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Bystander at the L.A. Marathon
At 8 AM yesterday morning, I walked to Sunset Boulevard at mile 13 to watch elite athletes zoom by during the L.A. marathon. As it turns out, the organizers had started the race 30 minutes earlier because of the sweltering heat here, so I missed the best of the best. But I was so moved by the rest of the runners, some of whom were walking by this point, while others hustled in wheel chairs, all possessed of such drive, focus and grit. It literally made me weep.
Illustration by Marc Johns
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10 comments for “Bystander at the L.A. Marathon”
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I absolutely LOVE watching races. There always countless ones in the DC area for me to choose from, but my absolute favorite is the Marine Corps Marathon. Many runners are themselves service men and women and so you see some are running in full gear, some are wearing shirts bearing the names and faces of their lost comrades, and some are running with flags for the entire race. The best part of the race is when the runners in wheelchairs come through…I’m welling up thinking about it. I also just love the pomp around the Marine Corps…the bands, the pride and of course, all the handsome men 😉 I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for a man in uniform.
There was such joy at the marathon, not only from the runners, but from the volunteers handing out liquids, to all of us cheering on the sidelines.
I run one or two half-marathons a year and am incredibly astonished by EVERYONE–the elite runners (who are finishing about the time I finish mile 2), the wheelchair athletes with their extraordinary dedication and skill, the back-of-the-pack runners and walkers who push forward with a goal (the finish line) in mind. But the people who inspire me the most are some of the spectators. I’ve been running the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon (the nation’s largest half) and the course takes you through some quite downtrodden neighborhoods. But the residents come out and cheer us one, waving flags, ringing cowbells, yelling out encouragement. I’ve seen children all dressed up to watch the runners and walkers as they go by their houses. I distinctly remember the other year seeing a pair of young Latino girls dressed up in church clothes with flags and bells clapping for us (I”m on the slower side of the runners). A moment that made me realize our shared humanity.
Well said, Petra. I was surprised at how emotional I felt watching the runners as well as the sea of people who were there to encourage them.
The image of those two girls in their Sunday best made me tear up. People so want to come together for some good.
The experience does make you feel good about humanity. And we certainly need that.
I absolutely agree. I run a few 1/2 marathons and other races and have literally cried at the spectators who have come out for no reason except to cheer on complete strangers. Sure, they may have a loved one running, but you only see them for a second if you’re lucky. It reminds me that people want to be a part of something.
People are also looking for inspiration. In this case, the runners are living proof of the human spirit and what’s possible.
As a runner I appreciate the spectators cheering us on. They make the race in my opinion with their cheers and homemade signs. Gives us runners a little extra push along the way. I also have been a spectator at races and I am deeply moved by the participants and their never-give-up attitude. Last year’s Marine Corps Historic Half saw the Marines guide in the last runner across the finish line, a gentleman who set out to lose weight and challenged himself to finish the race even it meant being the last person across the line. It was a sight to see and one I won’t forget.
I’m so glad to hear that the cheering spectators have impact. I wondered how it felt.