Probably, every runner is familiar with this feeling: when you see family, friends, or even strangers cheering and smiling at a competition, you suddenly get a boost of strength. It works especially well in difficult moments on long distances - such an instant boost of energy and positivity that gives strength not to give up and move on.
Unfortunately, our races are still far from the format of a general city holiday, where all the residents come out to support the runners, organizing entire musical performances and being creative. But let's not talk about sad realities: it's better to invite your relatives, friends and acquaintances to the next race. And be sure to help them understand how the event is organized and how to provide support to the participants. Probably, some of them will not refuse to participate as fans, they just don't know how to do it. Here are some tips based on the extensive experience of my long-suffering professional support group.
How to support runners at the competition?
1. Study the route and plan the time
- print out the race route and identify support points with a running buddy. Focus on places where sections of the track pass close to each other, and you can quickly cut between them on foot. In large cities, you can use the metro, if it is conveniently located in relation to the route.
- if the track is unfamiliar, and there is an opportunity, it is worth exploring at least some meeting places in advance in order to orient yourself directly to the terrain.
- Together with the runner, make a time plan, determining exactly how long you should be at each support point (time is better planned with a margin). Make marks on the printed route. It is worth considering that in large marathons, the way to the starting line from the moment of the starting shot can take up to 20 minutes or even longer. After the first meeting, you will need to make corrections for this time.
- in order to navigate the movements of the "ward" along the track, it will not hurt to know his target pace at which he is going to run. Pace is the time in minutes and seconds required to cover 1 km. For example, "by 5:10" means that a person plans to run 1 km in 5 minutes and 10 seconds (pace calculators). Simple mathematics allows you to estimate approximately his hit at any point of the distance. Of course, plans are just plans, and deviations from the target pace are common, so it's always best to estimate the time with a margin.
- Use an alarm clock so you don't get lost in time and know when you need to advance to the next point.
2. Do not miss each other
- agree on which side of the road you will stand on.
- to make it easier for the runner to notice you (especially the 35th kilometer, when the brain does not work specifically), take balls with you - they are visible from afar.
- Remember what the object is wearing and what color the clothes are - it will be much easier to recognize them in the crowd. Men will have to make a conscious effort for this. If you do not trust your memory in such complex matters, take a pre-start photo on your phone.
- for runners: as much as you love black, a bright plain tank top/t-shirt/top will make you stand out in a crowd. And the photos will be more impressive. Do not wear a T-shirt from the starter pack: firstly, it will be difficult to distinguish you from hundreds of participants who have done the same, and secondly, this is a bad sign (even so :-)). T-shirts-trophies from past races can and should be worn.
- don't be upset that you only get to see each other for a few seconds - this is a huge support. You begin to wait for the moment of meeting a few kilometers away, trying to chew your food and give your face a not very beastly expression, and after it, you imperceptibly fly another piece of the distance on the joys.
3. Take everything you need with you
- snack, drink (if it's cool, then hot in a thermos)
- wet wipes
- additional layers of clothing for insulation - standing in one place can be cool, raincoat/umbrella
- in sunny weather - dark glasses, sunscreen
- wear comfortable shoes
- phone, camera, money, route map
- if you are going to provide technical support during the entire race, from the start to the finish, do not be lazy to work with the storage chamber. This will make it possible for the runner not to get cold before the start, undressing at the last moment, and to change into dry and warm clothes immediately after the finish without having to stand in line to the storage room provided by the organizers.
- agree in advance what to take from the food, so that if necessary, it can be transferred on the track (if it is not prohibited by the rules - you need to clarify in advance).
4. Take care of the younger staff
Mom, hurry, we are hungry! And dirty! The truth of life
Usually, children of conscious age are cheerful and positive fans. However, if the race is a marathon, and the running relative is not Kenyan, their patience is unlikely to last a few hours.
- Take drinks, snacks, wet wipes with you.
- Find out in advance if there is a nearby cafe where you can have a snack and go to the toilet.
- it is worth finding the surrounding playgrounds.
- tablets and e-books will come in handy.
- clothes - comfortable, in layers - so that you can warm up easily and quickly and vice versa.
- predict what the child will be able to sit on. Perhaps horror, you will have to do it right on the sidewalk (benches for fans are not provided). A practical option is a small mat made of tourist foam or a "pad" made of it.
The life of the junior staff is not easy
- as a rule, children are happy to participate in drawing posters, inventing screams, playing improvised musical instruments and just shouting loudly? Those who are not too shy can extend their palms to the runners for a high five. In short, ideal support group members.
5. Connect creative imagination and sense of humor
Fun and active support on the track is always a good thing
- prepare in advance: draw posters (here are, for example, ideas for posters in support of marathon runners), come up with encouraging catchphrases and musical accompaniment.
The Spanish know how to support: at the marathon in Valencia
- don't be greedy: you shouldn't stand like a pillar waiting for your runner, or urgently collapse the bench after he ran - support other participants as well. They will be grateful.
- if the names of the participants are written on the numbers, contact the runners personally. "Hoolie, come on, run!" cheering from the fans better than any isotonic, do you feel like a track and field star?
- don't yell at the runners "a little more", "a little left", etc., unless you are in the last finishing kilometer or two. It is better to compliment and praise.
Anti-encouraging poster
6. Take pictures
- even if you are a certified gore photographer with photography equipment in the form of a phone, do not be lazy to take a few shots of your runner on the course. Photos from official photographers are often posted with a delay (and at foreign launches they are also not cheap), but here is such an opportunity to immediately post on social networks?
- If you want to take high-quality photos, consider the lighting in advance when choosing places to meet and take photos.
- runners: as you approach the meeting point, straighten your shoulders, chew your food, wipe your nose and try to smile. Suffering is temporary, but the photo from the race is forever.
It's hard not to smile
7. Respect the track and the participants
- have a conscience: do not stand and walk on the track. In well-organized races, this is written in the rules and controlled by volunteers, in the rest - on the conscience of the fans.
- keep an eye on the children, do not let them run out onto the track, it is not only inconvenient to run, but also dangerous.
- drinks, food and restrooms at food stations are for runners only.
- do not set a meeting place near food stations: there are usually postholes there, and volunteers are actively working - you should not disturb them and get confused under your feet.
8. Make a plan of action after the finish line
- finishing, the runner falls over your arms, and the fenced finish area (others do not have access there). There they will give him a medal, feed him a drink, heal him if necessary, etc.
- agree in advance on the meeting place after the finish - as a reference point, it is better to choose a visible object that is easy to find even in a state of altered clouded consciousness. For control freaks, it will not hurt to provide a spare seat - in case it is difficult to get to the main one because of the crowd or for other reasons.
- don't forget to snap a photo of the proud finisher with the medal and take a photo with them too.
- after solving urgent issues (changing into dry clothes, food, stretching), try to entice the finisher to go for a short walk (carefully, the offer may cause an inadequate reaction). This promotes faster recovery and reduces muscle stiffness. For example, you can walk along the track, supporting those who are still running.
Post-finish maintenance
For those who were scared: can you imagine the work of the support group at the Ironman, 10-16 hours?
And a confession at the end: to be honest, just running (even a marathon) and enjoying the holiday is much easier and more fun than providing quality support to the runner. So appreciate the heroes who, for your sake, are ready to get up obscenely early on a day off, carry trunks of very-necessary-things with them, manage to catch you at various points on the track, take pictures and walk around after the finish line.