pet peeve #3

People who stand near the finish line of a race (marathon, 5K, 10K, 1 mile, whatever) and only cheer or clap for their loved one.  When I run in an event, I don't run to get my best time, but to finish, and when I finish, dammit, I want all of you in your warm coats and your travel coffee mugs standing on the sidelines to acknowledge that.  It is a crummy feeling to know I'm near the end and make eye contact with onlookers who glance over me when I'm not the person they're looking to cheer for.
Yesterday I ran my first 5K in probably about a year, and once I finished, I went back to the curb near the finish line and spent some time cheering and clapping for the runners.  People were shoulder to shoulder on both sides of the route, not even clapping until they saw their friend.  Lame.  LAME ASSES.  I hope all of them get their cars dented and/or their lunches stolen this week.
However, the event volunteers, the women's Golden Gophers basketball team, and random people on the bike paths passing us and meeting us as we ran were wonderful supporters.  A group of about 5 male cyclists cheered the women on (it was a women's running event) as they rode by, saying, "Great job, ladies!  Keep it up, you're awesome!  Doing great!"  That made me smile.  It's not hard to make someone's day, you know.
There was also an elderly woman with her fat pug on a leash, standing in the grass.  We passed her on the way down to the turnaround and she was still there when I was going back.  She didn't say anything that I heard, but she was smiling and would wave to the runners occasionally.  That also made me smile.