There’s no better way to feel a greater sense of connection and belonging in the running community than by volunteering at a race. But you’re a runner, right? You go to races to run the event. At least, that’s what I thought at first.
I started to think more about what it takes to put on the races we love so much, and how excited everyone involved with events always are. I wondered what brought them here–do they have friends in the race? Or perhaps they know the race director? Do they enjoy spectating, or do they really just like to help runners stay fed and hydrated?
So this year, between running my own spring races, I went in search of answers!
Volunteering At A Race: Roles and Responsibilities
Race organizations usually rely heavily on volunteers to put on the races we love to run. There are all kinds of volunteer positions to choose from:
Aid station volunteers
Those folks stationed throughout the course only too happy to refill a runner’s bottle, offering up snacks, encouragement and good energy! Sometimes they’re even in costume, or have decorated the aid station with a fun theme!
Pre-sweepers
The first people to cover the course ahead of the runners, ensuring safe course conditions with adequate markings.
Sweepers
The people following the last runner, picking up flagging, signs and trash along the course.
Course markers
This might involve some trail work in the days leading up to clear the course of hazards and debris. Closer to the race, course markers go out to put up flags and signs along the race route.
Other roles for volunteering at a race
- Start/Finish line setup and take down
- Registration and pre-race check-in
- Medical (some qualifications may be required)
- Finish line help serving food and drinks, handing out medals and more
- Race timing
Pacers
Athletes running the race to help others achieve their goal times rather than focusing on their own performance.
This role offers you another opportunity to be involved in a race, with benefits for both you and your runner. While pacing, you have the chance to experience the course, terrain, aid stations, and great race vibes, all while helping a runner. From a handful of miles to 50 or more, pacing segments vary in distance.
The longer the race, the more important a pacer becomes for many reasons:
- Safety
- Course navigation
- Help keeping alert and awake overnight
- Moving consistently
- Having reminders to eat and drink
- Morale boost
- Encouragement
If you’re interested in pacing, I suggest joining social media groups for specific races where people post questions or look for support. Sometimes pacers drop out at the last minute. Other times, they are coming from out of town and don’t have anyone traveling with them. In both situations, finding a pacer is a huge relief.
My Experiences Volunteering at a Race
This year, I mixed in a little of each of these opportunities, out of both a curiosity and a desire to spend more time giving back to the sport I love. Here is a look into the different experiences I had volunteering at a race:
Aid station at the Orcas Island 100
A friend and I signed up as aid station volunteers at the Orcas Island 100 Miler in February. Runners traverse a looped course in the gorgeous San Juan islands in Washington State. Stationed up on a mountain top, we could see runners multiple times and at different points in their race. While up there, I was able to do a training run myself on the same trails, so I got a good feel for the race. I also stayed for the morning-after ceremony, complete with a photo slideshow that made everyone emotional. Definitely an experience that made me want to come back to the event! An added bonus was earning race credit to put towards a future Rainshadow Running race!
“Pre-sweeper” and aid station at The Big Alta
I also volunteered at The Big Alta, a 2-day event organized by Daybreak Racing and Freetrail. With both 50K and 25K races, alongside wonderful organization, the weekend attracts new ultra runners as well as an impressive elite field, making it exciting to spectate! The first day, I had signed up via Ultrasignup to “pre-sweep” a section of the course. This role involved running half of the 50K route to make sure the course markings were still up and untampered with, before the runners came through. Myself and another runner were able to experience the course ahead of the racers, while enjoying getting to know each other for a few hours! The following day, I worked at an aid station, cheering on runners as they came through, filling their water, offering snacks and other assistance. The Big Alta is another race I’d love to run!
Pacing at the Arizona Monster 300
Another fun opportunity is pacing a runner! I had planned to pace a friend at the Arizona Monster 300, but when she ultimately dropped from the race early on, I took to the race’s Facebook group to see if anyone was looking for a pacer. Plenty of people were, and I had the pleasure of running the last segment of the race with a new friend from Australia. Pacing can mean a lot of different things. Sometimes runners have specific time and pace goals, and a pacer is meant to keep them on track and moving quickly. Other times, a pacer is wanted to keep a runner moving through the night, or even for company and conversation (telling jokes is usually a good pacer skill).
Crewing at the Canyons 100
Finally, I had the chance to crew a teammate at the Canyons 100 mile race. Crewing is like being part of a little family, all caring about the runner you’re supporting. The mission is to meet them at “crew-able” aid stations with everything that they might need: changes of clothes, fresh shoes, food options, drinks, headlamp batteries, etc. Crewing is also important to reduce the time runners spend at aid stations, while also serving as encouragement to keep the runner going. Helping my friend and being a small part of her huge success in the race was rewarding and so satisfying; time very well spent!
Benefits of volunteering at a race
I have never felt so connected to the running community as I have this year. The more involved I become, the more familiar faces I see, and the more I feel a deeper sense that I belong here in this community. It’s easy to see just how much the runners and race directors depend on the community to support their races.
Beyond connection, I also feel more than ever a sense of balance. Racing is exciting and personally rewarding for sure, but being involved in other aspects gives the excitement of the race without the stress of running it. You can get a feel for a race before running it yourself. Add to that, being surrounded by so much positivity and witnessing people work hard is incredible. I always leave feeling like it was time well spent, inspired to take on my own “next big thing.”
Added perks of volunteering at a race are the bonuses many race organizations offer those helping, such as swag, like t-shirts or hats, or even race credits! Credits can be used to save money on race registration fees. While these are great benefits, do not assume or expect anything.
So, should you volunteer at a race?
If you’ve ever wondered whether it is worth it to spend your time doing something other than running at a race, the answer is absolutely yes!
Volunteering at a race is such a rewarding and appreciated way to give back to the running community. Not only that, it leaves you with a fulfilling sense of balance: you feel the highs of being in the race environment without necessarily having to train for and race the distance yourself.
Consider volunteering at a race between your own events, in your off-season, or during times you’re decreasing or stepping back from training. Take the opportunity to connect and network with the wider running community: the racers, their crews, race directors and other volunteers. You may even walk away with race swag or a race entry of your own, but for sure, you’ll be thinking, “I belong here.”
Emily Keddie is a coach with Team RunRun based in Bend, OR. She is an experienced runner and dedicated coach, with a PhD in Psychology. Emily coaches a wide range of athletes in road and trail/ultra running, from 5K to 200+ mile distances.