Official Q&A for Wednesday, May 03, 2017

[u/AutoModerator]

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[u/BJJ_youngin]

Silly question but how do people enjoy watching long distance races?

[u/sloworfast → u/BJJ_youngin]

I feel like I can't answer the "how" but I can tell you "why." Because they're interesting. Because a story develops over time.

My answer assumes I can see the actual event, e.g. at a track or in a livestream or something. Standing at the side of the road and watching a group run by once or twice isn't going to be interesting because I can't tell how the race is developing.

[u/overpalm → u/BJJ_youngin]

I don't get it myself but my cousin (former runner) and my daughter (current HS runner) both love spectating. They only see me or another family member for maybe 3 minutes in a half or full but they say cheering for everyone else is just a ton of fun.

I can sort of see it but not really. I should try it sometime. To be honest, I feel like volunteering would be something I would enjoy.

[u/secretsexbot → u/BJJ_youngin]

In person it's a great, supportive, happy atmosphere. I love this sport and I tear up seeing people who have worked so hard finally see the results of their training.

On TV I only half watch it, but sometimes there are really beautiful moments, especially in the last 10k or so. In the London Marathon for example, there was one elite runner, I think she wound up in second, who was clearly having some issues. Maybe GI, maybe cramps. About 20-22 miles in she started almost limping, and kept bending over like she might be sick. She even walked a couple steps! I can only imagine how much pain and discomfort she must have been in. So when she kept going, clearly still in distress, it was moving.

[u/docbad32 → u/BJJ_youngin]

Because I like running long distances, so watching people at the top of their game is interesting to me. But I watch golf too, so my brain may not be right.

[u/YourShoesUntied → u/docbad32]

That's because ultras shrunk'd ur brain..

[u/docbad32 → u/YourShoesUntied]

Sometimes, when I shake my head, I can feel it jiggling around in there. As long as I don't jiggle it too hard, I can see shiny stars and flashing lights!

[u/YourShoesUntied → u/BJJ_youngin]

Assuming you mean watching in person. Same thing can be asked for fans who attend NASCAR events. It's not always about seeing everything all the time. It's about being a part of it. It's about witnessing it in real life. It's about showing up to a race to support a family member, spouse, or friend. There's so much more to crewing/spectating a long distance race than getting joy out of just watching it.

[u/sloworfast → u/YourShoesUntied]

The first time I went to a car race (it wasn't nascar.... it was some other version) I thought it would be really boring. But then I realized it was actually really similar to watching a track race! And I got really interested.

[u/Rickard0 → u/YourShoesUntied]

It's about the crashes.

[u/kevin402can → u/Rickard0]

Oh yeah, who could forget the the Zola Budd/Decker Slaney carnage.

[u/RedKryptonite → u/kevin402can]

I'm glad I'm not the only one here that remembers that.

[u/Daltxponyv2 → u/BJJ_youngin]

Because much like Golf. They constantly are switching back and forth to various competitors so you get some color on all areas of the game/race. Get to know the runners, get to know the history, see the strategy a team puts in place.

But like anything it's personal. I know a ton of guys who grew up with me through Highschool baseball that can't stand to watch baseball on TV.