique experience
of being a back of the packrunner like we may be and
finishing last.
So there are some challengesthere.
Finishing last is often goingto mean that you've been on the
course for hours or days longerthan those front runners.

(05:42):
That's a lot of time to managephysical fatigue, mental lows
and unpredictable weather.
Knowing you're close to cutoffscan add some extra stress as
well.
So every step is going to feellike a race against the clock
and back of the pack.
Runners often spend as I knowvery well from the Swami shuffle
long stretches of time aloneand that can be really mentally

(06:07):
challenging.
But there are some plus sides tofinishing last as well.
It often means you're going toget the loudest cheers and the
warmest welcome at the finishline.
People especially people in theultra world, who are more
likely to be at the finish line,plus any friends, family or
crew that you've had with youalong the way they recognize the

(06:28):
grit it takes to keep going andto make it all the way through.
Spending more time on thecourse also means more
opportunities to connect withvolunteers, soak in the scenery,
take some pictures, take somevideo.
Really and truly experiencebeing in the race and in that

(06:49):
location for a longer amount oftime than the race leaders are
going to get as they're runningthrough pretty quickly.
You get to really soak all thatin and be in that place and
time really understand that.
And then there's the personalvictory side of things.
You know crossing the finishline, no matter what your place
in an event, is testament toyour determination and strength.

(07:12):
If you're going to be the lastfinisher, instead of focusing on
the clock or the fact thatyou're last, focus on just
enjoying the journey.
Chat with the aid stationvolunteers, take in the view,
savor every step when youeventually cross that finish
line, the cheers are going to bedeafening.
There'll always be people therewelcoming you in.

(07:34):
You're going to feel like achampion anyway, right, so just
let it be.
Embrace finishing last.
It's really cool when you dothat.
Don't worry about it.
Actually, I would say finishinglast may even be a badge of
honor.
I think sometimes, when youtalk to people, there seems to
be a would say finishing lastmay even be a badge of honor.
I think sometimes, when youtalk to people, there seems to

(07:55):
be a stigma around finishinglast, but for me at least, the
truth is I still think it'ssomething to be incredibly proud
of.
It shows resilience.
Finishing last means you didn'tgive up, even when the things
got tough and they always do gettough in an ultra race.
That doesn't matter if it's a50k or 200 miles, things always
get tough.
You finished, you didn't giveup, you push through every

(08:20):
obstacle and you refuse to quit.
I think that embodies thespirit of ultra running.
For us, this sport isn't justabout speed.
It's about perseverance, gritand the willingness to endure.
That's why the podcast iscalled Choose to Endure, because
that's what we're trying toencourage you to do.

(08:41):
Back of the pack runners, lastplace finishers.
We embody these qualities, Ithink, more than anyone else,
and it inspires others, I think,more than anyone else, and it
inspires others.
Watching somebody cross thatfinish line in the golden hour
is often more inspiring thanseeing the winner come across.
It reminds everyone that, whilethe winners are blessed with

(09:04):
natural talent and arephenomenal athletes, the real
victory is in showing up, tryingyour best and never giving up.
I know in a 100-mile race thatI did.
I crossed the finish line withabout, I think, 14 minutes to
spare.
This was a 34-hour race in thePeak District in England and of

(09:27):
the 100 people that signed up, Ithink it was 18, 17 or 18
finished due to the bad weather.
In that race I was the lastfinisher.
That's the race that I remembermost because I snuck in just in
front of the race cutoff, 14minutes before the 34 hour
cutoff, and I was DFL.

(09:49):
I was the last person on thatcourse and I remember it vividly
.
I remember running through thetown of Buxton where the finish
line was.
It was a beautiful day, thesecond day of the race for me,
and run through the night,horrendous weather, and I was
running through Buxton and justlooking around and all these
people moving around doing theirdaily thing had no idea that

(10:10):
I'd been out since the morningbefore running around the Peak
District.
It was just a wonderfulsensation to be running through
there and I thoroughly enjoyedit, although not too much
because I wanted to get to thefinish, but it reminded me while
I was doing it why this sportis so special.
This sport is so special Now,if you're a back of the pack

(10:35):
runner or you find yourselfclose to the cutoff in a future
race, definitely try to embracethis golden hour experience.
Stay positive, focus on whatyou've accomplished, not how
much farther you have to go.
Think of it as every step is avictory, right.
And then lean on your supportsystem too.
So, whether that's fellowrunners, it could be pacers that

(10:56):
you have, or it could even beaid station volunteers Just let
other people lift you up whenyou're struggling.
Make an effort to talk topeople, make an effort to smile
and laugh.
If you can, sing a song, allthese things will help you get
through, and use them tocelebrate your journey.
Take time, as I did in Buxton,at the end of the Peak District

(11:18):
100, to appreciate the effort,the scenery and the community
around you.
The golden hour, that last hour,is about more than just
crossing the finish line.
It's about feeling that entireexperience.
And then when you do get to thefinish line, no matter how
tired you are, this is ultrarunning right.

(11:38):
So you have to give iteverything you've got for those
final steps.
And you know too, the energy atthat finish line will carry you
through.
And, if we're being totallyhonest, you know there's going
to be a photographer at thefinishing line.
So you don't want to walk overthe finish line, do you?
You want to sprint over thefinish line.
And that reminds me of myfriend, coach Vicky Allen.
Hey, vicky, I was watching herat the Sedona 125 last year and

(12:02):
I was watching on the livestream and she had gone around
the whole course and then turnedinto Cocodona Alley there in
Flagstaff and literally sprintedas fast as she could across the
finish line, which cracked meup All that time.
And then a sprint across thefinish on 125 miler.
But that's what you've got todo.
That was brilliant.
I loved it.

(12:22):
Look at all the energy thatthat brought and the finish line
photos.
I think that was terrific.
So, yeah, focus on enjoying theexperience.
Cheer on other runners.
Thank the volunteers soak inthe scenery, and I promise you,
when you cross that finish line,the support of the crowd will
make every moment of struggleworth it.

(12:42):
So, to recap, here are four keytakeaways about golden hour and
finishing last one the goldenhour is a celebration of
resilience, determination andthe spirit of ultra running.
Go find a golden hour and gostand out or watch it on a live

(13:04):
stream.
I promise you you will notregret that experience.
Number two finishing last comeswith unique challenges, but it
can also offer unmatched rewards, from the support of the
community to the personalvictory of crossing the finish
line.
Number three finishing last isnot a failure.

(13:26):
Don't let anybody tell youotherwise.
It is a badge of honor thatembodies everything this sport
is about.
Dfl is brilliant.
You're inspiring everyonearound you.

(13:48):
When you do that, I promise you, people will take notice and
there'll be other people thatlook at you doing that and think
, wow, if they can do that, Ican do that too, and that's
really what we're trying to getto.
So there's your four keytakeaways for this episode.
Now I'd love to hear from youtoo.
Do you have a golden hour orfinal finishing story?

(14:09):
Share it on social media tagChoose to Endure or this episode
.
Whether it's a moment oftriumph, a lesson learned or a
memory of the support youreceived, your story can inspire
others in the Back of the Packcommunity.
Let's celebrate those momentstogether.
If these takeaways resonatewith you and you're ready to

(14:33):
take the next step in yourtraining journey, maybe let's
keep the conversation going.
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(14:53):
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(15:16):
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I would love to hear from you,whether it's to say hello,
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You can also email me directlyat info at choosetoeendurecom.
Interacting with listeners,just like you, is one of my

(15:38):
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Until next time, run long, runstrong, don't be afraid to
finish last and keep choosing toendure.