All posts tagged with: Cheer

Photo Credit: Jay Minter

For the last 19 weeks I have been dedicated to my largest physical challenge of the year, the BMO Vancouver Marathon. After months of training in the rain, snow, and sun with my Running Room clinic group members, on Sunday, May 6 at 8am the true test will begin, and I need your help.

The 42.2km BMO Vancouver Marathon course is brand new for 2012. There are many challenges along the way – long hills early in the race, steep descents downhill and fast flat sections that go for miles on end. What keeps a marathon runner going? Seeing friends and family along the race route!

This year I have prepared a detailed race plan. Each kilometer along the 42.2 km course I have estimated by time. My plan is to run at an average km pace of 4m 50s, with a 1 minute walk break after every 20 minutes of walking (which averages out to somewhere around 5 minutes per kilometer).

My bib number is 1054. I will be wearing one of two outfits:

Photo Credits: Jay Minter

Fair weather:

• Sun glasses
• BMO blue gloves
• Light blue shirt
• Black shorts
• Black water belt with grey water bottles
• Orange and grey Nike shoes

Inclement weather:

• Sun glasses (depending on how hard it’s raining)
• BMO blue gloves
• Bright green long-sleeve shirt
• Black running tights
• Black water belt with grey water bottles
• Orange and grey Nike shoes

I will try to run with / near the 3:30 pace bunny. At times I may be with, slightly ahead or slightly behind the pace bunny – give or take a few minutes – but generally speaking I should be right on track with the bunny. The “pace bunny” will be carrying a “3:30” placard and will have on a Running Room shirt and running hat with pink bunny ears. Pace bunnies are usually found with large groups of people running with them. They pace the entire course with the intention of finishing the marathon at their estimated time (although it is not a guarantee).

Here’s where you come in. I have identified some key spots along the marathon route that I know are exceptionally challenging. These are locations (continue reading below), that I really need to see familiar faces to cheer me through the most grueling parts of the race. Please sign-up to cheer at a specific location by leaving a comment in this blog post.

No, you don’t have to be at the start line at 8:00am (actually it’s better that you’re not at the start line because I’ll be in pre-race concentration mode, it’ll be hard to get to and tons of people around), and no, I do not expect you to stand outside for an hour or more waiting for me. My detailed race plan has many specific locations and times that are a fair estimate of when I am expecting to pass through. Just be sure I would suggest arriving 5-10 minutes in advance of the posted time (in case I’m ahead of my planned time) and plan to stay 5-10 minutes extra in case I am late (but technically you can leave as soon as you see me or stay to cheer on the other runners).

Click to enlarge

A good tip – search @br_webb on twitter to see if anyone has seen me running on the marathon route and what location I’m at. That should give you a good idea of where I am in the race. When you see me, tweet it! See #4 below!

In case you need help locating the specific cheer locations, here are the links to the locations on Google Maps:

• Camosun at 35th (Climbing the hill)
• Discovery St at NW Marine
• Chestnut St at Cornwall
• Two Thirds across Burrard Bridge Deck
• Foot of Chilco on Seawall
• Denman at Georgia St

Here are some cheer squad suggestions:

1. Make a sign! Most runners listen to music to keep them motivated while they run. Large, bright coloured signs are incredibly motivational. Stuff like “Keep going”, “I’m proud of you”, “Run Like You Stole Something”, “You’re Doing Great”, “Stay positive. Stay focused”, “Remember You Trained For This; You Earned It”, and “Remember Your Whisper Time” are all great and I know myself and the other runners would love to see you holding.
2. Write a personal message. If you don’t want to hold a sign – write with sidewalk chalk on the road! Thousands of people will see it – including me! Use the same motivational messages I listed above or write a personal message like “Go @br_webb!”
3. Horns, bells and noise-makers. Let’s face it – if you stand in one spot long enough your hands will get sore from clapping and your throat will be bothered from all the cheering. Grab a noise maker like a cowbell and let the runners know you’re there for them!
4. Tweet me! With the thousands of runners in the marathon how will you see me? Well, if you sign up for a location – be there at least 5 minutes in advance of the marked time in my race plan. Be in visible sight of the runners. I will be able to see you long before you’ll spot me! I’ll likely run in your direction and wave – I don’t often talk while I run because my energy is focused on the run. As I pass by you, tweet “I’m at ___________ and @br_webb just passed by at HH:MM in the @BMOVanMarathon. #RunVan” – please note, put in your specific location so people ahead who are reading twitter know if I’m on schedule or not. For HH:MM put the exact time you saw me pass. For example “I’m at  Camosun Hill and @br_webb just passed by at 8:52 on the @BMOVanMarathon. #RunVan”.
5. Tweet a photo! If you can, have your smart phone out and tweet a photo of me! Other people on twitter will be following along your tweets wondering where I am… and anyone further down the course will want to know what I look like so they can watch for me.
6. Meet at the Finish. When I cross the finish line I’ll have my finishers medal placed around my neck and go through a cool-down area off-limits to the general public. After a few minutes I’ll emerge. @jminter will be there so if you know him, he’ll give you directions. You can also plan to see me at the park at Thurlow and Cordova after I exit the finish area.

Come meet me at the finish line...

Again, I want to thank everyone including my friends for their patience over the past four months while I have undergone another amazing marathon race training journey, my fellow pace-group leaders, pace-group participants and other members of the Denman Running Room marathon training clinic, my family for their best-wishes during my training, and to the BMO Vancouver Marathon for our collaborative efforts and for having me as one of their official #VanRun bloggers.

In 2012 I have achieved all new personal bests in 5km, 10km and half-marathon races. Help me make my 2012 BMO Vancouver Marathon extra special by coming out and cheering me on!

I look forward to seeing you on the race route this Sunday!

Nothing gets runners more excited on race day that running past thousands of people lining the streets cheering them on. During the 2012 BMO Vancouver Marathon, spectators have the opportunity to win up to $5,000 for spreading positive energy and excitement along the race course. It’s all part of the BMO Cheer Challenge.

Registered groups that sign-up in advance, show-up on race day, and demonstrate great cheer energy are eligible to win the prize packages. It’s an easy and run way for groups to get involved to raise community spirit and to encourage the hard-working participants as they make their way to the finish line.

Groups will be judged on the following categories:

• Number of spectators at your group’s designated location – greatest number of people wins!
• Creativity – will be judged on theme, team name, costumes and decorations
• Spirit – will be judged on attitude, energy and atmosphere (how loud you are!)

Vancouver blogger, Brian Webb, proudly wearing his 2011 BMO Vancouver Marathon finishers medal.

Running a 10k, half or full marathon takes a lot of training. On race day, participants are often full of excitement, nerves and focus. Similar to how hockey players get energized from an arena full of fans cheering for their favorite team, runners rely on the crowds to deliver positive encouragement and energy from the spectators.

Here are 5 tips to cheer on a participants at a running event:

• Cheer loud! Many runners are listening to music, but to hear people clapping and yelling words of encouragement builds positive energy.
• Signs or banners that say “Keep Going”, “Almost There”, “You’re Doing a Great Job”, and “I’m Proud of You”. Even if the runner doesn’t know who you are, the sign is still appreciated.
• Take photos! Runners love to have their photos taken as they run past.
• High-Fives. As you are standing along the sidewalk have your hand our and ready to receive a high-five from a runner, especially when there’s a large group of people standing in a row with their hands up. Please keep in mind not all runners want to be high-fived and to stay on the sidewalks, off the race course.
• Cowbells, clackers and thunder sticks. Grab your favorite noise maker to drum up some excitement, noise and energy. But please, keep the air horns at home; we don’t need anyone to have a heart attack.

Keddi-Anne Siterbino, winner of the 2010 BMO Okanagan Marathon

This week Kelowna welcomes the BMO Okanagan Marathon. There are 3,500 people expected to participate in the full, half and 10km events taking place in Kelowna City Park on Sunday, October 9, 2011.  So where is the best place to watch, get the best action photos and cheer on the crowds?

Many people select the finish area as the place to watch, cheer and photograph the participants. Here are some other great locations along the Okanagan Marathon race route that will have more space and be better for you as a spectator and to help encourage a positive running environment for the participants.

Here’s a link to the 2011 Okanagan Marathon half marathon race route. It will help you locate the KM markers and to choose where you are going to watch, cheer and photograph the event.

The best location to watch the event is from Kelowna City Park. The half marathon will have the most participants and it kicks off at 7:45am. For the beginning of the race, spectators should plan to watch the start of the race from Abbots Street as the runners are leaving the park. Plan to be in your location 5-10 minutes before the race starts.

The best photo opportunities for action will be along the seawall at the 10km mark. This is a nice stretch along the lake. There will be lots of spectators and runners will be hyped from all the energy from the crowd. Participants should still be full of energy because it’s the halfway mark. It’s also only a few minute walk from the course start. Runners should start trickling through this area around 8:10am for elite athletes and about 8:25 for the fast runners.

During the run, participants really rely on the energy from the spectators. Some runners thrive and get a burst of endorphins, re-energizing their body. On this particular course, cheer squads are appreciated from KM 15 – 19. For many unseasoned half-marathon runners, this is the hardest part of the run, and it’s also the furthest they will physically be from the finish line. If you’re watching in this zone, plan to be there for 8:40. Runners will be coming through this area right through 10:00am.

If you are going to stake out the finish line, elite athletes should start coming through around 8:55am mark. Faster half marathon runners should start arrive around 9:15am right through to 10:30.

Remember, no matter where you are watching from, to stay off the racecourse and to obey all the volunteers. It’s for your safety.

Have fun watching the participants run tomorrow and enjoy the sunshine!