Remember last Monday when I was too tired post-race to write up a race report right away, so instead I offered a poll? And remember how one of the choices for "annoying spectators" was Team in Training, and I expected people to go off on me for hating on the charity but instead a few people actually agreed with me in the (totally awesome) comments?
Well, this week, I'm too tired post-race to write up a race report right away, but I do have an observation:
You know that annoying thing that spectators sometimes inadvertently do where they push onto the course, not realizing through their enthusiasm that they're actually creating a bottleneck for the runners? Team in Training was spectating from 1st Avenue somewhere uptown, right around the top of the park. They had a crowd there - it was probably half a block "reserved" for them. They had pushed SO FAR into the course that the blue line (painted on the course to mark the tangents) was at least 5 feet behind them. On a straightaway. The spectators before and after them were all on/near the sidewalk - their group alone was sticking out into the road.
They should have known better.
Also: no marathons next weekend for me.
Well, this week, I'm too tired post-race to write up a race report right away, but I do have an observation:
You know that annoying thing that spectators sometimes inadvertently do where they push onto the course, not realizing through their enthusiasm that they're actually creating a bottleneck for the runners? Team in Training was spectating from 1st Avenue somewhere uptown, right around the top of the park. They had a crowd there - it was probably half a block "reserved" for them. They had pushed SO FAR into the course that the blue line (painted on the course to mark the tangents) was at least 5 feet behind them. On a straightaway. The spectators before and after them were all on/near the sidewalk - their group alone was sticking out into the road.
They should have known better.
Also: no marathons next weekend for me.
Rude! I can't believe they were permitted to stand ON the course...and, I can't remember who said it now (maybe you?!), but I remember reading on some blog that those Team in Training people only cheer for runners wearing the purple TIT shirts. Double rude.
ReplyDeleteyeah, it was you actually! I was too lazy to scroll 3 posts down and verify. Dap!
ReplyDeleteHa! No worries. Yeah, I kind of hate them. I'm just sad the police weren't there to move them back. It was obnoxious.
ReplyDeleteThat would PISS me off something fierce in the race. What aholes. Yes. I called a charity group aholes and I don't feel bad about it!
ReplyDeleteTWO marathons in two weeks. Damn. I am so in awe of you right now. BTW? Can you even walk this morning?
Bridget
I'm WAY more beat up today than I was last week - then again, I ran harder yesterday!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize they pained the tangent on the course. That's kind of cool.
ReplyDeleteTNT spectator people crawling all over it is awful, though. HEY GREAT JOB! WE'RE MAKING YOU RUN EVEN FARTHER RIGHT NOW!
Ugh.
Congrats on your successful back-to-back! Taking next weekend off of marathoning sounds like a good plan. :)
I was spectating and I definitely saw cops pushing / politely instructing people to get back on the sidewalk. Too bad they weren't there... lame.
ReplyDeleteGet out of here. For real? They were ON the course?
ReplyDeleteThose sound like prime 'bow throwing conditions: DID MY ULNA JUST HIT YOU IN THE NOSE I AM SORRY TITFACE BUT HOPEFULLY YOU SEE I AM RUNNIGN A MARATHON AND YOU ARE IN MY WAY GTFO.
Asshats.
"TItface" AND "asshats" both worked appropriately into the same comment.
ReplyDelete<3
I didn't realize that! I noticed the line was not at the start and on the Queensboro, but I tried to stick with it as much as possible. I guess I did hear cops yelling at spectators on 1st to get back :)
ReplyDelete