Handmade Support
November 18th, 2010 § 11 Comments
There are plenty of great posts out there on how to be a great spectator (see here and here) at someone’s race. It’s certainly not something to be taken lightly – I mean, you wake up early, trek down to the race site to stake out a good spot and then post up and wait. As easy as it may seem to complain about all this “responsibility” and “how cold/hot it is” and how you’re “so tired,” let’s get real here – you’re sitting on your keister, sipping coffee watching people work their butts off. It is not your place to do anything but feel inspired and proud.
This was at mile 16 – this girl is seriously amazing. She had just asked me, “So, do you wanna grab some breakfast?”
I’ve been on both sides of the barrier and I can tell you having crowd support is key in a race. Having someone who is there specifically for you makes all the difference in the world. As a spectator, there is nothing more amazing than watching hundreds or even thousands of people push themselves to accomplish a goal. I’m usually the weepy one on the sidelines tearing up at anything – runners with emotional sayings on their shirts, families spotting their athlete and breaking into World Series screams, realizing every Starbucks in New York has a line out the door on marathon morning.
Can you spot her? So inspiring – between 25 and 26.2.
Speaking of the New York City Marathon, it was kind of the center of my trip there a few weeks ago. In case you missed it, let me bring you up to speed. One day, Alex said to me, “So, I’m running the New York Marathon.” And I said, “I’M COMING!” Poor girl didn’t even have a chance.
I wanted to show the greatest amount of support on the smallest budget and in the most convenient of ways (read: get it there in a carry-on bag.) I knew the traditional poster board and markers bit just wasn’t going to cut it.
Since I have been spending a good amount of time at Hobby Lobby lately, I remembered seeing these babies on display with the bolts of fabric. There’s five colors here and I am a terrible crafty lady who can’t remember the dimensions but let me tell you it was more than enough for this project. After purchasing a fabric marker, my bill came in at less than $12. Bargains, folks, I’m all about the bargains.
I returned home to start planning my homemade sign.
My original intent was to create one square per letter to spell out “Happy Go Lucky Alex.” I was going to sew it together with ribbon, like a banner. When I realized I’d need three sets of arms and about three additional feet in height to hold it up, my plans changed. Before that epiphany, though, I cut the squares of cloth down into sixteen (somewhat even) square with my favorite scissors.
Once I laid everything out and discovered the whole need for additional arms and height thing, I reworked my plan.
We’re very technical around here, in case you couldn’t tell.
Again, I laid out and started working. I didn’t want to use felt cut-out letters or all capital letters, so I decided to just go with my own somewhat cursive handwriting.
I made another self-discovery doing this: I do not like to sew. I don’t even want to know how I thought I was going to sew a string of ribbon along the borders of this sign without it looking like a crazed elf who snuck into Santa’s workshop after a little too much eggnog at the holiday party. It also didn’t help that it was the night before I had a 3:30 a.m. wake-up call to catch my flight. I decided to enlist my trust to a slew of safety pins. I ran the ribbon – note: it was a thick, heavy sturdy ribbon, not a silky thin ribbon – both horizontally and vertically across the back to give it as much stability as possible. I couldn’t have my runner looking forward to a limp piece of fabric – it had to stand out amongst the crowds! This was the New York City Marathon, after all. Go big or go home!
This baby packed up nicely into a ziplock bag and definitely stood out. I was more than proud to wave it around and cheer her on and moved beyond words to give her a hug after all was said and done and proclaim, “You’re a marathoner!”
Oh yeah, then we got breakfast.
So, there you have it. I’m sure many of you out there know your way around a Singer sewing machine and could run stitches around me, but what matters in the end is the heart and thought you put behind it. I think this could also work as a great gift for a baby shower, a child’s room or a birthday party. Just don’t wait until midnight to do it. And steer clear of the eggnog – well, at least until you’re done.
I LOVE this idea! So cute, and such a great thing for a friend to do. If you or Alex knows someone who quilts, she could even have it made into a blanket as a memento of the marathon!
hmmm… Julie, do you quilt?
Oh wow – that is so cute! I didn’t know you made that. It is seriously adorable and perfect!
What a cute way to show support! I would never come up with something like that.
You’re the sweetest friend ever. Seriously.
What a sweet idea! And it’s very cool that you did that for her. Plus congrats to her for running it!
This was the most unreal declaration of love ever. I’ve never had someone come to a race solely to spectate for me. ME! Never ever. For all of Caitlin’s readers, I was actually planning to go to NYC on my own, suffer through 26.2 brutal miles, cry my face off alone and hobble back to the airport after celebrating at a solitary supper.
She came up from her Texan ranch and was perfect. P-e-r-f-e-c-t. Calmed me down when I was tearing up. Pumped me up when I was down in the dumps. Made me laugh, made me cry when we parted at the airport, made me that freaking amazing sign. Took me out for that amazing brunch, spurred me on when making shopping decisions (always to buy… hmm. That’s a dangerous friend) and wedged herself amongst a zillion people to scream for me. ME! I’m still amazed.
I’d advise all of you to snag a Caitlin-like friend and your life will become a million times better. Things changed fantastically when we started chatting, when we met for the first time this summer, when we reunited at the airport. Once you’ve got a bud like this, hold on tight.
Now go get a Caitlin. This one’s taken.
Buuuut you can always borrow her. Be nice to her. Appreciate every little thing!
End sap-fest.
What an awesome friend you are! Seriously, you’re making the rest of us look bad…
Oh, I love it!
I look forward to seeing my family every so-many miles and being able to wave. It’s marvelous.
Great sign hun! I think you did a spectacular job! I don’t tackle anything other than clothing with a sewing machine, for some reason I just can’t get my head around it
I also think it’s amazing that you flew to NYC! What an amazing friend xxx
You’re an awesome (and very crafty) friend! If you were holding your fabric sign in the crowd at the Today Show, I’m pretty sure the camera would pan you and Al Roker would interview you.
Alex is a lucky girl to have you in her corner! You girls are too cute.
Congrats on the marathon, Alex! If/when I run the NYC Marathon I may take you up on your “borrow Caitlin” offer.