Hello! This afternoon has consisted of errands and eating. 
I grabbed another slice of veggie pizza on the way out:
And when we got home, I made us a quick dinner. The Husband has been complaining that he’s bored out of his mind with our normal groceries, so we picked up some new stuff, including a lovely black and green olive spread.
I paired it with hummus and arugula.
With corn, peas, and steamed asparagus on the side:
Tonight, we’re going out with the Husband’s college friend, so I’ll probably have another snack, but I’m going to try to keep it healthy and abstain from the booze because I have a EARLY wake-up call.
How to be the World’s Best Spectator
As mentioned, tomorrow I am going to watch Ashley do her first Half Ironman. I love being a spectator! It’s so much fun. But there’s a good way to be a spectator, and a bad way to be a spectator.
(My family during my marathon.)
(The time I was a spectator at Meghann’s triathlon.)
(The Husband spectating at one of my races.)
Here’s how to be an awesome spectator:
- Remember, the day is all about the racer. If you agreed to be a spectator, you have agreed to bend to the wishes and whims of the racer. They trained for this for 2 to 6 months. They rule the day.
- Never, ever say, “Ohmigod, you’re making me get up HOW early!?” Racers have to get up really early – not because they want to, but because that’s when the race starts. If you can’t stand to get up early without complaining, meet them at the finish line. It’s better than making the racer feel really guilty for hauling you out of bed.
- Don’t depend on the racer to figure out where to stand and watch. They have other things to worry about. There’s usually a course map or spectator information on the race website.
- Wear BRIGHT COLORS, bring little flags, or tie a balloon around your wrist. This will make it really easy for the racer to spot you. If you want to win major points, make a fun sign!
- Bring a camera and take TONS of pictures of your racer. You can never have too many pictures of a race!
- If it’s a long event, bring your own entertainment and snacks. You might want to bring a book and a tailgating chair. Tomorrow, I’m bringing my own running clothes so I can go on a long run while Ashley is completing the 100K bike ride.
- Don’t run into the race course to run with your friend. Enough said.
- If you racer is struggling, BE MOTIVATING! I might’ve quit the swim leg of Olympic Triathlon if it wasn’t for Katy screaming from the beach, “You can do it! Don’t quit!”
- Stay positive! The best thing on race morning is a spectator who wants to be there and is excited for you.
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I love these tips Caitlin! You’re such a good friend/supporter. I especially love the idea of tying a balloon to my wrist!
Great tips! I haven’t been a spectator *yet* but I feel well prepared now.
Thats awesome! Good luck to Ashley tomorrow. I need more active friends, none of mine would ever go watch me race. The most awesome race I ever ran was my first Half Marathon when hubby and my little man watched me from the side lines. They drove down the road (which wasn’t closed) to keep me motivated, met me at the halfway point and took lots of pictures. It was amazing! Good for you for being a great friend.
Wow! This is a great post. I feel like I need to send this post to my friends and family, as I feel that they might ask me where they need to go, and complain about early wake ups. And I will definitely need to remind them to take lots of pictures. Have fun tomorrow being a cheerleader!
Wow, if your hubs gets bored with YOUR groceries, I can only imagine how he’d feel eating mine! Once I find something I love (ie. oatmeal), I eat it EVERY DAY.
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I love your ideas. That is what I love about Hunni and the fact that he gets up without complaining and brought his book when I was running my 10K. And he is getting better at the picture taking
Love the tips Caitlin, thanks! My mom told me today she wants to go to California with me when I walk in the 3-Day Walk to support me…I’ll have to remember all of your tips to help keep her happy (like a chair and book!).
Great tips! My boyfriend is the best spectator, but he never takes pictures. I’m gonna have to lend him my camera
What great tips
I cam certainly relate to how wonderful spectators can be! Poor BBB is always up bright and early to watch my races 
so true! great advice for spectators
If you had to guess…what is in that olive spread? I’ve never seen anything like it in the store…I might try to whip up a homemade version
Also, great tips! When I ran my first half marathon my husband brought the camera (I thought I had forgotten it) and took TONS of pictures! I could have cried!
It was just black and green olives with EVOO.
Bringing a book is a great idea for longer races. When you’re waiting for someone to finish a marathon, that is HOURS. It’s good to have distraction.
Great tips! I especially like the part about taking pics of the racer. There’s just something special about having your own pics from race day instead of having to rely on the professional photographers. I’m going to try to get my friends/family to do that when I run my first marathon in October. Then again, do I really want pictures of myself looking as though I’m about to keel over around mile 20? Hmmm…
What great tips! I’m sure your friends appreciate that SO very much!
Great tips! I’m sure you are a great spectator
Holy meal full of veggies. I think I’m now officially the only veggie-hater left in the blogworld.
Thanks for these tips! I’ve never been a spectator but I hope someone I know runs a race soon cause it seems like a lot of fun!!
Great tips. I’ll definitely have to share these with the husband for the next event!
Great tips. I’ll definitely have to share these with the husband for the next event!
These are all amazing spectator tips!! Prior to my ski injury and three knee surgeries, I was a runner (JUST now finally *slowly* getting back into it…). I never had anyone come to my races and I recall people ‘make fun’ of how early it was. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to show this list to friends who want to come support ME as I race again!
Ashley is lucky to have you there to support her! Have a fabulous spectator day!
I love the one about not griping. I had a friend come to my fitness competition because she wanted to support me and it just stressed my night because she tried to make it all about her and whined soooo much! You will be great motivation for Ashley. And what a good idea to get your long run in during part of the race.
good tips! I hope you enjoyed your day!
Great Tips… I’ve never been to a race to cheer on my friends… none of them really like to run
This is awesome. All so true! I hate when people complain about getting up early, total downer!! You’ll be an awesome supporter of Ashley!!!
I love your ideas for meals. I seem to get into a rut and eat the same thing for weeks (or months) but when I read your blog, I always get new ideas for good veggie meals.
Those are great tips! Especially the one about meeting them at the finish line. I know I probably won’t want to wake up early enough to see anyone off from the start, but I can certainly cheer them on at the end!
Cute tips! I’ll have to make my mum read this post so she’s all prepared for my next race
Have a good day!
This is great advice! Yesterday was the first time my boyf came to see me run a race, and he forgot his camera
but he still took a cell pic of me finishing, which I totally appreciated! And he was there at the end for a big (albeit sweaty!) hug and he handed me a big bottle of water. What a guy!
xo
K
It’s like being a bridesmaid…it is your job to make sure the bride’s day is all about her. It’s like being a mother, too, in some ways…trying to make your child’s life as smooth and positive and motivated as possible. It’s being a good friend.
Great tips! I think so many people focus on themselves in a race that we seldom think about how to treat our family and friends who are participating in a race. I’d sure love to have a crowd of fans cheering me on. And I think it’s a great idea to go for a run during the 100 mile bike race.
These are great tips! I love having people come to my race to cheer me on, but one thing that always stresses me out is when I have to figure out where they should stand to see me. It’s one thing for them to ask where I would WANT a little extra support (like in a long race like a marathon), but I hate having to pull up the course map and actually figure out the best places for them to go. Maybe that sounds awful since they are willing to take their whole day to support me, but I think when you’re participating in any sort of race, you’re already nervous enough without having to worry about other people.
Have fun at the race today!! Ashley is definitely lucky to have you there for support.
I love this! My boyfriend is a wonderful spectator! He’s still getting the hang of timing the photos so I’m in the frame
but he gets up early, holds my stuff and tells me how proud he is of me at the end. Couldn’t ask for anything more!
I an printing this for my husband. I’m pretty sure he is the world’s worst spectator. At least when he shows up. :p
such a cute idea
hope it was great!
these are totally awesome tips and i 100% agree with all of them! i wish i had runner friends so that i could put them to good use lol
These are great tips! That sounds like a brutal tri!
Good tips! Maybe I should e-mail them to my mom so she does it right in 2 weeks
Those are great tips! I have never cheered a friend on at a race, but I’m planning to do a lot of them this summer, so hopefully my family will be cheering me on.
Great tips!!! I love being a spectator at my hubby’s races!!!
those are GREAT spectator tips!
OMG on the alst tenth of a 5k last month a little boy RAN ONTO THE COURSE to run with a man right in front of me, and I was trying to pass and he wouldnt move! had to yell
“MOVE LITTLE BOY!” I felt bad after, but GEE come on people.Parents, don’t let your kids do that!
Those are great spectator tips. My husband is an awesome spectator and he does all those wonderful things. I have to disagree, though, about never running on to the course to run with the runner. I think it depends on the race. Of course you don’t want to bandit the entire race, but if it’s a HUGE race (like the Chicago Marathon) it’s almost expected that people might run a mile or two with their friend. Also, my husband jumped into my half marathon with me at the very end (it wasn’t very crowded) because I was struggling so much. It really helped. He jumped back out before the finish line so no worries there, either.
yea but what happens if a race official sees you do that at the chicago marathon? do they not care?
my mom did that at one of my races and get seriously screamed at by a race official LOL.
There are seriously so many people running Chicago that race officials probably won’t even notice! A few more people on top of the 45,000 that register won’t even make a dent. It’s literally wall to wall people almost the entire time anyway. Craziness!!
Excellent tips! Another would be to get there early enough so you don’t miss the big finish!
you are one amazing spectator! my fav part of this post: Ohmigod, you’re making me get up HOW early!?” – haha, makes me think of all the races where you woke up at ungodly hours!
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