22 replies to this topic

[alisonjc]

Will there be a CR cheer squad at the top of Fitzroy St this year - or anywhere else? I'll be trundling along very slowly doing my first full and I'll need things to look forward to! The route doesn't go past Transport this year either, does it?

[courtlylove]

As far as I can tell, the full and half runners will not be running between Transport and the river, but they will be running past Transport before turning right into Flinders Street.

Others might have more info.

CL

[alisonjc]

There's actually a couple of bar/restaurants at the other end of Fed square near the art gallery that look out over Flinders st/ I wonder if one of them might be a good gathering point?
However -I'm still hoping there'll be a CR cheer squad somewhere! Anyone up for it? The last two years we've had a great time yelling and handing out lolly snakes

[alisonjc]

*bump*

[Pink Lady]

alisonjc, on Sep 21 2009, 01:37 AM, said:

There's actually a couple of bar/restaurants at the other end of Fed square near the art gallery that look out over Flinders st/ I wonder if one of them might be a good gathering point?
However -I'm still hoping there'll be a CR cheer squad somewhere! Anyone up for it? The last two years we've had a great time yelling and handing out lolly snakes

Two different cheer squads being discussed here

The one in Fitzroy street that alisonjc started the thread with has, over recent years, been personed by people who were unable to participate and were willing to cheer on those who could. It was strategically set up at about the 35k mark (14 k for the half).

The other is mainly made up of people who have finished and are 'loitering-with-liquid-intent' around the Fed Square area.

After being on both sides of the divide (participant - observer; fit - injured) I can say just how important having a CR cheer squad at the 35k/14k mark is to enhancing motivation, and how much fun it is doing it.

Without wishing injury on anyone who has done the hard work and is all set to go, it does happen (it happened to me last year). I hope that both kinds of cheer squads are around to provide support.

[runrtom]

The CR cheer squads in the past have been primarily organised and managed by Ian and Sue (lostboys).  They left CR a while back at about the time that CR allowed another poster to use Lostboy (different font) name and a similar peter pan avatar.  Don't blame them after all the work they put in.  I couldn't care less about a CR cheer squad (even though I was a willing participant in 2006) and I'm running the marathon.

[courtlylove]

I've been both a cheer squad participant, and a very grateful receiver of cheer squad ... ummm ... cheers.

Oh, and icy poles.

I know Brendan (I can't remember his CR name and have not seem him here for a while) and then Chilliman in the past were very generous in providing the icy poles. Several of us provided bags and bags of Starburst snakes and other lollies.

However, the goodies are not compulsory! I do know how much I was looking forward to seeing the familiar bright blue and yellow of the CR cheersquad, and feeling the goodwill from them.

I'll be doing the half this year, so will be one of Pinklady's people 'lurking with liquid intent' afterwards, at whatever spot is chosen, to cheer on those who come in after I've finished.

CL

[courtlylove]

Bump!

Any takers for a MM CR cheer squad at the top of Fitzroy Street?

CL

[rohan]

runrtom, on Sep 24 2009, 04:54 AM, said:

The CR cheer squads in the past have been primarily organised and managed by Ian and Sue (lostboys).  They left CR a while back at about the time that CR allowed another poster to use Lostboy (different font) name and a similar peter pan avatar.  Don't blame them after all the work they put in.  I couldn't care less about a CR cheer squad (even though I was a willing participant in 2006) and I'm running the marathon.

I think their absence coincided with overseas work not any little huff.

they were cheering near the sandringham turnaround point last year, but didn't do the big deal thing they had in previous years.

and personally I like the cheers, they help your form for about 200metres at least.

courtlylove, on Sep 24 2009, 06:33 AM, said:

I know Brendan (I can't remember his CR name and have not seem him here for a while) and then Chilliman in the past were very generous in providing the icy poles. Several of us provided bags and bags of Starburst snakes and other lollies.

brendan's CR name is 'Virtual'.
he took some overseas work assignments.
last heard of in china?

[maryclaire]

I wish I could say I was going to join the cheer squad but I will be doing the 1/2.  It will be a shame, esp for those 1st time marathoners, if there is not a CR squad at the top of Fitzroy St this year.  We will just have to be sure to be extra loud as the end.

Speaking of which - last year the 1/2 marathoners (and fast marathoners) gathered along St Kilda Rd by Fed Square as a 2nd sheer squad.  Where will this impromptu group gather this year given the course change?

[FitzCameron]

The Gunn Runner Cheersquad will be in the usual spot on the corner of Fitzroy St and Lakeside Drive - you'll see the banner and hear the cheering!

FC

Edited by FitzCameron, 30 September 2009 - 01:42 PM.

[sol]

maryclaire, on Sep 30 2009, 01:19 PM, said:

last year the 1/2 marathoners (and fast marathoners) gathered along St Kilda Rd by Fed Square as a 2nd sheer squad.  Where will this impromptu group gather this year given the course change?

No easy answer MC. Last year IIRC the half started before the full, so those of us who finished in around 2hrs had plenty of time to get through the emss that is teh finish area, stroll up towards Transport and watch the sub-3hrs contenders run past. In fact I recall seeing Uncle Dave go past about 500 m before the MCG entrance as I walked up.

This year, however, a 2hr finisher would get to the Transport/Fed Square/Princes Bridge area at around 10.45-11.00, by which time we'd get to see the 4hr+ marathoners go by. Not that the cheering wouldn't be appreciated by these runners, or that there aren't runners (like yourself) who are likely to finish closer to 90 mins and be there half an hour early. it's just that the "main pack" is unlikely to accumulate until quite a bit later in the race.

So one possibility might be to congregate under the William Barak Bridge for a big cheer as the runners approach the G. Then we'd get the slower half runners as well as the faster full marathon runners to cheer on.

Of course, those doing the 10 km are perfectly set to get themselves to the area near the Art Gallery/Linlithgow Ave/St Kilda Rd/ The Tan, where there will be runners going every which way and all in need of a good cheer

[antil]

sol, on Sep 30 2009, 03:07 PM, said:

No easy answer MC. Last year IIRC the half started before the full, so those of us who finished in around 2hrs had plenty of time to get through the emss that is teh finish area, stroll up towards Transport and watch the sub-3hrs contenders run past. In fact I recall seeing Uncle Dave go past about 500 m before the MCG entrance as I walked up.

This year, however, a 2hr finisher would get to the Transport/Fed Square/Princes Bridge area at around 10.45-11.00, by which time we'd get to see the 4hr+ marathoners go by. Not that the cheering wouldn't be appreciated by these runners, or that there aren't runners (like yourself) who are likely to finish closer to 90 mins and be there half an hour early. it's just that the "main pack" is unlikely to accumulate until quite a bit later in the race.

So one possibility might be to congregate under the William Barak Bridge for a big cheer as the runners approach the G. Then we'd get the slower half runners as well as the faster full marathon runners to cheer on.

Of course, those doing the 10 km are perfectly set to get themselves to the area near the Art Gallery/Linlithgow Ave/St Kilda Rd/ The Tan, where there will be runners going every which way and all in need of a good cheer

I remember seeing Chilliman with a large CR sign at Fedsquare while running the half. Once finished I joined with a few others to cheer for the full runners. This group pretty much grew from then and the sole initiative from a single, loud and easy to spot CR.

[serena]

What sort of time do you think CR's might be gathering in Fed Square? I was going to be running the marathon, but injury..... Still planning on heading over to soak up a bit of beautiful Melbourne.

serena

[sol]

serena, on Oct 1 2009, 06:37 PM, said:

What sort of time do you think CR's might be gathering in Fed Square? I was going to be running the marathon, but injury..... Still planning on heading over to soak up a bit of beautiful Melbourne.

serena

I'm guessing people will be arriving from about 10.30 (8am start for the half, average 1.5-3.0 hr run, 20-30 mins to shuffle through the finish area, then a k or two walk to get to fed square). Note that Transport open at 11am. Other places in the area probably have similar opening times.

But serena, if you can get there early then as I alluded to above, the region around the Arts Centre will have runners going in most races going past in several directions. Then stroll over to Fed Square around 11 might be a plan ...

Edited by sol, 01 October 2009 - 08:04 PM.

[maryclaire]

I intend (hope) to finish the 1/2 at about 9:35; after soaking up MCG atmosphere and watching others finish, I guess the most sensible thing would be to walk the course backwards until I find wherever the CR group has decided to set itself up.  If I get to the Arts Centre and don't see a single CR I'll call it quits and get a STRONG coffee.

Serena, I assume you'll have some CR attire so we can spot you? (contrary to popular rumours, people from the West aren't all that different from us )

[SlowDave]

I dropped off CR for a few months over winter but had intended to join the CR suqad at Fitzroy St after the great support I got there last year. But it's all looking pretty quiet right now.

[ican]

I'm doing the half this year and got AWESOME support along the way.  I got a snake from Lostboy in Sandringham an icypole at the top of Fitzroy St (yes I think with these and the gels consumed I am the only marathon runner in history to put ON weight) and a huge roar at Transport.  After finishing I couldn't walk much further that my car so I feel I owe some good karma back to the coolrunning community and have planned to provide that at the Transport Bar but am happy to provide it anywhere.  I plan to finish in 2 hours but I did notice that massages are provided for the half marathoners so I'm probably a contender for the William Barrack Bridge contingent.

I will sus it out on the day I suppose.

[40kmPassOut]

Hi All,

I'll be out on the course cheering the CR's on. I appreciated the boost they gave me in Canberra and I feel as though I owe a few people!

I'll be riding a bike so I can get around the course a little and will have my CR race singlet on. I'll be hovering between Transport and Fitzroy street if anyone wants to join me....

Keep Pushin'

[Runblue6]

FitzCameron, on Sep 30 2009, 01:41 PM, said:

The Gunn Runner Cheersquad will be in the usual spot on the corner of Fitzroy St and Lakeside Drive - you'll see the banner and hear the cheering!

FC

Al & Jane,

I look forward to seeing all the Gunnies at the cheer point again this year. It's an ideal spot to see the full and half marathoners heading out (invariably looking pretty damned good) and heading home (looking slightly less so). I also look forward to a refreshing beverage back at the Cricketer's Arms.

[SlowDave]

40kmPassOut, on Oct 3 2009, 08:43 PM, said:

Hi All,

I'll be out on the course cheering the CR's on. I appreciated the boost they gave me in Canberra and I feel as though I owe a few people!

I'll be riding a bike so I can get around the course a little and will have my CR race singlet on. I'll be hovering between Transport and Fitzroy street if anyone wants to join me....

Keep Pushin'

I was probably going to cycle in anyway so that sounds like a good idea. Now depends on family commitments I just found out about, but thinking of doing the ride with a big bag of snakes.

[sol]

SlowDave, on Oct 4 2009, 04:24 PM, said:

[...] thinking of doing the ride with a big bag of snakes.

Sounds awesome!

[40kmPassOut]

SlowDave, on Oct 4 2009, 05:24 PM, said:

I was probably going to cycle in anyway so that sounds like a good idea. Now depends on family commitments I just found out about, but thinking of doing the ride with a big bag of snakes.

Excellent Slow Dave,

Hope to see you on the course. I'll have a bag of snakes or something, a camera to snap the CR's and a loud voice to bring 'em home!

I'll keep a look out for you.