While I was struggling through the run of one of my early triathlons, several runners passed me and called out some words of encouragement. I don’t remember what they said, but I knew it made me feel good (well, better anyway).
Now that I’m getting to the point where I’m actually doing some of the passing, I’d like to pass on some words of encouragement to those who are struggling.
How many of you do this? What do you say?
i really like to encourage others, sometimes even people that pass me. when someone is obviously struggling say things like: you can do it. mind over matter. keep going. lookin’ good. homestretch now–anything like this. yesterday a guy who was in front of me running started walking, as I passed i said, “come on, slow jont”, and he picked it up. i believe that it can help. (later, of course, he said the same thing to me…lol).
…OF COURSE. We are always being passed by somone faster or passing someone slower. Spread the good karma. If a gold medalist like Simon Whitfield can do it in the midst of running a 47min 15K, then we all can 
I hate it when someone gives me words of encouragement during a race. Kind of demeaning. Specially during the run when I totally focused on not breaking down.
I do, but I like to keep it simple. I figure when someone is in their own private hell, they don’t need to listen to a better-feeling co-competitor offer cliche after cliche of inspiration. A simple “hang in there” is usually all I offer.
No, cause I am the one struggling…thanks for all the support while I walk y’all
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I usually say something like, “see you again when you pass me.” It offers encouragement and respect with a little self-depricating humor.
An old friend of mine used to say, “Have a day.” You never know what that means.
I do the same thing. If you pass me I’ll try and encourage you usually a go get’m or something, if I pass you (hey it could happen) I’ll say come on lets go (that’s what I usually say on the bike). I’m not really racing anyone else on the course so as long as I do good for myself someone else doing well is fine by me. That will all change if I am ever in the position to get a podium spot.
i’m kinda talkative anyway but i try to make sure the comment fits the moment in either direction.
i think it can be rude to throw out something like “…hang in there…”, or “…only two miles to go…”, when the one on the receiving end is obviously having some trouble. i’m more likely during those moments to offer a shared pain comment.
hate it when someone gives me words of encouragement during a race. Kind of demeaning. Specially during the run when I totally focused on not breaking down. <<
I agree.
you know, usually I’m the same way, but after I bonked at mile 10 on the run of a half IM a couple weeks ago, a guy I passed 6 miles before passed me and said something–I can’t remember what–and I started running again. not because I felt like I should beat him (which I didn’t) but because whatever he said made me feel really good. thanks to that guy, whoever he was. because of experiences like this, I try to hand out a lot of encouraging words. to people I pass as well as those who pass me…as simple as “stick with” or “you’ve got this hill.”
I’ve also noticed that it doesn’t bug me so much when little kids are the ones with the words of encouragement.
sometimes it can be annoying, but the spectators are being friendly, so if you have issues with it, go stick your head in the sand. like the ostrich that you are.
I’m with you - I don’t encourage those I pass - but I do encourage those (the many) who pass me.
“go stick your head in the sand. like the ostrich that you are.”
I don’t mind the spectators encouraging me. That’s totally fine. Just not fools on the course. So keep your opinions to yourself when I pass you or you pass me.
Encourage my competitors? BAH!
As soon as I pass them I try to defeat their spirit as much as i have defeted them in the swim, on the bike, or the run. Show no mercy! Encouragement is for the weak and the vanquished!
=P
I tend to pass a fair number of people on the run because most faster runners than I are also much, much faster on the bike so they are already well in front of me. Yesterday, I usually said encouraging things to people that I passed, in part because I thought it was nice that the 52 year old that blew by me said something encouraging when he did. That didn’t bother me, and if you were in the race and offended by what I said, then you are far too easily offended. If someone trying to be decent offends you, then what you do if someone says, or does, something really nasty to you?
As a spectator/volunteer, I know what to yell to the people who are chugging along “Way to be tough!” “Looking strong” “Way to go Triathlete!” but I feel strange when someone goes by walking.
“C’mon YOU CAN DO IT!” might be good.
It means something to me when people encourage me during a race if they say something original or personal to me. Something more than a generic WAY TO GO!
In smaller races I always try to cheer for the last few finishers so that they can get kind of the same race experience as I did (even as the race crew is tearing down the transition area and pulling down the finish line bunting).
I am usually struggling, but once in a race where I finished dead last, I encouraged a guy who was doing his first swim/run race. I caught up with him when he was walking, he was on the the last loop, I had just started the loop. We encourgaged each other to start running (well our version of running); when he left me headed towards the finish, I told him not to stop running, it was going to be a kodak moment at the finish line.
He found me after the race and thanked me. He said he even smiled for the camera, and thn promptly threw up in the trash can.
I think you need to be careful in telling someone to k"eep going" or “you’re almost there”. No one knows how you feel or what sort of condition you’re in except yourself. I finished a race earlier this year, when I clearly knew I was overtrained and having a terrible day, I should have dropped out but to appease others I continued…and almost lost my season after waking up the next day with my IT bands all in a knot, took me 3 weeks to undo, and I still feel a slight amount of pain. I should have just dropped out, when I knew it was time.
hate it when someone gives me words of encouragement during a race. Kind of demeaning. Specially during the run when I totally focused on not breaking down. <<
I agree.
I don’t see it. How is it demeaning when a fellow competitior encourages? Did you feel demeaned in school when someone in your class encouraged you? Or someone at work? What’s the difference? The only demeaning thing would be someone telling you to “pick it up.”
Man, you’ve got to stop “appeasing others.” It’s just a little encouragement!