spectators...HELP!

I'm cheering on a friend at Austin 70.3 as well! Keeping her company on the (8 hour) drive each way and of course I will be there for the race.

My plan is to watch the start and watch her come out of the swim - not too long of a wait there - and after she starts the bike I'm going to head out for a training run of my own. After that, I'll see her off on the run and hopefully find the beer and have one waiting for her when she crosses the finish line!

As for creative ideas... unless you have a bike or know the back roads of the bike course well, it might be hard to catch your friend anywhere but transition. And hopefully in transition your friend is in and out quickly. Any words of encouragement will probably go a long ways...

I'm not familiar AT ALL with this race course so I'll probably hang close with a cowbell, a camp chair, a cooler with some snacks/drinks, and possibly a pillow/blanket to take a nap if need be

Bikini, of course.

cowbell, thunder sticks, giant posters, raucous yelling...the usual

If I were racing, I'd love to see a poster of support. The person's name and maybe "you rock" or something - a favorite saying. Whatever.

Also, yelling loudly, "go, name, go name, you're doing it, great job." Applaud, ring the cowbell.

If you have an inside joke, that might get him to laugh.

I personally hate when people say "you're almost there" though.

HEADS UP to people spectating at Longhorn... BT will have a TENT and FOOD you can pitch in a donation for! One of our own is bringing his smoker to cook up a ton of meat! To eat, just pitch in some money in his collection bin.

Many of us are also bringing dessert, sides, drinks, etc.

Here are all the details in the TEXAS forum:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp...

So bring a chair and come hang at the BT area while your racer is on the course! I know I will.

*This ends the public service announcement.*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-AdxjDGioc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGBD1KUz2RA&NR=1

I gotta fever and the only cure is more cowbell!

Edited by pga_mike 2008-10-01 4:12 PM

"I personally hate when people say "you're almost there" though."

x2. Thank God. I thought I was the only one who hated that.

I agree with the "you're almost there" being useless, but I still smile at them.  I'd rather have that than empty roads. But if they really have something useful like "400 meters to the finish" or "2 miles to the end", I like that.

Edited by pga_mike 2008-10-01 6:12 PM

This user's post has been ignored.

Draw attention to pace booty,

Loud noises - cowbells, thundersticks, etc.

Bikini, or bikini briefs. You know, make him/her laugh. It lifts spirits.

One of the signs that made me laugh at my last marathon was at the first water station (1 mile into the run). It said, "only 25 more mile to go." At that point in the race it was appreciated for a laugh. Later on I would have punched the guy holding it.

My wife has been there for most of my races (except two). Just knowing she is there is motivating for me. My two year old thinks I run fast (wait til she finds realizes what fast really is). I love hearing her yell, "GO PAPA GO!!!!!!"

Any support is appreciated. I also agree with one of the other poster about some inside joke that only the person will get. Everybody else will be trying to figure it out for the rest of the race too.

Its pretty easy to spectate on the run course as it is 2 loops...the bike course you are gonna be bored...its out and about.  Just go have fun