Directions to make the *OFFICIAL*

Team Connal Cheerleader Sign

What's so special about this sign?

You may be surprised to know that - in any road race - runners can find their cheerleaders much easier than cheerleaders can find their runners.  To a spectator, the marathon becomes just a sea of runners.  So if everyone has the same type of sign then Team Connal will be able to find you wherever you are!

Why this particular sign model?

  1. It's different from everyone else's sign - and we really have to be unique and special
  2. It's very easy to see from a distance so Team Connal spectators and runners can spot you
  3. It's easy to make
  4. It's easy to hold (and you're going to be holding it for a long time!)
  5. It's resistant to heavy winds
  6. It's a proven technology - Heidi used these signs for many of Jon's marathons.
  7. 9 out of 10 doctors recommend it (or so we've heard)
Supplies needed:
  1. Orange poster board - the brighter the better!
  2. Wooden dowel - about 3/4" thick or so.  Something that will bear weight but not be too heavy.  (Remember that you'll probably be carrying it for 3+ hours)
  3. Heavy-duty clear packing tape
Directions:  
Step 1:

To make the ends which will grip the dowel:

Fold the ends of the poster board in about 1 - 1.5 inches.  This will be the part that grips the dowel

 

 

 
Step 2:

Fold the remaining poster board into equal thirds, so the orange is on the outside and the white on the inside. 

 

 
Step 3:

Line the top and the bottom of the inside (the white side of the poster board) with tape for added reinforcement.

 

Step 4:

On the outside of the sign (the colored portion) write fun and inspirational stuff and pictures on each third section.

Note: It's often good to "laminate" the poster board with tape in case it rains the day of the marathon. If you’d like to do this, I recommend doing it at this point.

 

 

 
Step 5:

When folded, the sign will look like this:

 

 
Step 6:

Arrange dowel approximately 1/3 - 1/2 of the way up the sign. (Leave plenty of dowel to hold onto!)

 

 
Step 7:

Fold one of the 1-1.5 inch edges (see step 1) over the dowel and secure with tape or staple. So the dowel is inside the fold of one side of the poster board.

 

 

 
Step 8:

Fold the other side of the poster board over, and secure the second fold to the first (either with tape or staples.

Each third is visible and easily identifiable.

You're an official Team Connal Cheerleader!!