After my most recent marathon in Little Rock, my friend Jess Byron (with whom I was staying and who was spectating the race and cheering me along) took to writing down a brief guide for others on the art of being a great marathon spectator. (Note: Obviously, this can be adjusted for half marathons. It's just that I almost exclusively do marathons, and that's all that Jess has spectated for me.) I have a few additions (which will be clearly noted with “JL”) to flesh things out a little bit. I hope you forward this on to those in your life who are inclined to cheer you on at some point – this will definitely help out, especially for newbies to spectating, or those who do so infrequently.
1. Know Your Runner
If you're spectating a specific runner, know their plans. This includes what their expected finish time is (which can vary even for seasoned runners, depending on conditions, or their specific goals, so ask). Also know the expected pace per mile time, since it can help you figure out what makes sense in terms of what you can make work on the course. Also talk about what they need on the course. Are they going to hand something over to you or want you to hand something over to them? (JL: Be mindful of whether your handing something to your runner will run afoul of course rules, and if those rules are likely to be enforced for your runner's expected finish. This affects very few people.) Do they have strict goals for nutrition (JL: “never do anything new on race day”) or would they be happy if you handed over something unplanned? Are they likely to want to take pictures? All of these can help you make your own plans like picking up a popsicle on a 90-degree day for a runner who wants it or carrying an extra snack if you know they'd like it on course. (JL: If I'm in position to easily grab pretzels, chocolate, or a munchkin, I'll almost always do so.)
Knowing your runner also involves knowing what they’re wearing. This is simple if you’re with them before the race or saw each other get dressed in the morning, but it’s more complicated if you’re traveling separately. You can ask your runner by text or even have them snap a picture and send it to you. If you know what your runner is wearing they’re going to be easier to spot. Be aware of layers if it’s a cold day; they may be shedding a hat or jacket early in the race, so know what’s underneath. Runners are much easier to spot if they’re running in costume, so I’d encourage you to encourage them to try to break a Guiness Record if they have any interest. (JL: There are plenty of records available. Just beware the very intricate documentation needs.)
If you know there's a time goal, does your runner want to know if they're hitting it or off pace? This can definitely vary by runner, but it can also vary based on whether they have the chance to make up time. Your runner may want to know if they're within a certain amount of time from their goal, say one or two minutes, or only know if they're running considerably faster than their goal so they can consider backing off. Most runners keep track of their own timing (JL: or let their pacer do it, if they're in a group), so they might not want to hear about timing from you.
2. Know Your Own Needs
This sounds simple, but it's actually more important than you'd think, and it took me a while to figure out what I needed to be the best spectator. Think about things like carrying water and snacks, and where on your race day you might need to use the bathroom. Think about coffee if you drink it or something else if it's a particularly cold morning. Carrying a backpack with an extra layer or where you can store your gloves when it warms up makes the day so much more pleasant. The first marathon I spectated we stopped in a hospital to use the bathroom and buy chips from a vending machine -- not the ideal way to take care of needs. Remember, even if you're not running the marathon, you'll likely be doing some serious walking; I usually cover 8+ miles to hit the course in various places.
Knowing yourself can also mean that you skip a mile marker in order to make sure that you can make it back to the finish line without collapsing from overdoing it, or that the heat or cold is just too much on a particular day. You don't have the same medical support along the course, and you're not going to do much good for your runner if you have an emergency; especially if you're their ride.
3. Plan Your Route in Advance
It isn't that there isn't flexibility in where you'll see your runner along the course; things happen, and sometimes you won't make it to every stop you planned, but it's easier to know where you're going ahead of time. If you're using public transportation, know the routes and what stations are closed for race day. (JL: If you drive in to get towawrds the course, know the street closures and how to navigate around them, and plan for the extra time from traffic backups.) If you're walking, think about routes that allow you to get to where you want to be comfortably for your stamina. This is a good thing to talk about with your runner in advance; is there a spot that they know they'd prefer you to be? Make that your priority. This could be "I'd like to hand you my hat at mile 6" or "I've run this race before, and it's really quiet between mile 20 and the finish, and I could really use the chance to feed off your energy." Communicating in advance with your runner also gives them a chance to know where to look out for you on the course. (JL: And if you can pre-determine the side of the road, if both sides are available in the direction of travel, that helps direct the runner's attention.)
It's okay if something happens and you can't get to every stop you've planned, but knowing in advance helps to make the most of your day. I prioritize start and finish, then try to get to two or three other places along the course. In Little Rock, we'd planned for me to make it to miles 4, 10, and 13 in addition to start and finish. I missed mile 10, because I forgot about it, and once I was at 13 I couldn't get a safe walking route from my GPS. Life happens, but it's easier if you plan for it.
Planning also means knowing where you are on the course. The mile flags are really helpful for this, even if you're moving in essentially the opposite direction of the runners. It can also help you know if you can make it to the finish line before your runner does. If you're at mile 25 this generally isn't going to happen, so knowing where you are can make sure you fulfill the priorities that you and your runner have set.
4. Be Proud of Your Runner
This probably goes without saying, but finishing a marathon is a huge feat, no matter what time someone finishes in. Cheer your runner across the finish line and be proud of them for finishing. (JL: It is hard to watch along the course *and* at the finish for some of the largest marathons.) If your runner doesn't finish in the time they were hoping for, let them vent, but don't get down on a runner for not finishing in the goal time unless you're the one who's training them (and even then, there's a time and a place). If it's welcome, you can let them know if there's something you noticed, like the app had them projected extremely fast, so maybe they went out faster than they thought given the adrenaline of running a race, but then, only if it's welcome.
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