I’ve written about the frustrations of being a back of the pack runner, but if it was all negative I’d never run again. I’ve found many joys running in the back, and they keep me going even when it gets hard.

In most sports, one person or team wins and everyone else goes home a failure. But in running, starting is a victory, and no one can take away the sweet taste of crossing the finish line. Here is a list of my joys from the back of the pack.

Time doesn’t matter

Although I care about my time, it doesn’t stress me out. Plus, almost every race is a PR when you are really slow and just starting to improve.

There’s no stress from competition

When I see young, fast runners at local races, they don’t seem to be enjoying the run. Instead, they are worried about their competition and whether they can improve their time or place overall. I know, however, that the only one I have to beat is my lazy self.

I meet the coolest people

We know we aren’t going to place in our age group. We are running for the excitement, the exercise, and the challenge of competing against ourselves. We bond over jokes about our slow speeds and our need to occasionally walk. I have never met a mean person when I am running with the 12-minute mile pace group.

My biggest fans are right by my side

Instead of competing with the people next to me, I find them to be the greatest cheering crowd. I’ve run so many races where, when I feel myself struggling, someone comes behind me to cheer me on. I’ve heard the occasional stories from the front, but I hear them from every race I’ve run from the back of the pack. The camaraderie in the back of the pack is worth the price of the entrance fee and gives me just a little more faith in humanity.

I enjoy the scenery

When I’m not too worried about my time or how fast I finish, I can take time to appreciate the act of running and where I am running. I’ve run races through cities, suburban neighborhoods, and out in the country. Each race has its own personality, and I can enjoy the scenery and the fellowship that each one has to offer. I’ve even been known to carry a camera on my utility belt to take a few pictures as I’m running.

A mile is a mile, whether you run it in six minutes or 12. At times, I wish I could run a 6-minute mile, such as when I’m nine miles into a 20-mile run. But for the most part, it doesn’t matter to me. I run fast enough to feel the speed, yet slow enough that I don’t put too much pressure on myself. I think it’s the perfect combination.