Lessons about Running from Spectating
On Sunday, I had the great pleasure of being a spectator at the Publix Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon. I love being a spectator. Every time I stand on the sideline of a race, I remember why I love running and racing so much. And I always learn something about runners and the incredible running community we are all a part of.
As I stood on the side of the road between miles 4 and 5 dressed in a sparkle skirt and madly ringing my cowbell (yes, I rang a cowbell non-stop for 2 straight hours and the owners of the home I was standing outside of did not come out and yell at me … yay!), I was reminded of 4 important lessons about running.
1. The human spirit is truly remarkable. Inner determination has the power to do incredible things. Within the top 25 men I watched come past the 4-mile mark, one of them was pushing a young man who was disabled and who could not run himself. The runner must have been running sub-6-minute miles while pushing the young man with him. Several other runners came by pushing running partners who could not run the race but who wanted to be part of it. I am always struck so profoundly when I see this kind of love. It is such a deeply emotional moment. It reminds those of us who are able to run how grateful we must be for simply being able to do it and to always be the kind of person who wants to give others opportunities and happiness. The goodness of people – and runners – and the power of the human spirit to transform ordinary people into extraordinary human beings is one of the reasons I love running. This past weekend’s race reminded me of that.
2. Running is for everyone. One of the things I love about watching a race is to see the diversity of people who participate. Young and old. Men and women. Every ethnicity, size and shape. People who are running 5-minute miles and people running/walking 15-minute miles. I love that running is anything you want it to be. I love that there are so many different kinds of runners to celebrate, and yet, we are all the same at heart.
3. Being a spectator or volunteer matters. I can’t tell you how many smiles, nods and “thank-you shouts” I received from runners on the course. There weren’t very many spectators out, so I rang my cowbell, told people how awesome and strong they looked struggling up yet another hill and jumped in to run with people. Running always seems like a physical sport, but so much about it is mental. If we can help someone with a happy mental moment – even if it only lasts a second – we are helping get them one step closer to that goal. Volunteering matters. Spectating matters. It is a great way to give back to our running community and to stay inspired ourselves.
4. Spectating makes you want to race. There’s just no getting around it. Being a spectator makes you want to run home and sign up for another race. Spectating makes you temporarily forget how painful the final miles are or how dreadful racing up hills can be. You have temporary amnesia and total euphoria that makes you want to find another start line ASAP.
The best part of my day was getting to see my dear family friend Jere finish her first half marathon. Despite intense hills and rain, she finished in an amazing 2:28! I jumped in and ran about 400 meters with her around mile 4.4, and she looked fantastic.
Getting to witness someone do something they once thought was impossible is one of the things I love most about running. We CHOOSE to make the impossible possible. We CHOOSE to be our best selves. We CHOOSE to be extraordinary. Congrats to everyone who raced this past weekend and to all of you who will cross a finish line this year. xo
If you liked this post, you might also like these:
How to be the World’s Greatest Spectator
The 10 Commandments of Spectating
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What do you love most about spectating? Do you have any memorable spectating moments?
Comments
I love spectating ALMOST as much as I love running. Every year in June my family watches a local 5k, “The Retro Run.” We don’t run it mainly because it is at 5pm in the dead heat of summer in Alabama, but also because it is so fun to go see. Everyone dresses up in retro attire and has a blast.
I actually started running after I spectated my first race, a half marathon my brother ran! It was so exciting and made me want to try running, too
I love spectating, too. And you are so spot on about it making you want to go home and sign up. Every single time.
I think I ran right by you! I love spectating too, esp at the finish. It’s a great place to see complete joy!
Ahh! I wish I had known it was you! 🙂 Congrats on finishing!
Every time I spectate I feel the same way! It really makes me love the sport even more and definitely makes me want to run more! We are going to go out and spectate Oceanside 70.3 on Saturday for the 2nd year in a row ( we raced it in 2012) and I am really looking forward to it! I have yet to volunteer at a race but keep thinking about it. I need to just pull the trigger!
Spectating TOTALLY makes you want to race. The only time I was sorta glad I wasn’t racing was when I watched the Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon after I had raced the very week before. At that point, it was a little more fun to drink my mimosas and cheer like a demon for those folks than it would have been to run 🙂
This is a fantastic post! I have only spectated on a couple occasions, primarily because I like to partake, and can absolutely relate to a lot of the points you have made here. This actually makes me want to spectate MORE, and be that overenthusiastic person with the life size cow bell disrupting the neighborhood.
I once surprised a friend at her first half marathon (she had no idea I was going to cheer her on) at mile 12 and she almost broke down in tears she was so happy to see me. I reminded her that she still had a mile to go, after running over to me, and she finished strong. It was awesome.
Oh that’s lovely! Brought a tear to my eye! 🙂
Spectating always makes me want to race, too! I’m sure those racers appreciated you being out there with your cow bell!
I love this post! I was a spectator at a half marathon my boyfriend ran on the weekend – I LOVED it!! It was the first running event I’ve ever been to, even to watch. I was so proud, not only of my boyfriend, but also of everyone else out there! Man, there were people of all shapes and sizes and fitness levels, and I clapped non-stop for two hours (didn’t think to take a cow bell!!). It definitely made me want to sign up for an event – I’ve only started running a couple of months ago and I think I’m ready for my first 5K! Loving the running community xoxo
I’m so glad you had such a good experience Anna! Congrats on making it to your first running event, and kudos to your boyfriend for his race!!! I’m excited that you’ve started your running journey, and I hope you will keep me posted on how your first 5K goes 🙂 Good luck!!!
I loooove spectating! It’s kind of selfish, because I get so much out of it! Recently, my parents watched me run a half. They had never watched before. My mom told me after that running had all seemed theoretical to her until she really SAW what a race is all about. Now she gets it, and is my biggest supporter. I think spectating allows people to see that running isn’t just a silly hobby or a way to get fit; there’s a lot to discover on the course. I know I learn something new, and come away motivated and moved nearly to tears, every time I volunteer at a race.
I love that your mom now understands your passion for running through spectating. Awesome! xo
I love spectating too! It was after watching the local marathon that the seeds were planted in my mind about running a half marathon, and I did the next year. It is funny to think that back then I wondered if I could do it!
Great job by your friend Jere!
Great post! My brother and I used to spectate and volunteer for races when my dad was running back in the day. It was so fun! I had never been a fan of running, but I still thought, “I can do this when I grow up!”
I have found that spectating makes me want to run so much more than normal. I love this post.
Everyone should volunteer and/or spectate as part of being a runner. I “chased” three of my best friends around Atlanta for the fall marathon. Meeting up with them, cheering and taking pictures. They loved it and I had a blast. A couple of weeks ago I volunteered at the Georgia Death Race in the Georgia Mountains and again it was amazing seeing the people completing a 68 mile ultra. They appreciated it so much having their drop bags organized and handed to them and just giving them a “way to go” you could tell made that part of the journey a little easier. I took pictures of everyone as they made there way up the hill to the aid station and seeing the passion for running in their eyes was so uplifting.
Thank you Jesica for being out there. It meant so much — There you were cheering with that infectious smile just like you said you would be!! It made mile 4 and 5 a breeze :))
I love spectating. I also love volunteering. I love watching the runners and athletes. Determination, fear, happiness!! It is always nice when I’m screaming loud and ringing the cowbell when someone says hi or gives me a smile or thanks. I at least know that one person was happy to see me!! 🙂
I was spectating at the Portland Marathon mile 23ish–last real uphill section of the course–and it was so fun to see so many friends out there having good days!!
Just catching up on my reading. Thx for the kind words! It was so cool to see you on the race route. Especially since you were such an important part of my inspiration to do the half. And of course I flashed back to when you were a little girl with the same great smile and enthusiasm cheering us on in the Peachtree!!