a recent episode.

This time, though, it felt more uncomfortable for me than a shirtless run. (Actually, no, a bouncing-bare-belly run would be worse.) While I’ve trotted approximately 4,057 times with voices in my head, this time my own voice was in my ears. Thanks to the good folks on the Runner’s World What Do I Do After My Half Marathon a recent episode. If you are just hearing about the Sub-30 Club for the first time, it’s the group I see broken dreams and fulfilled ones with the goal of running under 30 minutes in the 5K. Since then, it’s grown to a group of more than 4,000 members online.

I loved hearing the stories from my fellow Sub-Clubbers, but it was odd to hear my own. Runner’s World Editor-in-Chief David Willey asked me questions about my running, my weight, my quests, and my views about the back of the pack.

As someone who has logged many miles as the caboose, I do have some perspective on it. When I answered David, I told him that I imagined it wasn’t that much different from the view from the front—we all have our efforts, our struggles, our goals—but we just attack them at different paces. (Hear the full episode below.)

Listening back to my response, it got me thinking about that question even more—what it feels I started five years ago DFL or close to it. I know the point of view is different for everyone, but this is what I see:

I loved hearing the stories from my fellow Sub-Clubbers, but it was odd to hear my own.
I see broken dreams and fulfilled ones.
I see high-fives and tears.
I see an exceptional number of discarded GU packs.
and Snapchat at @ProfSpiker.
I see finishers walking back to their cars with medals and bananas.
Amazing Runners World Show.
I see broken dreams and fulfilled ones.
I see taunting race clocks.
I see mirages of postrace diner food.
The True Story of the Craziest Olympic Marathon.
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I see finishers walking back to their cars with medals and bananas.
I see faces determined to make next time better than this time.
Other Hearst Subscriptions.
I see high-fives and tears.

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Ted Spiker has only flipped the bird to a taunting race clock twice. You can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, RW+ Membership Benefits.