I’m talking about the marathon of course! Prior to going along with my friend’s plan to run the New Jersey Long Branch Marathon, I had never been to the Jersey Shore.
The pictures always look gorgeous on-line and hey, they’re trying to sell entry fees so I get it, but I never enter a race for the scenery. Why? Because there’s no ‘scenery’ as beautiful as a finish line when you’re running 26.2 miles! There could be (and there were!) beaches for miles but the only sight you want to see is a giant clock with your goal time on it, and a line marked “FINISH” beneath it.
We didn’t choose this marathon for the view either, my friend chose it because our other friend’s sister lives close by and we stayed at her house. That, and it was the best we could do for a spring marathon, that wasn’t Boston. It was obviously very well thought out.
Dirty Detail #1 – The night before the race we had a big pasta dinner and then settled in to watch the previously recorded Bruce Jenner interview. What else would we do in Jersey? If you know me at all, you know I would never in 10 billion years watch that but, I have to say, it softened my heart just a tad for him and, dare I say it was motivating to see all the pictures and video clips from when he won the Olympic decathlon! He was ripped!
Dirty Detail #2 – I hate Bruce Springsteen. There, I said it. I know 20% of my readers will probably never come back because of that but, like Bruce Jenner, I cannot live a lie any longer. What does this have to do with the marathon? It was touted over and over again that we would be running though The Boss’ old ‘hood and by The Stone Pony where he started his career so many years ago. I know it’s almost unpatriotic to hate Bruce, but I do. I can’t explain it. Does it help that I absolutely love another Jersey rocker? Jon Bon Jovi will always hold a special place in my eighth grade heart, and I would rather dedicate my 2nd place age group win to him. #YoureWelcomeJon
The feeling is mutual buddy!
Source: runladylike.com Jesica has an excellent post on how to do this correctly! Clearly I need to read it again.
Dirty Detail #4 – I don’t enjoy talking to other runners during a race. Most of the time it’s because I can’t breathe but, during the marathon, that wasn’t the case. I’ve had people ask me what my goal is or my pace, and it just rubs me the wrong way. MYOB! My goals and pace are things I don’t say out loud in a race, but secretly whisper to myself as I edge closer to them.
Around mile 19, I heard my first “You’re almost there,” from a spectator on her porch. Yep. Mile 19. The following exchange took place because the woman running near me heard it too, and basically snorted:
Me: …says the woman who has never run a marathon…
Her: Seriously! She’s probably never run any race! Just shut up if you don’t know what to say.
Wow! Ok. I thought that was a tad bit of an overreaction. I sped up so she wouldn’t bite me and I kept my mouth shut the rest of the way. #ToughCrowdInJersey
Dirty Detail #5 – There were drones at the race. I’m hoping guessing they were taking pictures of us as they flew overhead at the start and around mile 10. I have yet to see any of those pictures but… A fellow runner suggested they were making Amazon deliveries. I wish they would have dropped me some fresh legs! #PrimeBaby
Dirty Detail #6 – By far the BEST sign I saw at the race was one person holding this:
GO HARD UNCLE DAN!
And the person next to them holding this:
THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID!
I laughed out loud.
Apparently this is a thing at races!? It was new to me and hilarious!
Time for you to spill your dirty details!
Do you love The Boss? Bon Jovi?
Do you talk to other runners during races?
I’m the opposite with races! While I don’t enjoy full conversation or anything, I do enjoy chatting. I don’t normally bring up pace but just end up talking about the most random stuff…I know…am I even a real runner?
That marathon course has so many tangents! I ran the half last year and remember watching the full and being like…what? Anyways nice race last weekend!
I have had a few good chat sessions but most of the time…not so much.
I’m SO glad you said that about all the tangents!! I thought I was losing my mind…and sense of direction.
Thanks Hollie!
I love the Boss!!! I think it’s so funny that you ran in a state where they worship the dude! Don’t worry, you haven’t lost me as a reader. You didn’t leave when I confessed my love for nicki minaj right?! Lol. That lady had a really rough reaction to the spectator. Yikes! That last sign gave me the giggles!! Enjoy your recovery you so deserve it!
Hahaha yes, Nellie I love you still and happy to know it goes both ways!
I’m 100% enjoying my recovery to the fullest!!
LOVELOVELOVE THE BOSS!!!!!
and you for schooling me on what the heck tangents are 🙂
Oh no!!!! and OH YES! 🙂
But baby you were born to run! hahaha. Bon Jovi all the way ’cause whoa-o! We’re half way there! I do love me some JBJ. The funniest story I heard from a spectator at a race was that he said “you’re almost there!” really at the end of a race and a runner yelled back “Fuck You!” Guess they were having a bad day?
OMG that is hilarious!!!! I would have fell over laughing!
So glad you’re with me on JBJ over the Boss!
Rarely do i talk during a race. It’s a zone thing usually. Or I can’t. Love the You’re not almost there. I wonder if spectators realize they start saying you’re almost there way too soon? Not a big fan of the boss but I have to admit as chliched as it is I love Born to Run at the starting line.
Have a fabulous Friday Allie because life is too short not to!
I love “eye of the tiger” pretty much anytime in a race, so I get it!
I don’t think the spectators realize AT ALL what they are saying and are honestly trying to be helpful. Seven miles out of 26 doesn’t seem like a lot to someone who has never run one!!
Ok, I may need to end our friendship: Bruce is the man. Springsteen, obviously! His lyrics are the best ever and I would have the mans babies. What is wrong with you?!
I’m so like you–I don’t care what the scenery is when I’m racing b/c I’m racing! Not do I like to chat during races. We could run in perfect silence together, except that you’d be ahead if me!
And… I taped the Bruce Jenner interview and am looking forward to watching it. Guilty pleasure!
I’m laughing!!! Of course you love The Boss! Everyone does! My husband put a live connect of his on TV the day before I left as a “tribute.” He also loves the boss…and he still married me.
We are the perfect running couple and I would slow down to run with you because it’s totally worth it.
I also heard some very LOUD iPod’s on the course this time and I thought of you. It was pretty annoying but luckily I passed them 🙂
This was hilarious Allie! I especially loved the last one…lol! I don’t like Bruce Springsteen and I am so so about BonJovi. I never talk during the race primarily because I can’t talk but that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t exchange a couple of words here or there.
This is why I love you Kris – we are kindred spirits 🙂
I don’t hate a little pleasant word exchange during a race but most often it goes badly for me!
Thanks again!!
I am not a huge Bruce fan either. Don’t feel bad.
I think it is funny that you say the scenery is not something that motivates you in a race. I frequently see these roundups of the pretties marathons (like Big Sur, Hawaii, etc) and that is the one and only time I have a crazy fleeting thought that I should run a marathon. Then I think, maybe my husband could do it and I could just go watch. That sounds good.
YES! You are much better off spectating at a “gorgeous” race location. Trust me, you don’t care how much scenery is out there when you’re staring down 26.2…or really any race.
So glad you agree about Bruce. I guess there’s two of us!
I’m so with you on the tangents, it’s ridiculous. I feel like I”m thinking about it too but then I start swerving to get around people and forget it all!
Exactly!!! I think I was weaving a lot in the beginning but then I really was trying to run the tangents. I have no clue what happened but the wheels came off completely!
You always know how to make me laugh out loud 🙂 Love these thoughts from the race. I don’t really like Bruce either. There 🙂 Thanks for sharing my tangent post. I’ve had some races I was really able to nail and others that are long. Chicago was about 26.5 for me too. Sometimes with crowds you just can’t make it happen. Congrats again on your race!!!! xoxo
Oh I feel so much better that you said that! I was weaving around at first but then I was honestly trying to run the tangents and it was getting further and further off course. Crazy!
So glad I could make you laugh and I just knew you were not a Springsteen lover 🙂 YES!
I don’t talk to other runners at all….and others haven’t really tried talking to me….maybe my face has an expression of “I’m dying, don’t talk to me”….but I love the shouts of encouragement from spectators is one of my favorite parts!! As an adult, how often do you get to have random people repeatedly say things like “You got this!” to you.
I couldn’t agree more! I absolutely love the shout-outs from random strangers and, when I’m wearing my Oiselle top, there’s very few people who can pronounce it correctly so when they shout it out, I smile BIG! Thanks again Paria!
I could care less about Bruce Springsteen but I get away with it since in Australian. Bon Jovi, though? Love. I also suck at tangents too – I can be almost a quarter mile off at the end of a 4 mile race….it’s not good. It’s actually something I’ve wanted to work on for a while. I’m not really a talker at races but only because I’m fairly shy (yes really) so I’m not great at the small talk thing.
Also, despite reading all your commenters agreeing that fellow runner overreacted to the ‘almost there’ I have to take her side. It was mile NINETEEN people!!! That’s more than seven miles to go!!! Don’t say anything indeed! (Disclaimer: I am writing this while very sleep deprived so I can relate to the crankiness).
Oh I love it! Crank away my friend! Trust me, I totally understood where her anger was coming from as she was obviously struggling, and that was the last straw.
I’m beyond happy to know how many people struggle with running tangents! I think you actually need to run the course to get them down correctly but, even then, add 5,000 people and you just can’t! Whatever.
Cheers to JBJ!!!! Suck it Bruce! 🙂
Well, you know I don’t race much these days but when I did I wasn’t chatty cathy ever!!! I was there with one main goal – win. (now you see why I quit racing:)
Gotta love that competitive spirit. I totally get it Kim!!
You don’t like The Boss?! i can’t talk… I can’t stand U2. Or Neil Diamond.
I’m all about any “that’s what she said” jokes though. I always appreciated the creative signs during races. Maybe I’ll make a fantastically inappropriate one for the one in my ‘hood this month…
YES, you should absolutely do that!!
U2 should have gone off into oblivion 20 years ago but I do love Neil. I’m glad we can air all this out here 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation with another runner during a race! Crazy now that I think about it! I’m not a Springsteen fan either…Bon Jovi? Hell ya, they were my first ever cassette!
I’m not a chatter during a race either! Or even during training runs – one of my running friends in college and I would run in silence the whole time because we both preferred quiet. Not a fan of Springsteen either, but at least it wasn’t like one of those music races and they were blasting his music the whole time!
OMG that is too funny! When I do training runs with friends I talk the entire time!!…but races are all business 🙂
Yes, luckily there was no blasting of The Boss!
I love Bon Jovi! They were the first ever concert for me.
I don’t hate the Boss, but I’m not one of the 20% you will lose either. And thank you for explaining running the tangents – I always leave your blog either entertained or educated. Although sometimes I also feel like a lazy sack of poo.
HAHAHA!!!
Stop with the last one though. This is always, always supposed to be funny and/or motivating. I do understand however because that’s how I leave foodie blogs. #fail
I like Bruce, but you won’t lose me. Love Bon Jovi too. And I am quite talkative anytime I run…training run and races…you would not want to run near me. As for the person that said you are almost there, clearly she was quite clueless, but my reaction would have been more of a snort and an “I wish.”
HAHAHA!! I do love to chat on training runs. So glad I won’t lose you over The Boss 🙂