The Race Is On …

You’re at the starting line. There are runners all around you. Some of them pace nervously. But you’re confident of a win.

Then you hear a voice over the loudspeaker: “Ready…set…go!”

And everyone takes off.

You run hard. Then harder. Now you’re in the lead.

Minutes later, you’re the first to cross the finish line. Then you wait and wait…and wait. Finally, your best friend crosses the finish line in the penultimateNext to last. position.

“Well, at least I wasn’t last!” your pal says.

So what was your friend’s position in the race?

Can you think of other times when the word penultimate would apply?