3 Days to Go: What are YOU doing this weekend?

I'm running the Twin Cities Marathon this weekend.  But you probably knew that.  (If you didn't, then you must be new to the blog, so to catch you up—I'm running the Twin Cities Marathon this weekend.  If you're not new, but didn't know that, have you tried Gingko Biloba?)

Anyway, I know what I'll be doing Sunday morning, but do you?  Since you're not going to be able to drive anywhere in the Twin Cities on Sunday anyway, why not cheer on the runners in the marathon and the 10 mile?  It's really easy to do—first, find a location on the course (it's very important to be on the course because we don't run in places like Hudson, Wisconsin or Albuquerque, NM).  Need to know where the course goes?  Go to the Spectator's Guide and it has a course map and all kinds of other important information.  But, for those who are morally opposed to PDFs, here is the 11 Word Course Description: Metrodome, Hennepin, Douglas, Lakes, Minnehaha Parkway, River, St. Thomas, Summit, Capital.

They've even made it easy for you to plan your day if you know the texting.  You can go to this website, register your cellular telephone with your favorite runner(s), and they'll text you with location updates at the start, 5k, 10k, Pikermi, 30k, and the finish (I'm not sure what updates you get for the 10 mile, but it should be similar).  You can compare those updates to the course map and plan your cheering accordingly.  Katie has signed up already, and I've been assured that you don't need to know any of the hip texting lingo.  So, OMG*, if u** dont*** ndrstnd**** this sentence, no 1***** will LOL****** at u!

The second important part of cheering for the runners is the cheering.  Here are some helpful cheering tips:

• Cowbells have been found to be an instrument of Satan and banned from the Planet Earth are fun ways to make noise, but realize I may give you an unhappy look.
• In the scope of things, a few miles left in the race means we're almost there.  But don't tell us that.  It's only acceptable to say "you're almost there" if the finish line is in sight.
• Halfway is 13.1 miles.  Do not say "you're halfway done" at mile 11.
• It is acceptable to say: "Looking great with those pasty white legs!"
• If you know people running, give them an idea where you'll be cheering from.  Sometimes, it's a whole lot easier for a runner to spot someone cheering than the other way around.
• Runners love seeing signs with our names on it.  This applies even if the sign isn't meant for you.  So, go to one of those "Most Popular Baby Names" books from the 80s, pick some good ones, and make a sign that says: "Go Peter, Paul, and Mary!"
• We love encouragement, but make sure you don't assist a runner.  Cheers are good, but giving a runner food, clothing, or other objects are against the spirit of competition.  Also, don't try and pace a runner.
• We won't look pretty come the last few miles, so we know you're lying when you say: "You're looking great/strong/fast/super!"  BUT, we love hearing that anyway.
• If you cheer near the Cathedral, it's all downhill from there, and you can tell us that.  If you're someplace else, it's not.
• The more wacky you can be, the better.  Do something crazy, or wear a funny costume.  If you're going for the Most Wacky Award, you'll have some tough competition, though.

Those are my cheering tips.  And this is my plea—COME CHEER!  In all seriousness, it would be great to see you out there.  If you plan on coming, let me know where you'll be, and I'll make sure to keep an eye out for you!  I run the tangents on the course, so that should give you a clue as to which side of the road I'll be running on.

—— 

Can't make it on Sunday?  TCIM is putting on a bunch of other races on Saturday, and Katie is running the 10k!  This will be Katie's first road race that I'm not doing, so I'm super excited to cheer for her.  The fun starts at the State Capital at 7:30am on Saturday morning.

*OMG—abbreviation for "Oh My God!", which saves space.
**u—abbreviation for "you", which saves space.
***dont—It's ok to get rid of punctuation, which saves space.  But remember that I'll and ill can mean very different things.
****ndrstnd—It's ok to remove vowels from words, which saves space.
*****1—It's also ok to replace words with numerals, which saves space.
******LOL—abbreviation for "Laughing Out Loud", which save space.  It is unknown whether this also applies when laughing to oneself.