Don’t be a spectator. Don’t let life pass you by.
-Lou Holtz
[tweetmeme source=”luau” only_single=false http://www.URL.com]
In every race that I have run, I have always been grateful for the people who come to cheer the runners on. Whether coming for a friend or family member, these people end up cheering everybody on. It is a great energy booster for me as a runner when random strangers cheer me on and even a bigger one when it’s from my family and friends.
Last Sunday was the Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon. I had no plans of running it, but I had two friends who were. Had I not been nursing this knee, I probably would have shown up last-minute to run, however, I did the right thing and staked out a spot late in the race to cheer on my buddies (Josh – @bostoncardiovet and Alett – @petfxr…I’d find out later that Alett had suffered a minor injury and was not running). I got to my spot maybe 20 -30 minutes early. I asked a cop what mile marker we were at (just shy of 11) and then asked the spectators already there how many people had already gone by (maybe 10 at most). I looked at my watch. 90 minutes, shy of mile 11, 10 runners. I did the math. Damn! I wish I was running this. Given healthy conditions, I could have had a shot at being one of those top 10. As the runners began to trickle by, I cheered each and every one of them on. Some said thank you, others were in a zone and kept on running. I envied each and every one of them.
This was the first race I had been to where I wasn’t a participant, and I’ve got to tell you, it was hard. I’m not talking “oh geez, I wish I were running too” hard. No, I’m talking “pang in my heart, itch in my legs, must resist the urge” kind of hard! I was never a huge racing fan before I started running, and even after I started running, I didn’t get into races until I ran my first one. As great as it was to cheer on complete strangers, all I wanted to do was run.
When Josh came running by about 20 minutes later I kicked off my flip-flops, put my coffee down and began running with him. Yes, I know. I’m rehabbing and I’m not supposed to be running! But I promise I was forced to run lightly since I was completely barefoot. It felt great. Just being out there with the other runners felt absolutely awesome. After taking Josh up a particularly steep hill, I bid him good luck and jogged back to my spot, cheering each runner I passed.
So, what did I learn?
I learned that running a mile barefoot isn’t so bad. It actually got me thinking that maybe one of these days I’ll try a 10K or half-marathon completely bare.
But the biggest thing I learned on Sunday was that I don’t like being a spectator. I will continue to support friends who run local races, but I have a feeling that if I’m healthy, I’m a lot more likely to be joining them at the starting line instead of cheering them on. I think that I can apply this to other parts of my life as well. How many of us have spent a good chunk of our adult years as a spectators or watchers? While I try to figure out what that means, I’ll just have to start with a half marathon next week (anybody else running the Boston Run to Remember?) and some 5K’s over the summer.
I can’t wait to get back on the road.
Run Luau Run 
I still don’t understand why anyone would want to be a spectator at a distance race. A 5k, especially a local one for charity, or tied to a festival of some sort, sure, rock on. But as much as appreciate people cheering us on, dancing, blasting music, drinkin’ and hootin’, or holding amusing signs, if they’re not there to support a specific friend or loved one I just don’t get it. What’s the appeal?
That said, I want to “give back.” It’s always too easy to enter a race at the last minute. At some point I will commit to spectating, or better yet, volunteering, for a race I’m not running, my wife isn’t running, and nobody I know is running.
Kudos to you for being out there for your friends. And let me know if you figure out “what it means.” 😉
I also think everyone who races should (at least once in their lives) work a finish chute (or a water table, but finish chutes are best!). They’ll never take race vols for granted again.
I also learned, sort of like Keath echoed above — that while I enjoyed being an extra in local (Florida State University) films, that it was a whole different level of enjoyment to take the risk to actually open my mouth …. we should challenge ourselves for sure!
Come on, Luau Knee, get better!
First off, good for you for getting out there and supporting your buddies! I’ve been in your same spot before: injured and cheering on friends, aching to be running alongside (or preferably a little ahead!) Now my daughter is running, and we often end up in different races – she in a 5K and me in a half or full marathon – so I get to cheer her on and she returns the favor. The thing that strikes me most is how difficult it is to be a spectator. I get dizzy from swiveling my head to watch all the runners. And if you want to see your runner(s) at different spots, you have to sprint to get there, or you may even have to take public transportation if it’s a longer race. Don’t EVER take your supporters for granted!
I’ve also gone to a race where I didn’t know anybody. Why? To witness people doing something extraordinary. To rekindle my own passion for running. To support the running community. Try it sometime — just be sure to stay for the people at the back, as that’s where the real inspirational stories often are found.
Finally, I completely agree with Paula. Volunteer at a race sometime. Not only will you gain an added level of appreciation for what it takes to get YOU to the finish line, but you’ll also have one helluva good time.
Now, Luau, rest up and get that knee better!
Its hard to be on the sidelines when you’re itching to be out there, but as my Dear old Dad says…Life is a series of trade-offs 🙂
Since my husband and I both run, and we now have two kids, we often have to trade off running races – depending on schedule, training plan and distance (one of us can push Annie, but Cole at 5yrs is too big to be pushed in a jogger and too young to run a 5k) one of us is usually spectating. Learning how to be a good spectator and teaching the kids helps us keep it fun. (Annie – 19 months – claps at the site of a Runners World magazine). But sometimes its frustrating to stand by knowing… I can do that!
Good luck with rehab and resting the knee! (4 hours of LOST will make for a very long elliptical workout!)
-E
I volunteer at local races on occasion and don’t mind it so much. I’m a member of the local running club and know just about everyone, so it’s a bit of a social event.
Last weekend, however, I volunteered to work a local duathlon for the first time. I knew very few people and was stationed alone out on the edge of the course. It wasn’t long before I got antsy. The participants were flying by on their bikes, and before long they were running by as I walked parallel to them all the way back to the start/finish. I wanted to badly to be one of them.
Argh! 🙂
i absolutely understand the urge you felt to want to be at the starting line of the race as opposed to sidelining it, ive definitely been there before. but definitely give it a chance and try spectating again or better yet volunteering. my first volunteering event was just last month and it really feels good to give back after all the races i have done. seeing it from the other side really gives racing a different perspective as well. we wouldnt be able to have races if there werent the many volunteers helping out to put the race on in the first place.
and david (dp turtle) said it best above- go and witness people doing something extraordinary. so maybe you go and see one or two friends run. or maybe youre just stopped in traffic cuz the race is in your town and you cant get out until all the people pass. these people are out there for more reasons than anyone can imagine, each person for a different reason at that, and there are many many more who cant be there doing what they are doing. running is an amazing gift for those who are able to do so, and taking the time to cheer for them means a whole lot more than you would think.
🙂