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Words of encouragement...
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 2009-07-16 1:29 PM |
 51 |  Subject: Words of encouragement...During my early tri days in the back of the pack I would often get passed (particularly on the run) as I was struggling to just get through. Barely running and occasionally walking I'd have someone come up behind me with words of encouragement. "Keep it up!" "You can do it!" "500 yards to the finish line!" In general I always appreciated the support. However, every once in a while I'd get more aggressive "helpers," those who would say, "C'mon! Run with me!" and then slow down to help me along. At the Philly half-marathon a long time back I was passed in the last two miles by a guy who looked to be 70 and who smacked me on the , saying, "C'mon. Keep it up!" I still hate that SOB. I always wished those good-meaning athletes would just leave me to my misery. So now that I'm into the middle of the pack and generally finishing fairly strong, I wonder what the other BOPers think. Do you want encouragement? Just a general shout-out? Someone to run with? A short conversation? How about an uplifting story that I was once slow as hell, too? I promise, either way, I won't be smacking anyone's rear-end. Steve |
| 2009-07-16 1:32 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Master 1457   MidWest | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... As a female triathlete that usually finishes DFL or pretty close to it, I really appreciate the encouragement of other athletes. What isn't appreciated is when the ambulances, last aid station, etc. follow right behind you and talk about me as if I'm not there or can't hear them. That happened once and it has made me super gunshy to try another one. |
| 2009-07-16 1:39 PM in reply to: #2289748 |
Champion 10020 , Minnesota Bronze member | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... I am also passed a lot and I like it when people say, quickly and not needing any response, things like "Keep it up!". It's very vague and in no way make an assumption about my goals or performance. I totally agree it's annoying when people want to speed you up, like when I decide to walk a hill. That is my race strategy and I am not letting myself down by doing it, but everyone seems to think I need a boost to keep running. Especially in a big race like a 10k or half-marathon, people stand on the hills and make you feel bad for not running. Leave me alone! So, when I am in the position to encourage someone I try to stick to general comments. "Way to go", "keep it up", or "almost there." This can help snap me back into it and refocus a little if I am truly struggling. |
| 2009-07-16 1:45 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Regular 126 | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... I finished my first one a month ago and I have my next in a few weeks. I really appreciated the encouragement and that fact alone helped me fall in love with the sport. So a quick keep it up, or great job and even one run with me is completely fine in this noobs opinion. Our comraderie seperates triathletes from the vast majoruty of other sports. |
| 2009-07-16 1:56 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Champion 10157 Alabama | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... If you're a MOPer it's not likely you will see any BOPers. I'm a FOBOPer....that is, I'm at the front of the back of the pack....and the only people I see are the FOPers who have "lapped me" and are on their 2nd loop while I'm on my first. Having said that, I usually leave the encourgement to the spectators. Occasionaly I'll see someone that really looks like they are struggling and I'll offer words of encouragement and/or empathy. i.e. "Hotter'n hail ain't it!?" or "You think there will be any beer and pizza left by the time we get back?" ~Mike |
| 2009-07-16 2:02 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Pro 5169 Burbs | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... I HATE when people say "pick it up" ... I want to respond, "shut the fcuk up, I'm going as fast as I can after 5 hours of racing" I also hate "you're almost there" during a marathon -- "almost there" is 200 yrs from the finish. no sooner! I passed a few people toward the end of my last HIM, and said things like "keep it up" "you're looking strong" "way to go". I do like hearing words of encouragement  as long as they aren't telling me what to do! |
| 2009-07-16 2:04 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Veteran 351 | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... I'm weird, I don't like being told "good job" or stuff like that. I always want to respond "I'm not doing good - I'm DFL!" I know I'm slow - I've accepted it and just want to be left to finish - that's my only goal anyways... :-p Then again, I also hate training with other people - when I do stuff like this I just like to be left completely alone. Congratulate me when I cross the finish line .The first time I did the Army Ten-Miler, there was a guy just past the starting line yelling "only 9.9 more miles to go!!!" I *really* wanted to slap him (but it did make me laugh!) |
| 2009-07-16 2:09 PM in reply to: #2289766 |
Champion 5782 Northridge, California | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... BikerGrrrl - 2009-07-16 11:39 AM I am also passed a lot and I like it when people say, quickly and not needing any response, things like "Keep it up!". It's very vague and in no way make an assumption about my goals or performance. I totally agree it's annoying when people want to speed you up, like when I decide to walk a hill. That is my race strategy and I am not letting myself down by doing it, but everyone seems to think I need a boost to keep running. Especially in a big race like a 10k or half-marathon, people stand on the hills and make you feel bad for not running. Leave me alone! So, when I am in the position to encourage someone I try to stick to general comments. "Way to go", "keep it up", or "almost there." This can help snap me back into it and refocus a little if I am truly struggling. ^^^ That drove me batty at Wildflower. I had a bad run (by my standards, anyhow) and made the judgment pretty early on that I needed to walk the hills to finish...so I did. Anyhow... There's one decent hill through the campground there and, true to my agreement with myself, I walked it. OMG...the drama from the couple guys near the top shouting encouragement to me, telling me I could "do it." Yes, of course I could "do it"...just wouldn't have been a particularly good idea with two quads locked up like pretzels and a tummy ready to return its contents to sender. When my wife and I went out on the course to cheer the next day for the Oly, we tried to stick to things that didn't imply any sort of judgment about how people were "doing" or "looking." (Except for the folks who were just crushing the course...they got some strokes...hard not to.) |
| 2009-07-16 2:18 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... I'm a big fan of the ever popular "hey." Like this: Speedy fast guy, finishing up run: "Hey Rock" Me, just staggering along in the first mile or two: "Hey Kevin." |
| 2009-07-16 2:33 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Veteran 189 | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... I am definately BOP, and have been DFL at a local 10 miler once. I have been a Galloway follower for several years now, and that means I run/walk EVERY race. I often get people that say things like "don't stop now" when I take a walk break, especially as the finish line gets closer. My response, "I race like I train, and this is how I train." I truly appreciate the encouragement of the "good job" or "looking good" or anything general in nature. I just don't need the extra PUSH that some people want to give. But, I know just to ignore them and keep doing what I do. My mantra continues to be "MY RACE, MY PACE!" |
| 2009-07-16 2:34 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Master 1993 Riverside, IL | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... I've had a few "words of encouragement" thrown at me during the run portion. I generally don't mind it, but I also tend not to respond to it either. I usually just try and crack a weak smile as acknowledgment. Most of the time I'm too out of breath to respond verbally anyways...LOL As far as giving out words of encouragement to others that I might pass...unlikely to happen for the same reason given above about being too out of breath to get a sentence out. |
| 2009-07-16 2:55 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Extreme Veteran 3177 | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... I generally give people encouragement along the lines of "looking strong" or "keep moving forward!" which seem to be appriciated. I am not a MOPer nor am I a BOP somewhere in between those two generally so I see both types. For anyone I pass going the other way on an out and back course I will usually let them know how far they have to go until they reach the turn around, especially as it gets closer. ("Turn around us just the other side of the small hill, you can make it!") things like that seem to make people reallllly happy and the smiles I get in return give me a bit of a boost as well. |
| 2009-07-16 3:04 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Veteran 314 SoCal | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... SteveF - 2009-07-16 11:29 AM Do you want encouragement? Just a general shout-out? Someone to run with? A short conversation? How about an uplifting story that I was once slow as hell, too? I promise, either way, I won't be smacking anyone's rear-end. Steve i only want the encouragement if it comes with the butt smack.  |
| 2009-07-16 4:53 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
| Regular 56 | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... In 5K's and 10k's I tend not to say anything when passing someone slower or getting passed by someone faster, I just kinda feel like these people know what they are doing and like myself I am concentrating on the race, I really don't have time to talk or take in what someone is telling me and processessing it. I don't know...just my way I guess. |
| 2009-07-16 5:20 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
Elite 3020 Bay Area, CA | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... My favorite so far: "More cowbell!" I personally think this needs to be said during races much more often. |
| 2009-07-16 9:32 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
| Regular 190 | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... My first tri was a sprint this past april. On the run, which was a 5k trail run, a guy in his fifties caught up to me and told me to run with him. He slowed down a bit for at least a mile in the hilly part of the course and encouraged me to keep pushung. With about half a mile to go he said he would meet me at the finish. True to his word he was standing there giving me a high five at the finish. He could have finished faster, but it was a training day for him, and he kept me from walking any of the course. I will never forget it, and it affirmed to me that this was the right sport for me. Funny thing was my wife was standing there at the finish line and I am giving this guy high fives, she was looking at me like I was a nut because I am slapping hands with a complete stranger. |
| 2009-07-16 10:34 PM in reply to: #2289744 |
| Veteran 294 Boston | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... I think that's one thing that is so unique about our sport - in general, most people are very encouraging and really want to try and motivate / help you. I love it when people give me words of support or encouragement, and I try to do the same if I see people struggling, because I really think it can help if people are hanging on to their last mental thread. Depending on the length of the race, I'm not sure about stopping to tell a story, but hey it couldn't hurt. If you don't mind losing the time walking, it's likely that either it will motivate them to keep going, or motivate them to start running to get the heck away from the creepy stranger (unlikely ). |
| 2009-07-17 6:34 AM in reply to: #2289807 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... Rogillio - 2009-07-16 1:56 PM If you're a MOPer it's not likely you will see any BOPers. I'm a FOBOPer....that is, I'm at the front of the back of the pack....and the only people I see are the FOPers who have "lapped me" and are on their 2nd loop while I'm on my first. Having said that, I usually leave the encourgement to the spectators. Occasionaly I'll see someone that really looks like they are struggling and I'll offer words of encouragement and/or empathy. i.e. "Hotter'n hail ain't it!?" or "You think there will be any beer and pizza left by the time we get back?" ~Mike I'm with you, Mike. I usually give the smile and try to encourage when I can. Positive vibes and energy always seem to help some. I just don't smack azzes, that's a little personal and tacky, I think. This isn't football. Grabbing a nice bootay of the opposite sex, well, that maybe different, but I would be handcuffed, pepper-sprayed and then put in jail. |
| 2009-07-17 7:07 AM in reply to: #2289744 |
Expert 1073 scottsdale, az | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... I heard people at the beginning of the CDA IM marathon... " almost there, almost there." NOOO!! Are you kiding? 5-6 hours of running for most of those people IS NOT almost there!! |
| 2009-07-17 7:08 AM in reply to: #2289828 |
Pro 4353 Wallingford, PA | Subject: RE: Words of encouragement... rbtrumpet - 2009-07-16 3:04 PM I'm weird, I don't like being told "good job" or stuff like that. I'm with you.... I know people who do this are trying to be helpful, friendly, and supportive, but I usually just find it annoying and condescending. I don't mind a little friendly banter as someone passes - just don't gell me I'm doing a "good job" when clearly I'm not..... |
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