Volunteer Extraordinaire...

Before the sun even thinks about rising, runners head to the Start line on race day. But you know who's already there? the race volunteers :)

That was my role today, and I had to remind myself how important it was to do this when my alarm went off at 3:30am! The drive to my check-in location was about 40 mins but I got a little a lot lost on the way there (of course). I mainly got lost trying to find the best place to park. By the time I got to the water station there were only a few of us there...

Just us and lots of boxes...

We had to wait until the route was officially closed to traffic before we got a chance to set up the station. Our station was approximately at Mile 8 and Mile 12 so we knew we would be one of the busiest stations on the route...

I was on #TeamGatorade so I helped mix the Gatorade and set up the cups...

We had to battle with the wind because wind and tiny Gatorade cups are not a great combo. I spilled a lot of Gatorade. ALOT...

Eventually I realized that my skills were best utilized filling cups and placing them on the bottom layer...

Once we were set up and the race started we were all eager to cheer for the wheelchair athletes and runners...

I saw a lot of my running friends on the course! It was so cool to see everyone and scream "GATORADE!" and "YOU CAN DO IT! KEEP GOING!" at people :)

Eventually things started slowing down and I had time to organize. This is what happens when you leave someone with OCD to organize cups at a water station...they spend their time turning this...

Into this...

As we were wrapping up the event we had only a few cups of Gatorade left...

(let's hear it for efficiency!!!!)

And all the other supplies got stacked up while we waited for the supply trucks to come and get them...

I worked with an amazing team of fellow volunteers today and made new friends...

I really had a great time! I think volunteering at a race needs to be something that I do at least once a year. Giving back to the running community, a community that has embraced me and supported me in so many ways, is one of the most rewarding experiences. It was so nice to hear the runners say "Thanks for volunteering" even as they struggled through the final miles of the event.

Congrats to all the finishers today!!!!

What are the things you like to see at a race water station? (apart from water, Gatorade and Gu)

What is your ideal race distance: number of water stations ratio? (every mile? every 2 miles? more? less?)

Have you volunteered at a race before? or do your friends/family volunteer at races you're running in?