Happy Friday! We made it through another work week (pay yourself on the back)!
I’m participating in the Friday Five link up with Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC, Mar from Mar on the Run and Cynthia from You Signed Up For What?!.
Since it’s “free Friday”, I’m discussing 5 reasons you should volunteer in a race. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I have volunteered for the NYC Marathon in 2014 and 2015 and both were absolutely amazing experiences!
5 Reasons you should volunteer at a race
Give back to the running community – The running community is special and I personally think that the best part of a race are the volunteers. You wouldn’t be able to have a great race without volunteers giving out water, fuel and medals at the end of the race. If you run a lot of races, it’s only fair that you should volunteer at a few as well. Always pay it forward!
You can help someone – It happens, we all have bad race days. Sometimes a volunteer can be an angel in disguise. Encouraging words can make a world of difference when you just want to give up.
Earn credit for another race – This is the case for a few of the races put on by the New York Road Runners. For example, anyone that volunteers for the upcoming Brooklyn Half Marathon will earn guarenteed entry for the 2017 race. So not only do you get to volunteer at one of the best and biggest half marathons in the country, but you get guarenteed entry for the race next year!
Help your friends – If your friends are running the race, why not support them and all the other runners by volunteering. There’s nothing better than getting a cup of water from a friend, or better yet, a medal!
You’ll leave inspired – There is no way you can volunteer for a race and NOT leave inspired. When I volunteered for the 2014 NYC Marathon, I was so inspired that I completed the NYRR 9+1 program in 2015 to get guarenteed entry for the 2016 NYC Marathon. Now I’m a few months away from starting marathon training. None of this would have happened had I not volunteered.
Have you every volunteered at a race? If you have, why do you volunteer?
Annmarie says
I am embarrassed to say that I have yet to volunteer at a race. I have worked packet pickups and expos but not race day! That definitely needs to change!
kookyrunner says
Dont discount working at the packet pick up and expos – that’s equally important!
Meranda@Fairytalesandfitness says
I volunteered at the wdw marathon an half and it was truly one of the best experiences!
kookyrunner says
Wow I bet that was an awesome reace to volunteer for – so many people and costumes!
John @ run. geek. run(disney) says
I haven’t volunteered but it’s one of those things that I really want to, for many of those reasons you mentioned.
kookyrunner says
Hopefully you’ll get to volunteer at a race this year!