The forecast called for thunderstorms last night, with more showers today. Neither happened. Instead, under an overcast sky, I reached the race site at 6AM this morning as organizers and volunteers were scurrying around in the darkness. We've only had 4 planning meetings leading up to this event, and I missed #2 and #4 because I was out of town. Even so, despite countless emails and calls, it wasn't clear what I was supposed to do today, until, well, about this morning. Somehow, it all came together when it needed to.As the only volunteer on the committee assigned to work with the local race company (Racing Systems), I was supposed to make sure they did what they needed to do. Turns out that once the MS Society signed them up, Racing Systems pretty much ran on auto-pilot. They showed up a little past 6AM and started laying down the timing mats and usual stuff. The course was already laid out, and I went out with one of their guys to lay down cones. Ryan has a day job and works with Racing Systems on the weekends. He also trains runners for RunOn, and has a 3:18 marathon PR!
The course is a simple out and back. I stationed myself at the halfway point turnaround and waited for the run to start, along with Dennis the City of Addison cop, and Jeff with the City of Addison Streets Dept. I was going to comment that do you really think we needed to stand there in case anyone didn't know what to do at the turnaround, but if you look closely at the sign, it really is quite confusing.The runners came through fairly quickly. There were only 130+ of them. The winner finished in 20:23. After that, the walkers came strolling by, and that took forever! It's all for a good cause, so the more the merrier, but I was out there from 8:00 until almost 9:45 waiting for the walkers to finish. Finally, Ryan swung by again to get me, and we picked up the cones on the way back.
Back at the finish, the usual festivities were going on, including these:
Er, don't ask me, that must have come up in the meeting I missed! All in all, I'm glad I volunteered for this. It was much less work than I expected, and I was happy to help out any way I could. I'll probably sign up next year again!
15 comments:
Volunteers ROCK!! Thanks for giving up some of your time for others. :)
Every one appreciates the volunteers I certainly do. Man if i didn't love to race so much. I would wolunteer more. Last year I did a few duties before the races and I was gald to do that. Voluntering is very rewarding.
Good for you for volunteering and making a difference! If you hadn't been at the halfway point for two hours to turn them around, some of the participants might still be heading out on the outbound leg!
What was that last pic???? Kinda kinky if you ask me.
Did you learn anything about the city of Addison working out there with Dennis and Jeff?
Good for you; fortunate for them.
Interesting pictures.
How fun!! I love volunteering, it makes you realize how much work goes into every race!
you're a good egg. maybe that's what that last photo was.
I admire a lot the volunteers, without your activity we cannot run. I like the pictures, the last is very interesting.
you're a very good running community citizen! bravo. the only race i've volunteered at is our own club's - whoops.
Good for you to give back to the running community! And having course marshalled I know all too well that even with obvious signs, runners easily go astray. They just can't think and run at the same time. You likely saved some from making it a 10k.
Thanks for being a volunteer!
And that post-race party looks wild!
what is that white thing? Looks like a cirque de soleil thing.
Way to do the world some good. :) Looks like a fun time!
You haven't posted on you running in a while. so i decided to post on the newest post. by the way i sent you my 26.2 bling. I finally figure out how to get into my photos.
The last pic looks like a pawn from a chess game.
Post a Comment