The joy of coming last
Life isn't always about winning
Parkruns are a fun way to walk or jog a 5km course throughout the UK and in many European cities and towns. I’ve participated a handful of times and thoroughly enjoyed the after race meet-ups in nearby coffee shops. I can’t say I particularly enjoy the running, partly because I never train enough.
Yesterday, while visiting friends in Munich, I joined in with a local parkrun as a volunteer for the first time. I definitely wasn’t fit enough to attempt to run. I did, however, want to cover the 5km course for my daily step count. So, I took on the role of the tail walker. My job was to set off behind everyone else, look out for anyone who might need support, and also to clear the course of way-marker cones on the second lap. This particular parkrun is two laps round a lake in a very pretty park.
What a joy it proved to be. I loved the freedom of being charged to deliberately come last. Instead of checking my watch every few minutes and feeling depressed that my pace wasn’t fast enough, I simply aimed to keep two walkers and a dog in sight on the first lap. They were walking pretty fast so that was a decent challenge as I also greeted each marshal on the way round. On lap two the first marshal joined me in collecting up the cones and we had a lovely chat as we walked. I also got to cheer on the elite runners as they lapped me, which they seemed to appreciate. Being lapped as a tail walker is a completely different experience to being lapped as a competitor!
I can honestly say that this was one of my most enjoyable experiences of park run. No pressure to compete with anyone, including myself, and a much enhanced sense of being part of the community. All of which got me thinking about life in general and what other opportunities there are to deliberately come last, or at least to serve others in a non-competitive way.
Today’s society puts so much emphasis on winning and succeeding. This summer is awash with sporting events - the Euro football tournament in Germany, Wimbledon for tennis fans in London, the Olympics in France. Winning is, of course, the goal of all those who have trained for years for a place in these competitions.
However, there are so many opportunities to put others first, not only at these events which are generally only made possible by armies of volunteers, but also in so many other areas of life.
Earlier this month the UK celebrated volunteer week. So, somewhat belatedly, I want to celebrate everyone who is a volunteer in some way. I also want to echo what the volunteer week website states ‘Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to society and help others, which in turn makes you feel great’. It certainly was for me at park run this week.
If you’ve never volunteered I’d encourage you to do so. There’s a vast range of opportunities out there. Almost certainly there’ll be some way to do something that you love in a volunteer capacity.
If you do volunteer I’d loved to hear what you do and what it gives back to you as you are giving to others. Put your stories in the comments so we can celebrate together.