With a few races to my name, I've had my fair share of experiences both with good spectators and with bad spectators: holding a "You're almost there!" sign within the first mile of a 13 mile race is bad spectating; clapping and yelling a simple "way to go!" is good spectating. I haven't been one of these athlete harassers in quite some time, though, and forgot how tiring of a job it can be. Of course, it is an entirely different kind of tiring than actually being in the event, but post-spectating naps aren't entirely out of the question either. Today I cheered on at a triathalon at the Texas Ski Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas. The transition area was a short walk from the start and finish line, but figuring out about what time those transitions should be happening, paired with the relentless sun, and my unfortunate choice to forgo breakfast and water (really?) took its toll on my energy stores, more so than any race I've ever done. Early afternoon found me passed out like a sack of bricks for an incredible and wonderfully long nap. The whole experience gives me a greater and renewed appreciation for the folks who make it out to the Middle of Nowhere, Texas to cheer us on for hours.
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