Spectators: bless their souls.
They’re local angels, providing support, water and motivation to keep you going.
But not always.
Sometimes we just want to smoosh their smily, sweat-free faces in.
Here are our worst 10 things a spectator can say while running!
10 – You’re looking good!
9 – Why are you walking?
8 – Want a boerie roll?
7 – Just rest here for a minute.
6 – You’re nearly at the top.
5 – It’s all downhill from here.
4 – Not long to go, now.
3 – Hamba! Hamba! (Ed’s note: This one makes my blood run cold!)
2 – The waterpoint’s around the corner!
1 – You’re almost there.
Have someone shouted something at you that grated your soul? Let us know! Either comment on the story below or send us a mail. We’ll add it to the list!
With the world cup around the corner, I heard a lot of “Can you feel it? It is here. Durban is here”. Those spectators were lucky my fuel belt wasn’t big enough for a semi-automatic, otherwise, I’d be in jail for mass murder right now.
@lebone: brilliant!
Are these things said really all that bad? The fact that they’re out there supporting runners should be applauded. Most of these standard lines sound pretty positive to me and I’ve run my fair share of races – talk about having nothing better to write about…
This was written tongue-in-cheek, earlier this year, with reader input.
As mentioned in the article, we love the spectators! Whether it’s a spectator or your long-time running buddy, sometimes there are things that people say that are simply at the wrong time.
I love the spectators as well, but if you are having a bad race, a gentle applause when I run past is all that I need, not lip. No matter how well intended it is.
At the Chatsworth Ultra someone blew a vuvuzela right next to me and I was almost frightened to death!!!! I’m proudly Black and each member of my family right down to my 4 year old daughter own and can blow that colourful & loud instrument which got used vigorously during the world cup and on any soccer match when Kaizer Chiefs play, But on that day my already strained and overworked heart couldn’t take it and I felt silent tears running down my face. Did I mention that I was having a bad race? Needless to say, from that point onwards things got worse for me and I ended up in the medical tent with a groing injury. Blowing that vuvuzela unfortunately deflated my spirit. I am sure my roadside fan just wanted to cheer me on, but eishhhh
I totally agree. I must be weird or something, but nothing pumps me up like a “‘Looking good man!”or a “Just a few Kay’s left, push!” from a spectator. Although, it is much sweeter to hear from a fellow runner as you pass them.
I agree!! I think when spectators become personal, that is a no no. I once ran a race when I was much younger, fitter and in good shape. A HUGE woman said to her daughter: “I suppose we can also start running, look at that woman’s cellulite!!” and she pointed to me.
Ha ha, what can I say??
Imagine how boring races would be without the spectators and their motivational chirps!
If you don’t feel good during a race and get told “you looking good” take it as a compliment. Runners are friendly, if you have a bullfrog attitude, don’t run!
Thanks spectators for all your talk and support, especially on Comrades, it makes the race shorter and more enjoyable.
I ran the Comrades for the first time in 2010. For training, I ran over 1050 km worth of races. That is a huge number of races. And of course I hear those cheers from the spectator crowd all the time. All Top 10 of them. Do I hate hearing them? Not anymore.
Have you ever been a spectator?
Our club had to man a watering point for the 50 km City to City ultra-marathon. I was handing out those ice cold sachets on a very hot day, sweltering under the heat, but fingers stiff and sore from the ice burn. But when those sweating, tired, puffing, struggling, sunburnt runners ran past, desperately grabbing a few sachets from my hands, all I wanted to do was say something positive to cheer them on. I know they still had 20 km to go, and most of them look like they were dying! “Well done!” was easy to say for the front runners, but it just didn’t seem appropriate later in the day, when they look so tired.
Being a runner myself, I knew exactly what they were feeling! With compassion for what they were going through, “almost there” and “you’re doing so well!” (even if it is not true) just seemed the best thing to say!
So now, when I am back on the road, and I hear the crowd shout words at me, I understand that they feel for what I am going through, that they care, and that they bother saying anything, even when they had been shouting themselves hoarse for the past many hours that they were there.
And I always smile and shout back “Thank you!” with much appreciation.
Awesome post Caroline!
Thanks…you have made me think twice when I am tired and sore…I will always appreciate that person on the side who has been standing since early that morning..:)
I know that spectators mean well so I don’t have a problem with most of these comments. However, the one that REALLY irks me is the “Why are you walking?” or “This isn’t a walking race” comment. At that point I want to tell the person “Well, let’s swap places buddy and see if you can do it!”
Hehe.
I’m so with you on that! Especially when its some fat oke with a beer in his hand sitting in his camper chair that’s bulging at the seams thinking he’s reeeeeeeal funny
I just ask them if they can read,it says walker does it not. On Comrades an idiot in the 12 hr bus literally pushed me because I was walking, I pointed to my W and he nearly fell over. Could not believe one could walk comrades….
Glad to say I love to hear all those chirps when running, the more the better! More smiles per mile gets me to the end quicker.
Oh, except for number 9.
9 is really bad.
Hahaha!!! Im one of those runners that chirp the spectstors more than they can ever chirp me…. There should be a top 10 chirps that runner give spectators or waterpoint helpers….
My favourite chirp to the ladys are…
Thank you lady’s!!!…Keep it up!!!…..Looking good!!!
someone must put a video together called Sh*t Spectators Say
lol
The funniest comments Ive had is after hitting the wall at about 35km running
a marathon in Secunda some guys sitting in their garden sucking on early morning beers
started singing to all of us exhausted plodders – ” your not going to make it , your not going to make it !” It was hilarious to hear a bit of spectator honesty , usually ” your looking good !” means you are looking as if you could pass out at any second !
I enjoy the spectators comments (even if they are lying )and I appreciate that they are out there specially just to urge us on , waht would the big races like two oceans and comrades be without these entertaining people ??
If someone says rest here for a minute I’ll kill them….
The worst comment I had was a marshall, clapping enthusiastically, and yelling that we were past halfway and the rest of the route was easy.
He was standing in front of the 8km marker on a 21.1k run.
The marker was at the base of the meanest hill I’ve seen in months.
@ Carol – that is exactly what I was going to say…happened to me just last weekend at the 7k mark of a half marathon…wtf? But otherwise, I find nothing wrong with all except the walking one!! Spectator’s cheers mostly always inspire a bit of a bounce in my stride…MUSIC blaring though is the best!
I JUST THINK THAT THE MAJORITY ARE JUST BEING NICE TO THE RUNNERS. EXCEPT FOR …YOU HAVE ONE KAY TO GO….MY RESPONSE TO THAT…THEY TOLD ME THAT AT THE START!!!!
The best chirp ever:
At around the 70km mark in Comrades:
“Well done! I think you’re in 9000th place!”
I was so sore I couldn’t even smile.
This one is good. EK het nou lekker gelag
“Looking good girl” accompanied by wolf whistles makes me want to stop and beat you, but it’s not worth losing valuable seconds
Here’s another one, it wasn’t really annoying, in fact it was kinda inspiring cos I wouldn’t want to be this guy – Fat, drunk spectator: “Hey, want a cold one” Me: “Isn’t it a little early?” (it’s 7am) Spectator: “Nee, dis al te laat” (laughs uproariously) note: this is only funny if you’re drunk
Hey with legs like that you should try walking on your hands!!!
Hey you with the Wednesday legs!! Whens day gonna break!!!
hahaha at that will make me laugh. especially towards the end of a marathon with I feel like death warmed up
Halooooo meiiisie!!!!! Followed by other unappropriate comments make me want to destroy the commentator with one look.
Best chirp to friend of mine at Loskop: “Hey Polokwane, hoeveel slag jy uit?”
I love spectators that shout “keep it up”. I always reply, “keep what up?”.
Love this one too. My reply is always “Keep it up ?…. I cant even get it up..!!”
With like 15km to go in Comrades. A spectator tells me. (I was broken, my foot was killing me so I was walking) “I never walked when I ran, come on man suck it up and just run”. Thanks for the advise !!!
“Run Forrest run” makes me want to kill people.
Worst chirp ever. About 15 years ago, chasing a Silver Medal, after going through halfway in 3:54, I was working my way up the second little hill after Camperdown (Up run), about 23km to go and having to do sub 1:45 from there to get silver.
Spectator at the side of the road said “Oh shame, these guys will miss their Silvers”. At this point when it all looked futile, this was the last thing that a tired mind and exhausted body needed to hear. I seldom swear or get abusive, but on that day I made an exception. I swore at him, loud and long and told him to close his cute little mouth.
To his credit, he apologised quickly, and ran with me for about half a minute telling me that if I kept going like I was, I would make it, that I was looking very strong. He also said to get angry rather than afraid of Pollys. Turned into great motivation.
And yes, I collected the Silver Medal after doing 7:25. So 1:41 for the last 23km. Including Pollys.
Admittedly I’m not the fastest marathon runner around – the one chirp I find irritating is when the spectators say “vele uyeke” (it’s better to give up) obviously because I’m more at the end than in front. At that moment I remind myself that I’m healthier than they are and they are really not worth arguing with.