I spent Sunday spectating the Marine Corps Marathon and let me tell you, it was really amazing to be on the other side of a race. I never had spectated a race before and never really had the motivation to get up that early to cheer, however I had 3 friends doing the 10K and 7 friends doing the marathon. 

I had a sign for my roommate who was doing the 10K and raised over $3,300 for my favorite charity ABC2. I was between mile 3-4 with some ABC2 folks to cheer on the 10K people. It was dizzying to try and spot friends in that whirling crowd! 

After the 10K cleared I got to ~23 of the marathon course to cheer on my friend Tim who was doing the marathon with a hand cycle. It was his first marathon and he KILLED IT. He was doing sub 5 miles and finished in 2:00:51 (and yes he’s slightly pissed that he didn’t do sub 2). It was really inspiring to see the hand cyclists go through. 

I then took the metro to mile 19-20 where I told my friends I would be to cheer. I had Gatorade and a big smile for all my friends. Thank goodness for automated text updates. My friend Sarah (who finished sub 4) was the first to pass. She was working hard and threw gave her handheld water bottle at to me and I gave her a Gatorade while cheering. Then a few minutes behind her comes my friend Mike and his twin brother Will (who finished in 4:02 and fun fact they ran half marathons one in NYC and one in ATL on the same day while training and finished 46 seconds apart – TWIN magic). Mike and Will were across the pack, but came towards me and my Auburn shaker. I was smiling so hard and managed to pass off both Gatorades to Mike. Not too long after my friend Kayla and her cousin Kat (sub finished sub 5) came through and they gave me half running hugs and happily took my Gatorades. 

I was so happy to be a smiling face as they all approached new miles (Yes all of them were FIRST TIME MARATHONERS!!!) and to give them a extra boost of electrolytes. They all later told me how helpful both seeing me and my gatorade were! 

Finally I saw my friend Kevyn who was running her 5th consecutive MCM, but was fighting a foot injury which led to her walking the last chunk of the race. I was able to walk with her a little while and give her some words of encouragement.

It was SO wonderful to see my friends and cheer them on, but I also loved cheering on all the other runners. Many of the slower or sore people really loved my sign. I remember that sign from last year and it really helped me keep things in perspective. Thank goodness for the cowbell or I would have yelled myself hoarse. I stayed out there until all the remaining official participants passed. 5+ hours of cheering was ALMOST as exhausting as running the marathon. It made me sad that I wasn’t running, but I have 2 Ragnars on my horizon and hopefully the Dublin Marathon next October! 

Bottom lime – if you’ve never spectated a marathon – DO IT. It will change you as a runner for the better!