What are the beat and worst things that you've heard yelled at a race?

indoor meet MSG 30 some years ago, a 5000 (thats like thirtyeleven laps on that track) dan dillon is lapped a couple of times and when he becomes the last runner running and a lap still to go from finishing a shout rings out

"Hey Dillion get the lights when you are done!!"

In high school I was on my cool down, and a girl was really struggling coming up a hill. She was literally crying and started walking and her coach yelled "I'll give you brownies if you keep running!" And then she started running again. I was dying from laughter.

A Mom at Stanford Invite, HS 1500: "Find your race, Caitlin! Find your race!"

johnwayne fan wrote:

indoor meet MSG 30 some years ago, a 5000 (thats like thirtyeleven laps on that track) dan dillon is lapped a couple of times and when he becomes the last runner running and a lap still to go from finishing a shout rings out

"Hey Dillion get the lights when you are done!!"

Very funny, and the fact that he was a national class runner made it even more so.

This is a great thread.

My college coach was actually great at this, nothing earth-shattering, just things like "all in!" "Don't feel sorry for yourself." I think more important than the words is the tone; My coach managed to be both encouraging and demanding, implying that he had set high standards and that you were capable of meeting them.

But my gosh do parents and fans say dumb things at track meets. A lot have been covered, but my favorite is when spectators shout out these really long comments and advice, i.e. "Looking good Johh, only 3 laps to go, come on catch this guy let's go!" And i'm like "I zoned out at word 1." You gotta race, long advice is just super distracting.

Years ago I ran a marathon where the race bib/number was this huge, thick paper monstrosity that rubbed on my hands on every arm movement (I tried it on before the race.) I trimmed the number down, even though the race rules stated against altering the number. At about 20 miles, as I passed these two younger guys, one looked over, saw my number and said "look at this a** h*le and his number! He can't even read the rules!" I was so pissed! I flipped him off and, luckily, didn't die and beat him.

As a parent who has spent plenty of time watching other parents go nuts at races, I often wonder if coaches shouldn't advise team parents to keep quiet during competition. Or maybe limit comments to "Go Johnny" or "Good job, Katie."

The worst are the overweight moms on the sidelines screaming at their kids to perform, when these women would stumble into cardiac arrest just walking the course.

You may be in 15th place, but you are still a b****.

my mom sees almost all my races and always has done so. she doesnt know much and realizes i know what im doing so she normally stays quiet. shooting for the 2008 trials (2:22). about a mile to go and the issue was still in doubt. her father had died 2 days prior. around 25M (she forgot the extra .2 existed and assumed i had it in the bag) my mother yells "grandpop would be so proud of you." i found something special that last 1.2 and barely dipped under the time with tears in my eyes

Best: during final 5k of a marathon on a college campus from obviously drunk frat guys "This guys gotta have a huge d@#$"

Worst: try harder

Worst: Running a summer track meet that they combined the guys and girls heats together to save time. I am a girl and I was running along a guy in a 3000meter race and every time we ran past his coach I would hear "DON'T LET THE BARBIE GIRL BEAT YOU. DON'T LET THE BARBIE GIRL BEAT YOU". I ended out sprinting him anyway.

After the race, the coach comes up to me and says he hopes I wasn't offended by his comment. Oh no sir, the inherent objectification and sexism didn't make me upset at all.

Best: "Good job, buddy"

My first college coach was, and I think still is, a legend. He coached at my university for over 40 years, started the women's program, had innumerable athletes and teams thrive under him. He is also the most unassuming person you could imagine; a short, quiet mannered, mid 60's man. And he didn't give out compliments that often but the one he reserved the most was "Good job, buddy". If that was said, you knew that were doing amazing. I think I head it maybe a handful of times.

machtaugh wrote:

my mom sees almost all my races and always has done so. she doesnt know much and realizes i know what im doing so she normally stays quiet. shooting for the 2008 trials (2:22). about a mile to go and the issue was still in doubt. her father had died 2 days prior. around 25M (she forgot the extra .2 existed and assumed i had it in the bag) my mother yells "grandpop would be so proud of you." i found something special that last 1.2 and barely dipped under the time with tears in my eyes

Best of the thread, that's awesome man. Congrats, a bit late I know.

thanks man. i hardly ever post and if i do its just a pointless troll but i figured it was a good true story for this thread

Even though they're both cliche, I find hearing "kick!" or "dig deep!" gives me a huge boost on the last lap. If no one happens to say it out loud, I'll be repeating it in my head.

"In high school I was on my cool down, and a girl was really struggling coming up a hill. She was literally crying and started walking and her coach yelled "I'll give you brownies if you keep running!" And then she started running again. I was dying from laughter."

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hilarious...and so true.

As a young runner in a 3200m race, I went out way too hard in the first mile and was paying dearly for it in the second. As I struggled to keep the pace respectable, my coach yelled out, "It's OK to tow the piano. Just don't stop to play it."

On a cold day - "Your nipples look awesome"

"Run your race!"

WTF? Who else's race am I gonna run?

My two favorites are

"Honey at the end of the race you're gonna have to explain to me why you're running so slow". The coach said it really fast as she ran by and very conversational. Classic.

"That's it. Next week you're running JV." Screamed at a girl with about 800m to go.