The train into the city at the crack of dawn was jammed with marathon spectators. Gaggles of enthusiastic people, some clad in matching t-shirts, all carrying signs, cowbells, you name it. We descended on the city in droves to cheer on our beloved marathoners.
I made a list of mine and there were many. Name, projected time at the half and what they’re wearing.
I darted across the street just as the lead vehicles turned the corner onto Adams ahead of the wheelchair racers. The day was cool and sunny, but expected to warm. I found Erica, Emily, Kelli and Stacy and we setup our Cheer Central, right at the 13 mile marker.
Mr. Happy sat high atop his stick. He was a bit of a challenge to control at times due to the wind.
The men’s lead pack flew through…
…then the women.
Then we settled in the for the rest of the rock stars.
Pete looked fantastic and strong, dead on his target pace.
Cynthia owned the course.
Sara made it look like a cake walk. If only I didn’t know better.
Suzy bolted past in a flash.
Luke and Sherab are Instagram friends and they both found me. How cool is that? Running is a universal language. Love that.
I pored over the runners to find Heather alas I did not. I learned later that she spotted me and called out and I didn’t hear her. Spectator fail.
I missed Wendy too, which I cannot believe. Her outift was so cool and stand-out, I’m baffled.
I never found Patty and her mom either. Sigh.
Anyway I’m depleted, cannot seem to get enough to drink, and my cowbell muscles are pretty sore. Spectating is exhausting, but so SO stress-free and fun when your own fall marathon is behind you. Yay!
Congrats to all of our weekend racers! Did you race? Is your goal race still to come? Did you weigh in on food pyramid changes?
I bet it was fun to watch such a great race, especially knowing that your own race was already over with! Although following the race yesterday did get me pretty excited for my own:)
ah, I bet that was SO much fun!! My bestie is in Chicago, I didn’t think to come out and be a spectator for this one – but I’ve got Marine Corps to cheer for in a couple weeks.
i’m so happy for everyone who ran chicago yesterday. i ran the army ten miler here in dc and it was great 🙂
I think the funniest thing is that you got hugged by White Unitard. I can’t believe we both encountered him.
I’m so sad I missed you guys!
awh I love spectating Chicago, but it is so hard to always spot your people. I raced/ran a little half on Saturday. Nothing compared to Chicago! 🙂
Spectating is so much fun! Especially when you get to see elites AND friends. Too bad about missing Wendy, though!
Looks like you had fun! I was just south of Roosevelt so, about a mile before the end. It was so wonderful to join in on all of the cheering – and there were a million little kids near me cheering on as well which was fun to see. 🙂
Even though you didn’t spot me it was great getting to see YOU! And if you spotted the juggler, that’s the group I was with. SO close. But I’m short and there were lots of tall men around me. My husband missed me a few times too. Thanks for coming out to cheer. The crowd support was just amazing!
I was following a few racing – no marathons for me! 🙂
Thanks for the cheers! It was quite a boost to see you guys! 🙂
So cool that you were there to cheer everyone on! So fun! I ran Brooklyn RnR and it was a great run!
You are great! Sounds like fun to spectate the Chicago marathon.. I did race but it wasn’t a great event – remind me never to run an inaugural.
How fun to be a spectator! I know (virtually anyway) so many people who were running yesterday. It’s hard work to be a good spectator too. You have to keep your energy high and be supportive. I once specated my husband at an Ironman. He didn’t quite believe that spectating for 13 hours was almost as tough as competing. 🙂
How fun! I love that you got to see so many friends go by. It’s fun to be on the other side sometimes.
That is so cool you went to cheer 🙂 The crowds are so big I guess it very easy to miss friends on the course. I was able to watch a lot of the beginning on periscope and enjoyed it!
I live 5 minutes from kilometer 18 of the Paris marathon and go every year. I love spectating it ! I hooked up with one American blogger last year, my BIL one year & see some friends every year. Love it !
Great job by all! Glad you had a blast watching them run. 🙂
I would have loved to be there even as a spectator! Maybe one day I will be able to run the thing! I’m so glad you were there to cheer on your peeps! No race for me this weekend but I did get in my training run before we zoomed to Louisiana!
I love spectating! I have to admit, I’d kind of like to spectate MCM rather than run it at this point. So much more fun LOL.
Spectating’s definitely not an easy business. All that yelling and cow-bell ringing and looking for people. It’s almost as hard as running.
I LOVE spectating races and especially when there are pros racing. They make it look so easy I feel I could just go and run along with them. And then I remember how much I struggle just running around the block!
How awesome! Racing is great, but sometimes getting to watch is just as great!
My goal race is Thanksgiving weekend: the Space Coast half. I’m nervous, but I think I’ve got it.
I love spectators with cowbells when I am racing. I find them so motivating! Glad you had a good time cheering on your friends – and everyone else!
So awesome that you went out to spectate!! I’m looking forward to doing that next year!!
Oh this is cool! My stepdad said it was so hard to find my mom in the crowd, but he finally did at mile 20. One of these days I will go be a spectator at a big race.
That’s cool you got out there! I’m so excited to hear Deena Kastor set a new Masters record. So fast!! I got my cheering in when I was a volunteer cyclist at the Princeton Half Marathon. I will also be course marshaling at a cyclocross race coming up (heckling and cowbells).
I can’t believe you missed Wendy! There were only thousands of runners 🙂 I think it is super cool that you went to cheer everyone on, in my opinion I think it would be more fun than actually running a marathon! 🙂 Great pics! I know the runners appreciated you being there! I had a 5 mile on tap for Sunday morning and it was a lot of fun!
You guy were everything. Seriously. Seeing you guys was so freaking exciting. THANK YOUUUU
I loved being able to cheer everybody on virtually yesterday during the big race. Races are definitely exciting, regardless of if you’re running in the race, physically spectating, or virtually cheering runners on.
Next year I am tossing my name in, maybe I’ll see you.
I am so bummed I didn’t get to meet you and Emily! I would have truly appreciate your awesome spectating efforts. Thanks for linking up with us today!
I love being a spectator! It’s so fun to cheer runner friends on and as runners we know they really appreciate the support!! You are a rock star for being out there!
That happy stick is the cutest thing. My friends run their marathon this coming weekend at the Baltimore Running Festival so I look forward to cheering them on. It’s always a lot of fun I think. Looked like gorgeous weather there in the Chi too. Doesn’t get any better than that.
So excited for everyone that ran Chicago. It’s one of my all time favorite marathons. Congrats on the finish!
It was such a blast! Thank you for not calling me out on being a complete lunatic. I just love the marathon and had so many fantastic folks out there this year. I only missed a few! This was the first year that I thought that maybe I should give it another shot. It was Susie and Wendy flying by looking so boss that did it, I think. And, both of their excitement at their amazing finishes, too! NYC here I come!
So much fun, I def need to spectate a marathon some day!
What an awesome experience! I would love to spectate a race like Chicago. There’s probably so much to see, I’d be afraid I might miss something.