While volunteering at the Red Rock Marathon/Half-Marathon this past weekend, I was really interested in watching the different ways that runners react to the aid stations while on their run. Since we were at the halfway point for the full marathon, the participants had already been working hard for a while.
Some runners barely acknowledged us and our presence there. A few seemed almost angry in their demands for fluid or gels. And then there were the people that were friendly and obviously having a blast out there.
One guy, wearing a Marathon Maniacs jersey actually stopped at the aid station, partook of the snacks we had, drank a little and told us a story about how he fell in a previous marathon, gashed open his forehead and still finished the race before ending up at the hospital to get over 30 stitches. Hard core…
(I’m a wimp for stopping apparently!)
But even more inspiring than the fact that he finished his race while bleeding was that he was obviously having a blast. A time goal, what’s that? Passing the runner ahead, why? There are people to chat with, snacks to be eaten and laughs to be shared.
That’s one of the things that makes the running community so much fun, just interacting with people that share this love. And so even though I wasn’t able to run a marathon/half-marathon last weekend, volunteering gave me the chance to feel some of that energy and to mingle with the good people involved in this sport.
If you get the chance to volunteer at a race, I highly recommend it!
Jill Will Run 
Hi! I’ve enjoyed reading your entries and this post about volunteering. Wow, that man is a tough gentleman. I volunteered at a race in my local town this past fall and it was so much fun just cheering on all the participants and having a good time rather than being focused on running and finishing. I guess it should be that way either way, huh? Interesting.
Have a great day!
Sarah: You’re totally right, no matter what your end goal at a race is we should all enjoy the ride!
Yay! I’m glad you had a good time. 🙂
Hey, Jill –
Thanks for your comment! I’ve actually read through many of your posts as well. I stumbled upon Alissa’s blog awhile back, and have checked out a bunch of her links. Do you mind if I link to your blog on my site? It’s nice having a few women to check up on (and have them check up on me)…and I’m always looking for someone to go to with running questions (I’m definitely a newbie!).
I’m glad that you can also acknowledge your ED outlook–it definitely helps to manage your life if you’re not in denial. It’s hard, but so worth it to stay on track!! Big virtual hugs.
Lauren
Lauren: Sure, I would love to have you link to my site. I’ll add yours to mine as well!
wow that guy was hardcore! you are not a wimp though!
it’s hard to not be competitive in the race atmosphere, but sometimes i think we do need to enjoy the race for the event! i personally had a blast at disney — i got to run hard in the half and then enjoy the full. well, as much as you can enjoy running 26.2 miles with already sore legs anyway. 🙂
i do need to volunteer sometime. i keep meaning to…. just keep not! i’ll work on that.
Lindsay: I think fun has to be a requirement at the Disney race, like you said… you’re already tired and sore when you’re running 26.2!
That guy sure is hardcore!! I’ve always thought that volunteering for a race would be something fun to do, but then the thinking about how early in the morning I would have to wake up to do it… Maybe some day I’ll do it.
isshino: I think if I were to run the race, I would have had to wake up even earlier just to eat and get all my stuff together. This I just rolled out of bed in time to drive there!
I agree that volunteering is a great motivator. I love to be at the races. And even though many times we are overlooked, its the people who do stop to say thank you or tell a story that make it worth it. And because I volunteer, I appreciate the ones at my races that much more.
onelittlejill: I think that’s exactly the outlook that volunteering gives to runners, helps us appreciate the volunteers on our race courses more.
You’re not a wimp. That guy was just crazy. And hardcore.
I always try to thank the volunteers if I can, or if I waive off the water, to still remember to say thank you, especially if it’s a cold day out – those people are just standing there, probably freezing!
And um, yeah, you did the right thing by stopping when you fell – that guy sounds like he’d be a hoot to run with! 🙂
Terri: I also try to thank the volunteers too. I will especially now, since a lot of volunteers on the course were family members of runners and not runners themselves. They may not understand the pains that can arise while running a race and just assume all runners are jerks! 😉