While running DVV Antwerp 10 miles last sunday it hit me: running an event is much like a game for both runners and the crowd. It starts with a huge crowd seeing runners off at the start. As we (the runners) gather behind the iron self wanted incarceration of the gates at the start, family members watch their loved ones go through those final stages. As the runners make their way so does the crowd. They move alongside the runners and spread out over the race course and that's when the game starts.
Just imagine thousands of runners moving like a thick wave through the streets of a city. It isn't easy to spot your loved one so the crowd comes up with numerous creative ideas to get noticed by that one running friend or family member. Think of balloons and flags, cheering fraternity members and even the more posh ladies sitting at a table right next to the race course drinking white wine while discussing a runner's sense of fashion. You will see the huge banners with a name on it held up by kids as they shout out 'Go mummie, go mummie', you can encounter the more creative ones holding up a banner with a somewhat cynical joke like 'Who needs toenails anyway?' or 'beer and french fries...now RUN!' and last but not least you will see banners over bridges and tunnel entries proposing marriage. The crowd screams, cheers and peers into the thick mass of sweaty runners to spot that one person amidst all others and when they do? Madness takes over. Both spotter and spottee break out in huge arm waves, thumbs-up and 'wooohooo's-see-you-in-a-minute-will-keep-beer-cold' shouts. And though this might seem like an eternity it usually lasts for a second or so because the runner is on a run after all. For a runner this feels the same and somewhat different at the same time. We (runners) are trying to spot our loved ones. Sometimes they have told us where they will be rooting but it doesn't mean we will actually see them. Remember: sweat dripping off of our faces might fog up our vision and sometimes we struggle to keep moving meaning we're not all that focused on the crowd. But we are peering into that mob of cheering & rooting people. Feeling the love even if we did not notice you in person.
After spotting that one runner the crowd can either decide to stay put and wait for the text message that frees them of their worries and tells them their loved one made it all the way over the finish line or they move away from their spot at the race course and hit back to the finish line. And thus another part of the game starts. Finishing a race for a runner means this: 1. get your feet over that rubber mat so your time can be properly measured, 2. stop running at once, 3. Get in line for those post-run items (post-run drinks, foods, towel and a medal), 3. peer into the crowd and try to find your loved ones to get that hug and your picture taken and sometimes 4. move straight to the race course yourself to cheer on your running buddies. The game is a remarkable one considering facial expressions: pinched eyes, concentrated faces and when the two parties spot eachother there's recognition and signaling on how they feel and how they did. It's an amazing game that never ever fails to enjoy me and when I spot my man after a run? Bliss!
Running is a game of crowds peering into crowds. Running is a game of find and seek. Until we read again, as always.... love,
Marlies
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