Both of my parents were very active in supporting my running in High School, traveling to any meets within an hour from our house, no matter what day of the week they were; however, my father showed his support the most.  Before the race he would scope out the race course to find the best places to watch and cheer.  My dad would say things like, “He’s dying in front of you.  Go get him.  He has nothing left!”  Thank you Dad but I think my teammates eventually got tired of being told, “You’re dying.  You’ve got nothing left!”

So what should you say to a runner to get them motivated?  Everyone agrees that we run faster when someone is cheering for us but does it matter what they are saying?  Maybe we just run faster because we know someone is watching us.  One fact is for sure though, cheering on runners helps them run faster.  Here are a couple of tips on how to encourage and not discourage…Dad:

1. Move: Be like my father and map out the course ahead of time.  See if there are ways you can cheer the runner at multiple locations on the course.  They will appreciate it and it will give them motivation at different stages of race.  Sure, sitting in a lawn chair with a cooler of beer next to you, waiting for your wife to run by is fine support, but you’d be better of being acting like her sports bra; supporting her throughout the race!

2. Don’t Lie About What the Runner Does Know: This is a good way to go about everyday life but it also translates on cheering at the race.  No one wants to hear, “You’re almost there!” or “Not much farther!”  The racer has been running and is paying attention.  They know how much farther it is.  You opinion of the distance to finish based on you standing in one place on the course is not expert information.  Instead be generic like, “Push it!” or “You’ve got it!”

3. Lie About What the Runner Doesn’t Know: If you must lie, do it about something the runner doesn’t know about.  For example, how the other runners are feeling in front on them.  If you are cheering a competitive runner it is fine to tell them the runner in front of them is tired; however, this tactic is tricky and must be used with caution.  First off, you don’t want to yell it and risk the runners ahead hearing your encouragement.  This may motivate them to run faster.  Also, don’t say another runner looks tired if they aren’t.  This is a judgment call and 9 our of 10 times all of the other runners are tired; however, there are the times that the runner ahead is saving for a strong finish.  If your runner hears this and tries to stay with the faster runner they may run at too quick of a pace.  Overall, just allude to how other runners are feeling.  This will help your runner focus on how others are feeling instead of themselves.  It’s 100% mental on race day.

4. Make Noise: If you don’t know what to say then make some noise!  Runners love just hearing that people are watching them and enjoying themselves.  Be creative.  Bring noise makers.  Bring a drum or maraca.  Any noise is good.  It lets the runners know that you are behind them.  Most runners get their motivation more from the crowd than specific people cheering for them.  So make as much noise as you can for all the runners….then be dead silent when the runners in front of your runner.

5.  Cheer For Runners You Don’t Know: Every runner likes it when someone is specifically cheering for them.  If you are creative, you can cheer for specific runners without knowing their names.  Note:  Do not yell out a runners’ race number, no one memorizes it; unless it is double digits.  Cheer for the runner in the bright green shorts by saying, “Go green short guy!  You’re like a frog!  Leaping toward the finish line!”  Be creative and let the other runners know that you notice them and what they’re doing; you dig it.  Anything positive will help.  On a cold morning describe beaches and tell the runners, “It’s so hot out here.”  Strip down to your swimsuit for full effect.  This will at least make the runners laugh.  Laughing is always positive.  That’s why you read this Serious Running Blog:  Running Down A Dream.

Seriously though, we runners appreciate everyone who supports us in what we are doing.  Without the support of others we can’t accomplish our goals.  So it’s really like both of our goals…but we’ll just keep the trophies at my house.