In the past two weeks I’ve been to two marathons: One as a runner and one as a spectator/coach. Now don’t get me wrong, marathons are wonderful, inspiring events. But sometimes you run across things that make you go hmmmm.
In Europe, cigarette smoking is way more popular than it is here in the United States. I worried there might be many spectators partaking of a puff or two along the race course in Berlin, making it difficult to breathe as I ran. Turns out I smelled cigarette smoke on “only” two occasions during my 26.2.
(google images)
What I found more odd was when the pack of RUNNERS I was walking behind in Berlin on the way to the subway on race morning fired up their pre-race cigs. Really??
When you’re spectating a marathon, especially a humongous one like Chicago, and are hoping to see lots of people you know run by, you keep your eyes trained on the runners. When you’re paying close attention, you notice stuff…..like this:
A very slow, almost hobbling guy with a bib from corral K was tucked in with the A corral runners (who were whizzing past him). How the heck did he get to the halfway point in under 1:30?? Inquiring minds wanna know.
Another guy wore a bib from B corral, but came through with mostly J corral runners. That’s not the weird part. The odd part is his bib was faded black and white while everyone else’s in the entire race was either red & white or blue & white. Photocopy anyone??
This one (unfortunately) isn’t that odd, because I’ll bet plenty of people fall down as they traverse 26.2, but one poor guy fell down right in front of us in Chicago. He wasn’t very quick getting up either. It made me wanna rush out there and assess the situation (I resisted and patiently waited at my post on the sidelines). He wasn’t bleeding but once he got up he was limping very badly. Makes me wonder if he managed to finish.
One last thing that was odd this year at the Chicago Marathon was significantly smaller crowds…at least at mile 13. Typically I score a front row viewing spot only because I get there before the elites pass through and it’s very hard to maintain that spot as the masses run through because the spectators grow out of control. This year the masses simply weren’t there.
How about you? Notice odd things at races? What’s the last race you spectated?
The oddest thing I’ve seen (at least recently) was the large number of blatant walkers in my 5K two weeks ago. I was passing walkers up through the entire first mile (and farther). Did they not realize there were so many RUNNERS passing them?Or did they think they might have a chance of finishing towards the front of the pack if they started way up in the front? Thankfully, there were staggered groups of “racers” allowed across the start line in varying increments…but still…what the WHAT?
Thats so crazy that those runners were smoking on their way to the race!
I always see weird stuff at races. The last time I ran Chicago, we passed a woman with a K bib who was power walking–obviously, she lined up in the A corral. How did that even happen?
At mile 6 of my marathon last weekend, a guy threw his shoes into some bushes. I caught up to him and asked him about it – his shoes were hurting his ankles, and no, he doesn’t train barefoot. He was registered for the full, but I think he wound up finishing the half and calling it a day because I didn’t see him again after the half.
we see the smoking thing so often here. so unreal. but, ok, not my lungs I guess.
what I find most funny/weird are the costumes people wear here in Europe. How do you run a marathon in a giant beer costume? Or a giant pink flamingo? I have trouble enough in regular running gear!
My faves are a) the woman in a full shoulder/arm support (with a spacer. So basically her arm was elevated off her body and immobile) who was also about 65 years old running the RNR Chicago half a few years ago.
I also loved that they told us to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes and coyotes at the Phoenix marathon 😀
the weirdest thing I “saw” is more like I felt. I was running in the Austin Marathon and was about 10 feet behind and a couple steps to the right of two guys. It was windy and we were going uphill. The guy closest to me turned his head and spit a loogie that landed on my face. I started fussing at him about looking where he was spitting, he responded by saying that if I wasn’t “drafting” it wouldn’t have landed on me. I said “no, if I was drafting I would have been right behind you and it would have missed me.” He said a few rude things while we continued to run, I could tell his freind was mortified. . . . . I got the final revenge, because I beat him. 🙂
I always see crazy things at marathons – and then promptly forget them LOL.
I saw a guy smoking in the gym parking lot a few weeks ago. I really don’t get it at all! It cannot help with your marathon or workout can it?
I really haven’t noticed a lot of odd things at races recently. The last time I volunteered was in August, and the coolest thing I saw was a soft water bottle. The flask was soft so pretty light and packable when not filled with water. I’m not sure I’d really use something like that, but it was cool.
I had delusions of volunteering at our local big marathon a few weeks back, but they closed registration for volunteers before I made up my mind. I’m kind of glad, the weather really sucked, but feel a bit guilty at the same time.
I once ran a trail race and at the top of a hill (near the finish) there was a bunch of people smoking! Right by the course! We were forced to run through it. I was appalled that they were stand right where we had to run through their stink.
I am a ruler follower through and through so of course I am always curious how people with further back bib assignments seem to get in the front. When I ran RNR Vegas I was in an early to mid corral and I had passed some girls walking around mile 2 who had bibs on that were in corral #26. I knew that corral #26 hadn’t even started yet!
You are very observant to catch that guys photocopied bib. Too bad you didn’t snag a picture. Why just why do people have to do things like that and how did he make it that far without any security noticing? It’s little stuff like that that makes me wonder if Security is really doing their job. Now don’t get me wrong, as long as everyone is safe I know that is the main concern, but still!
OMG, I can’t believe the runners were smoking before the race! That is just insane!
I always got irritated at the hubs when he would run a 5k with me and power smoke a few cancer-sticks right before the race. Hard to believe the crowds were smaller for Chi – they seemed pretty big!
Gosh, when WAS the last time I spectated a race??? I don’t get out enough. And, on that note, I don’t know that I have anything weird to report either. I have seen spectators right along the road smoking and tossing their butts out onto the road. I don’t know if that’s weird but it’s definitely RUDE!
Oh wait, when I ran Salt Lake City, there was a tent in this front yard and this family was sitting there playing guitars and drums. Thought it was pretty cool at the time but I guess it’s a little different. Oh, and it was pouring too.
Okay the smoking thing is weird as heck. How can you run and be a smoker? I will never understand that. When I was a smoker I could barely make it down the hall!
I can’t stand smoking, and am ultra sensitive to it. I now live in Colorado, which has the reputation of high health grades, but I still see people smoking. It does make me go hmmm.
So I guess the smoke is bad message hasn’t been as infused into European culture as it has here??
When I was running in Disney I saw a gal pull out one of those huge Costco muffins from under her giant skirt…I can’t remember if she was Belle or Cinderella now, but I kept wondering how she stashed it LOL She ran along eating a giant muffin, I could not believe my eyes, I questioned my sport beans LOL
The smoking is crazy! A few years ago there was a rash of men peeing against a wall near the Army Ten Miler start – which had banks of potties. Being a military-sponsored race, the soldier volunteers didn’t hold back humiliating them and chewing them out, and I didn’t see that at all this year ….
Smoking is always crazy but before a race? Crazier! I need to do more race watching it is really fun!