Volunteering at a Race

water table waiting for the first finishers

once things got busy we had a hard time keeping cups filled

Saturday I volunteered at a race. It was a 10 mile race that I've heard is quite difficult, so I didn't want to run it without proper training. Since I've been sick for the last three months, I'm definitely not trained.

I'd been looking for volunteer opportunities for our Cub Scouts and came across the option of volunteering at the race. We ended up not volunteering as a pack, but I went ahead and signed up to volunteer at a water stop.

It was good to see things from the other side. I've only ever run races, never volunteered at one. Mr M and Sunshine volunteered at the half marathon I ran in Tennessee a year and a half ago, but that's the only race volunteering any of us have done.

The day was overcast, cold, and breezy, but the rain held off until later in the day, so at least we stayed dry. Volunteering was a good, if chilly, experience, though the water stop I was at was the one at the finish. While that was fine, I would have preferred one during the race so I could cheer runners on.

Even though I didn't actually run this race, I am including it in my 40 by 40 goal. The goal is to complete a variety of race types, and I think standing outside for several hours pouring water and gatorade qualifies as finishing something. Not the typical race experience, but a race experience nonetheless.

I've still been feeling crummy, so I didn't run, walk, or hike this week :(  And unfortunately, standing out in the cold Saturday morning wasn't helpful for my poor, beleaguered immune system and now I'm sicker than I was before.

17th race of my 40 by 40 goal

	Date	Event	Distance	Event Type
1.	July 2015	4th of July 5k	5k	Pregnant
2.	August	4 Mile Fun Run	4 miles	Road Race
3.	September	All Terrain	5k	Mixed surface
4.	October	Hill Valley Half	13.1 miles	Virtual half marathon
5.	October	Corn Maze 5k	5k	Corn Maze
6.	October	Kilted Trail 5k	5k	Kilted race
7.	November	Trail Half	13.6 miles	Trail Half
8.	November	Turkey Trot	5k	Road Race
9.	December	Veteran’s 5k	5k	Mixed surface
10.	December	Army Virtual Marathon	26.23 miles	Virtual marathon
11.	January 2016	New Year’s Day 5k	5k	Road race
12.	February	Frostbite 5k	5k	Cross country race
13.	February	Mud Run	4.8 miles	Mud run
14.	March	4k Walk	4k	Walk
15.	March	March 5k	5k	Road race
16.	March	Pi Day Virtual 5k	5k	Virtual 5k Walk
17.	March	10 mile race	Not applicable	Water stop volunteer