If you've ever run or walked a marathon, you know how crowd support can immensely help you. But being a good marathon spectator takes preparation and work. If you're planning on watching an upcoming marathon, follow these marathon spectator tips to be an asset on the race course.
Make Signs
Runners love to read signs along the race course to help break the monotony. Try some of these phrases for signs : "You're all Kenyans."; "There's beer at the finish line."; "All walls have doors" (good one if you're cheering around mile 20 or beyond). If you're supporting a family member or friend, make a sign with his name that will encourage your runner but also help them to easily identify you.More: Funny Marathon Signs
Inspirational Marathon Signs
Be Prepared
The water stops and food stations are for race participants, so you should be prepared with your own supplies. Pack some bottled water and snacks. Have some goodies for the runners, such as jelly beans, gummy bears, orange slices, etc. Tissues or paper towels also come in handy for runners. Runners really appreciate noise -- yelling, clapping, whistling -- and your hands may get tired from clapping, so you might also want to have some kind of noisemaker, like a cowbell.Make sure you also have a reliable watch, a course map, cash, a camera, and cell phone. If rain is in the forecast, bring an umbrella, rain jacket, and extra socks. If it's sunny, don't forget sunscreen and sunglasses. You're most likely going to be standing still for a while. So it's always good to have extra layers in case you get cold. And, most importantly, make sure you're wearing comfortable shoes.
Respect the Course
Don't stand or walk on any part of the course. It's not fair to runners if you make the race course even more crowded or become an obstacle that they have to run around. If you can't see the runners from where you're standing because it's too crowded, move to a different viewing location.Pick an Encouraging Phrase
Rather than just clapping as runners go by, pick a phrase or two to yell. Some good ones include: "Way to run;" "You can do it;" "Looking strong;" "Nice job;" "You're flying;" or "Looking good." Many marathon runners display their first names on their shirts or race bibs. So if you see someone's name, you can always add that to the end of your catch phrase.But Don't Say This...
Unless you're right next to the finish line, don't yell, “Almost there” or "Not far to go.” Trust me, marathon runners don't want to hear that phrase unless they are about to cross the finish line. It's also not a good idea to yell out a specific distance such as, "Two miles to go," unless you're 100% certain that the number is the correct distance to the finish line (if you happen to be standing next to a mile marker, for instance). Too many spectators give out wrong information, which can be frustrating, confusing, and disappointing for runners.Use Technology
Many large marathons have a variety of great services to help spectators follow their runners. See if the race's web site has a sign-up for a runner tracking system, which can send alerts to cell phones, pagers, or wireless handheld devices as your runner moves across the chip timing mats throughout the course. Some races also offer Internet stations throughout the course and at the finish line, where spectators can check their runners' progress online.Timing Is Everything
If you're looking for a family member of friend, find out his or her projected pace per mile ahead of time. (Here's how he or she can predict their marathon time.) This will help you figure out where and when they should reach certain points in the course. But keep in mind for big marathons that it could take a runner as much as 20 minutes to cross the starting line because of the crowds. So don't base the predicted viewing times on the start time. You can adjust your projected viewing times after your first sighting of your runner.
