Spectating Fox Valley
No rest for the weary – I got up earlier today than I did yesterday so I could spectate at the Fox Valley Marathon, Fall Final 20 and Half Marathon in St Charles, Illinois. I really wanted to be there. It was Kelly‘s first marathon, Charlyn was going for a BQ, Bobbi was doing the 20 with her sister, and Lindy was doing the half.
I was more nervous for this than I was for my 50K! I was up relatively late Saturday (somewhat) memorizing the course, plotting spectating points, and making a poster (I do not have my mom or sister’s artistic talent):
Wow, Data. You’re so helpful.
I tossed and turned all night, having on and off nightmares about missing my friends on course. Wow. Pretty lame. I was happy when it was finally time to get up and just get out there!
I easily met up with everyone pre-race, then Britt and I plotted our spectating plan of attack.
She was the driver and I was the navigator. We were looking for people at all distances (26.2, 20 and 13.1) and at different speeds, and I was nervous about seeing everyone.
Seriously! I was more nervous about this than races I have done! Spectating is stressful! You are running from spot to spot, making sure you see your peeps… hoping they are feeling good…
But! We were successful! We saw (most of) our group at the start, mile 5, mile 10ish, mile 17.5ish and at the finish. I am highly obnoxious and took a ton of photos, but I am just going to post one of each person below:
This course is so beautiful (from what we saw) and it looks like it has a ton of great spots for spectators! And it’s easy to find people – I saw someone from work, a running club friend and a friend from Erin‘s running club! This race will definitely have to be on the radar for future years for me!
The funny thing about spectating is that it usually makes you want to run a race. It totally made Britt feel that way. I just saw those people pounding the paved surfaces and all I could think about was how nice the trails felt yesterday… and how happy I was that I was not running at that moment.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU GUYS SOMETHING SICK AND TWISTED. So I hope you are sitting down. There were people at this race wearing the marathon, 50K and 50M shirt from yesterday. RUNNING. They were RUNNING this race! What. The. Efff. One guy we talked to did the marathon yesterday and today. Crazy. The woman we saw running the race with the 50K (or was it M?) shirt on looked really, really sore.
They made me feel lazy.
I did wear my 50K race shirt and ran in to some spectators who did it as well and had a fun, quick chat.
Spectating is a lot of fun. Especially with Britt. We chatted A LOT. The runners were probably annoyed with us. Just kidding. Our conversation was totally interesting and they probably wanted to stop and chat (<– sarcasm).
Spectating is TIRING! I felt like I was falling asleep on the hour and 20 minute drive home. I feel asleep on the couch for a bit. Oops. I felt so tired and I was spectating quickies! Now I feel bad for the peeps who have spectated my slow arse marathons! Thanks, guys!!!
Alright, enough blah blahing. I was just stoked to spectate my first big race!
Are you a pro spectator?
Themocracy
You are an awesome friend for doing that! That sounds like a good race to spectate, though. Easy to find people, easy to get places.
You were a model spectator! What a gorgeous day too. I’ll be spectating Chicago and need to formulate a plan of attack,
It was so nice of you and Britt to come out. I am sorry that I didn’t get to see you more. Next year you both should do it.
Today’s weather was perfect for the race! Last year it rained. Speedy and I saw the last finishers coming in about 7 hours after the start after we went to lunch and some shopping. I thought about spectating as well this year but it would have been hard with the kids.
I remember that rainy day! I was doing a long training run with Erin… and I remember people saying how slippery the bridges were! Bobbi said they were still a bit slippery today.
Thank you for coming out to cheer 🙂 You and Britt certainly kept my spirits high while I was out running. Love all the photos you took too 🙂
It was so fun to watch you! I am happy you like the pics! 🙂
I think you could make a side career out of spectating 🙂
Thank you for your support!
You’re welcome!
Wow- you took some great photos – or maybe your friends just look good running! 🙂 I consider myself an “elite spectator”… ha. I had a femoral stress fracture that took me out for a long time last year and I spectated a LOT of races. It is so, so fun. And exhausting. 🙂
It is them, not me!
Oh gosh, so happy you are okay now and back to running! Although maybe yesterday made you miss your pro spectating days?!
My friend Nicole ran a half marathon yesterday and the 20 miler in Fox Valley today. Not quite an ultra and a full, but still. She does stuff like that every weekend. Over Labor Day, she did 3 half marathons. And I know she’s done 2 races in one day multiple times (one was a race and a stair climb, one was a race and a mud race, one was a half and a 5K).
Anyway, I’ve “pro-spectated” a couple races. One was the 2010 Chicago Marathon when my cousin ran it. I took the Metra to Union Station (I lived in Downers Grove at the time) and saw her at the halfway point, then I took the Red Line to Chinatown, jumped in with her and ran with her to the next Red Line stop, which I took back downtown to Grant Park, where I waited for her to finish. Then, earlier this year, I spectated a bunch of my club friends in a local half which was MUCH easier because it was an out-and-back and I found a forest preserve lot to park in right next to the course. So I could stay in one spot and see everyone twice.
I think I found the technical trail and terrain at the 50K so challenging that doing that back to back with a road race seems like extreme torture if you are not used to the trails, like I am (meaning I am NOT used to them)! These people are probably used to racing a lot like your friend, though. I love running long day after day, but I am slow. I bet Nicole is not!
Did you prefer the public transit route or the parking route? When I did Chicago Steven had to take the train all over. In Madison, he could stay in one spot and see me multiple times. In Milwaukee, more driving, and public transit again in NYC. Today it was nice to have the car, and there were a few parts where you could park and see the course on both sides!
Driving was definitely more convenient because I could bring a sign and my camera and extra batteries, water to drink, etc. And then I could easily drive to the finish and park a couple blocks away. But the nice thing about taking the L around Chicago during the marathon is that I didn’t have to worry about street closures. But I did have to carry everything with me, which meant I didn’t carry much since I planned to run a little bit with her. So it definitely depends on the race location!
I actually brought my bike to this race and was going to bike from point to point, but not on the path (as to not bother the runners) so I had that all figured out, then we used the car which was much easier and quicker. LOL. And could hold more junk 😉
You freakin rock. That’s all. Xoxo
Thats awesome that you saw everyone more than once! Looks like you had fun! I have not spectated any races. I was planning on spectating Chicago this year but then I signed up to volunteer at Erin’s running clubs aid station. Hopefully I get the chance to spectate some races soon 🙂
You can still cheer at the aid station! 🙂 And you might have a better chance of seeing people there if you tell them where to look for you!
I loved having you out there – it was awesome spotting you multiple times! THANK YOU!
BUT – it was hilarious to me how full on exhausted you looked after we watched Kelly run in. I glanced over and you looked like you could fall asleep standing there! I hope you got a good nap later 🙂 It spoke to me about just how tiring spectating can be…
LOL! I did have a good nap with Dates… until the dang doorbell rang… and it was one of the kids whose Grandma lives next door, asking for air for her tires (this happens every time they visit). I was so out of it, I could not figure out where Steven was to help her!
I love spectating races! I cannot imagine running the race Saturday and then another on Sunday!
I can’t believe people were running the race after the North Face Race. How? I wussed out on a freaking 5k!
Sometimes I start feeling like I am a little bit bad ass, but then I hear about people like that and realize I am not! (maybe smart, but not badass!)
You are still badass. Those people are just a little higher level of badass mixed with a lot of crazy.
When do we get to see your race report?!
So fun hangin with you yesterday! Can’t believe you were able to pull yourself out of bed the day after your 50k, you so crazy!
Really it was a great day and I hope to see you there at the starting line next year;)
Sadly, I’ve never gone out on a limb to spectate a race (stepping outside my building to watch the Chicago Marathon, which ran right in front of it, doesn’t really count, right?) But I have heard many stories about how grueling it can be. You are such an amazing friend for putting forth the effort to spectate after completing your 50K!!!
A guy in my town won Fox Valley – Justin Gillette. He’s a really nice guy!
I think I have read about him before – him and his wife are both elite, right?
I haven’t spectated many races but I do plan to spectate the MCM this year. I know a few people racing it and rumor has it that Jill is coming down to spectate a few friends so I want to meet up with her again!
It was great to meet you. I saw some of the people wearing those shirts. There was a woman from my running club running the marathon that had run the Air Force (full) marathon the previous day. I think it is crazy.
How fun to spectate! I honestly have never had the chance to spectate a race since I’m usually the one running. But I can imagine how fun (and nerve wracking) it could be — as you are worried about finding your peeps along the way.
Oh and that is just crazy about all those people who ran your race then were running crazy long distances the day after. I can not even imagine. I was sore for almost a week after my second marathon to the point of not even being able to run for a week after I don’t know how these people do it.