What bugs ya?? (Page 2)

you don't have to say anything. volunteering is way, way enough. racers know that you are there for them. it's in your eyes.

let me tell you this though - at the Grand Columbian i asked if they had any salty stuff at the aids station. i'm a glutton for pretzels and sticks.

the first loop around they didn't, but the second time around almost every aids station had some. they must have run out and bought them just because i (possibly others, too) asked for them.

now THAT is support. i must have said 100 times "you people are great".

(i've volunteered, too. i know the urge to cheer is huge)

Edited by awol 2006-09-22 10:29 PM

Oh, yeah that's the date. People do forget, we should move all elections, national, state and local to April 16th.

"on your left"....I really hate getting passed!

When a spectator says "looking good" to me, I always smile big and say "You lie very well!" and usually get a good laugh from them.

~Mike

Worst thing I 've heard at a race: at the NYC Marathon around the half-way mark.  A couple of teenage girls shouting "Stop running! The race is over!".  Kind of funny in a way, actually, but pretty fcuked up.  Happily, I wasn't that slow, but there would definitely be folks passing there after the first place finisher had finished.  It was just so intentionally mean...

Don't let me be around you that day so you don't ruin my birthday .... ;-P

Sheesh, I've probably annoyed lots of other races, based on what everyone here hates. I try to cheer for other people that are in the same race with me. Usually, I'm cheering for the people that are on their way back as I'm on my way out on the out and backs. Here I thought I was being nice.

You are are being nice! I think people are just having a little fun....a word of encouragement is always appreciated!

~Mike

Don’t stop, YOU ARE NICE   Some athletes just seem to be too particular...

But to be honest I used to hate as well through my 1^st racing season but now the more I race the more I enjoy to cheer and been cheer for. I also tend to joke with volunteers, spectators and racers because it keeps my mind lose.

My coach attends my races and he'll stand by the run exit with stats for me...

X is 30 sec ahead, Y is 1 min ahead. then he'll say.. "suck it up... its only going to hurt for the next 25 / 45 minutes".

Man does that get me going...

Edited by snake111 2006-09-23 8:13 PM

I just finished my first tri this month and loved the experience. I loved all the people cheering me on and the others doing the race with me cheering me on. I was cramping up on the run and had to walk 90% of the time and was passed up with people telling me "Good Job Lady" and "Keep Strong". One TNT lady started to pray for me as we passed each other on the run because she saw the pain I was in. My biggest support was my husband yelling "Go Renee" and "I'm so proud of you". And I sometimes hate to admit it but seeing my Boxer, (Frodo) wagging his tail (stub) at me when I was reaching the finish line was all I needed to push myself. Corney I know. But it worked. Good Dog!!
My husband told me about a guy that crashed his bike and had some trouble getting the chain back on, and when he finally did, everyone was cheering for him when he got back on his bike and started again. But I guess the thing I loved about it was the sportsmanship of it all. No matter who you are, how fast or slow, complete strangers are supporting you, even if they don't say the right words, they mean well.

Ditto..heard that plenty during my last race!

Honestly, you could probably say anything to me, and I wouldn't hear you. At least, not enough to really acknowledge it.

I can't think of anything people say that gets me upset while racing. The stuff that gets me fired up is the physical vs. the verbal. I don't like non-racers crossing right in front of me on the course. I don't like spectators that get in the way of the race. Not the volunteers, they're supposed to be on the course. I also don't like people cutting me off so they can get a drink before me. If you're gonna take a cup, take it, don't have your hand out, then wait till the end, ya goober....

Wow! People are giving up thier free time to sit/stand by the side of the road, and try to give you encouragement and support, and some of you are angry about that? Honestly, that blows my mind.

Edited by immyfish 2006-09-25 10:40 AM

I was a spectator at the Make A Wish tri in Bethany Beach yesterday. I mostly just clapped and did a bunch of woo-hooing. But I did see something pretty odd. A woman was getting pummeled by the waves coming in, and got slammed. She just tumbled and rolled and had to crawl up the beach. Standing close by was a man who I assumed was her boyfriend or husband. He screamed "Don't worry honey, nobody saw you fall! Get up and don't fall again, tiger!" Kind of weird. I mean, why would you point out at the top of your lungs that she fell?

Almost there bugs me when you have a good 1 hour or more left in a race.

If a pretty girl tells me I am looking good I like to tell her "same to you".

I also hate "You suck" , "Get off the Road", "hey loser I talking to you loser. do not ingore me loser"

I think the new Las Vegas Marathon caught a few people by surprise.

I really don't hate anything anyone says while I'm on the course (except maybe on your left ) .
I always like seeing alot of people and hearing the cheers no matter what they are saying.

There's not alot of things you can say to racers over and over that doesn't get old after a while, so any form of encouragement is greatly apreciated

Scott


Edited by slider 2006-09-25 12:42 PM

The only thing that really bugs me is when someone yells "you're almost there" when in reality you are not even half way (either that leg or the entire race). I often wonder if I am on the right course! I do appreciate the positive cheers though...could be much worse.

You have got to be kidding me!

I have volunteered at Ironman Wisconsin almost every year and have yelled out--"looking strong", "way to go", "way to finish strong", "just up around the corner to Ironman", "you did it Ironman", "you are awesome", "you rock", etc. I tend not to use "looking good", or "almost there".

So, should anything really bug you that is said with only the best of intentions, to encourage you, to support you? Better yet, said by people giving up free time to volunteer or by a spectator present to watch you race? One of those spectators or volunteers might just be inspired to tri because you responded to their encouragement.

I did my first tri on Saturday, enjoyed every comment made to me, thanked all of the volunteers as I passed them, joked with the spectators, and sent an email to the race director thanking her (the volunteers and sponsors also) for a nice race.

Give the spectators and volunteers a break. Jeez.

Thank you!1. For Volunteering2. For making this point much better/stronger than I did!

Listen, it's a chance to vent, that's all.

The people who posted stuff are mostly joking, anyways. Prime example would be the "on the left" as the most irritating thing heard.

Take all these posts with some level of a grain of salt.

I will say, though, that there is such a thing as too much cow bell.

Goooooo Team!! (Groan.)