Spectator Sport

I've run several long distance races, and there are many things that affect your performance: your preparedness, how you're feeling, weather, race course, other participants, and the overall organization of the event. But I can't think of one single element that defines the experience more than the atmosphere. And you know what makes up majority of the atmosphere? You guessed it, the spectators!!

I'll admit, sometimes even I think marathon training is crazy. Many people don't understand runners. And many more don't think of running as a spectator sport. "Why would I want to wake up at the crack of dawn to stand on the sidewalk for 5 hours when I'll only get to see you for 30 seconds?!" I imagine it's similar to how I feel about golf.

As someone who will be running the Omaha Marathon on Sunday(!!), I'm here to hopefully convince you that running is, indeed, a spectator sport. Please continue reading to see what you can do to show your support at a race. I've even compiled all of my best spectating tips!

Why do you need spectators?

You cover many miles (26.2 to be exact) over serveral hours while running a marathon. That's a lot of time to kill! Yes you can listen to music, perfect your form, and even day dream, but it's much more fun to be entertained. Whether it be through people-watching, giving high-fives, reading inspirational signs, or enjoying live music, lots of fun can be had with the people along the race course. Plus, it's super motivating to have people out there cheering for you!

As a spectator, not only will you be able to cheer on friends and family, but you have the opportunity to support complete strangers. Just being there and cheering will make so many people's race that much more enjoyable. Depending on the size of the event, you could see tens, hundreds, even thousands of runners!

Things You Can Do:

Make a Plan - Look up the race course ahead of time (the map should be on the race website.) Figure out where you will park and where you will stand. Talk to your racer so they know where to look for you and you know about what time to look for them. Some things to keep in mind:

• Don't trap yourself in by parking "inside" the course. Once the race begins, you may not be able to get your car across streets that racers are running on.
• Look for places on the course that loop back on themselves. This way you can stand in one spot and see your runner pass by twice.
• Get time estimates from your runner beforehand - and be prepared to make adjustments on race day based on how the run is panning out.
• Keep a copy of the course map with you.
• If you won't see your racer before the race, tell each other what you'll be wearing so you're easier to pick out in a crowd.

Stand Out - Wear bright colors, tie a balloon to the baby stroller, or hold a sign. Which brings me to...

Make Signs - Runners love signs! During my first marathon, someone had stuck signs with inspirational quotes into the ground along the course. I remember being so excited when I caught a glimpse of a little black sign in the distance...I was so eager to reach it and read the message! After the race, my brother asked me, "Did you read those black signs? They were the best!" Whether you hold a sign or stick it in the ground, it can be funny, inspirational, or a message for a specific runner. Some examples:

• Funny - "Toenails are overrated!", "Crotch-Check! Friends don't let friends run with camel toe!", "Channel your inner Kenyan" "Beer at the finish line!" (They may seem weird, but runners will relate and you'll probably get lots of smiles for these! )
• Inspirational - "This is your moment. Celebrate the pain." "You are no longer a runner, you are a marathoner!" "Pain is temporary. Pride is forever." "You - yes YOU - are amazing!"
• Specific Runner - "Go Lizz!"

Make Noise - some runners are looking for distraction, others are looking for motivation, and some just want to have fun!

• Cow bells & noise makers - Fun for kids, too!
• Music - blast some tunes from a stereo!
• Cheer
• Clap

Take Pictures - Lots and lots of pictures! Runners don't usually carry cameras with them, so the photos from their big day typically come from friends & family...or for $$$ from the professional photographers.

• Take multiple pictures of the runner every time you see them. Of course the finish line is the big moment, but it's also nice to have photos from the start and along the course. And don't forget about before and after the race! One of my favorite marathon pictures is of my brother and me goofing off near the start.

• Practice taking action shots. I actually got this idea from my family. They were worried about getting a good shot as I ran by, so they practiced by picking out other runners to get their timing right. How smart! Plus, we ended up having photos of a coworker's daughter that we were able to pass along - what luck!

• Take pictures of other things going on around the race. A shot of an inspirational sign, a mile marker, the pretty tree-lined street, the live band or cheerleaders along the course, a dog watching runners pass by  - anything that was part of the experience!
• Take pictures of yourself! Get a shot of you and your sign. Ask a fellow spectator to take a picture of your whole group. Take a picture while you're still sleepily sipping your coffee. There are lots of moments that make good memories. And photos will help you share them with others!
• Know that you can never take too many pictures at a race - especially for a blogger (wink, wink!) It is so nice to be able to go back to photos to help remember your big day. There is a lot going on!

Things You Can Say:

Make It Personal - Yes, there will be crowds, but it sure feels good when you get a shout-out especially for you! Some people write their names on their shirts, which I think is a great idea. During the Richmond Marathon I happened to fall in line with another girl named Liz (which I knew because her name was on her bib.) I purposely stuck with her awhile because it was so nice to hear "Way to go, Liz!" from the sidelines! If there are no names, call out people's numbers ("Looking good, 4268!")

Mix It Up - Try to think of some not-as-common things to say that might catch someone's attention...and make your job more interesting.

• Looking strong!
• Tackle that hill!
• You own this course!
• Good form! (Even if you have no idea what correct 'form' is, this will most likely get people to think about/correct it.)

Leave Distance Out of It - Unless someone asks for a distance update, I wouldn't mention how far they've gone or how far they have to go. Especially if you're not quite sure. Most runners will be keeping track of this as it is. Hearing "10 miles left!" might sound horrible to someone who has just run 16 miles. They might need to think of it as "2 5-mile runs" or "just over a 15k" or "almost 2/3 done" - whatever is least daunting. Lots of mind games are played while distance running, and sometimes it's all about the wording.

Things To Remember:

Not everyone who is walking wishes that they were running. Many people plan to walk part (or all) of the race. In fact, some people do all of their training runs with walk breaks. There is a very popular method (commonly referred to as the Galloway Method) that involves walk/run intervals based on either time or distance. This method can actually lead to faster marathon times.

Don't smoke on the race course! Hopefully this is an obvious one, but I have had to run past people who were smoking on the sidewalk during a race. It was not pleasant.

Take care of yourself! You could be out there for a long time. Make sure you have proper clothing (layers, rain coat, hat, sunscreen etc) and proper fuel...especially water. You'll be thirsty from all that cheering! If you'll be in one spot for an extended period of time, it may be a good idea to bring a lawn chair.

Enjoy yourself! If you treat it like a chore, it will feel like a chore. Get into it! Stand where there is music, chat with other spectators, make up fun chants and cheers...get inspired! And pat yourself on the back. You are doing a great thing by supporting the runners. Even if they won't all be able to thank you personally, know that you made a tough morning a little bit better for lots of people. THANK YOU!!

For anyone who is interested, I would love your support at my second marathon this Sunday (9/26) at 7:00am in downtown Omaha. You can check out the Omaha Marathon website for more details. Email me if you'll be there to run or cheer!!

What did I miss? Any other tips to share?