things I learned while yelling at runners
Rode a bike downtown yesterday morning to cheer for folks running the Pittsburgh marathon-nobody in particular, everyone in general-and right away discovered that my concept of the sheer scale of the event was way off. 30,000 runners is like everyone in my home town who could walk suddenly took off running through the streets of Pittsburgh. I felt guilty leaving before everyone went by (if I'm cheering for anyone, then shouldn't I cheer for everyone; I fail cheering), but halfway through the race the stream of runners becomes virtually endless, and dammit I had a hockey game to fret about! So as far as I know there are still people running, because I never saw the end.
- Mechanical cheering aids are a good idea, because clapping and yelling for 45 minutes at a stretch is hard, and there are still more runners coming! The ding bell on my bike was a good crutch (although I'm sure I was annoying everyone around me because I was annoying myself; it was like a angry hotel bell captain standing on the curb), but a cowbell would be better. Cyclocross fans know what's up.
- If you wear knickers and forget the sunblock for your winter-white calves, you will be sorry. I did and I did and I am.
- Ain't no big boys running near the front, but there were more running than I expected.
- I could do this. Maybe just the half marathon to start, or the 5-person relay. Hmm.
- Mechanical cheering aids are a good idea, because clapping and yelling for 45 minutes at a stretch is hard, and there are still more runners coming! The ding bell on my bike was a good crutch (although I'm sure I was annoying everyone around me because I was annoying myself; it was like a angry hotel bell captain standing on the curb), but a cowbell would be better. Cyclocross fans know what's up.
- If you wear knickers and forget the sunblock for your winter-white calves, you will be sorry. I did and I did and I am.
- Ain't no big boys running near the front, but there were more running than I expected.
- I could do this. Maybe just the half marathon to start, or the 5-person relay. Hmm.