Akron Marathon Spectator Report

Member

Due to changes in my vacation, I was able to travel north and cheer Rob on in his first marathon.
I was able to get there bright and early and use backstreets to get to mile 21, which was Firestone High School. I set up my sign:

which, about 1 hour later got changed to this:

Rob, I doubt you even saw this, that's why I took a picture of it!!

Watching a marathon was fun. Since I have done that experience, it makes it even better knowing what the runners are going through. It was fun to say "good job" "looking good" and to call out runner's names who had them on their bibs. I especially looked for the yellow marathoner bibs (as opposed to the relay runners) because at mile 21, they probaly needed all the crowd support they could muster. It was really nice to get a smile, or a wave, or even a "thank you" although I wanted to tell the runners to not waste their energy thanking me, just keep on going!

The Akron Marathon had a feature called "Phone Trak" where a runner's results would be voice-mailed or text-messaged to a phone number. I asked Rob to sign me up for this. I got his first update at the 15K mark--great! They're using kilometers, and I have a pace band set on miles! (Yes, Rob, I was tracking you!). I was too excited and didn't have a pen available to write on. I got phone calls at the 25K and 30K marks. Rob was on a 7.51 pace at 25K and a 8.13 at 30K. I was getting a bit worried when I thought he would be by and didn't see him.
Finally I spot Rob! Damnit, he's wearing a black shirt, not a white one! I take one quick picture which is so far away:

and then jump in with him to chat. He's cramping badly at this point. I feel really bad because I have nothing on me, except a camera and a phone. I jog along with him a short ways, telling him he's going great, because he IS, and get across the railroad tracks with him and finally turn around because I don't want to slow down his race, because he still runs faster with cramps than I do at my normal pace!

I hang out with another woman cheering folks on for about another 1/2 hour, then realize I need to go get my errands done. This was a nice "feel good" event for me to do. I love it, while racing, when spectators cheer me on, and this was a chance for me to give back to the racing community. Runners rock!

Hipster Doofus

You did the right thing to jump in there at 21. Specs yelling support is always nice, but when it's someone you know, it means even more.

You done good, and I hope you get that kind of support in your races. Smile