rise. rejoice. run. rest. repeat.: Volunteering...the 2nd Piece of the Run Community

Volunteering for a race creates a full circle in the running community.

If you only run but don't serve, you miss out on the incredible blessings of helping another runner.

To be that source of encouragement at just the right time for someone; the feeling is something everyone needs to experience at least once. Then, once you experience it, it all makes sense as to why you volunteer.

To be part of a bigger picture.

I always feel inspired and proud to be a part of the running community when I watch the amazing elite runners fly through the aid station.

I also feel inspired and proud when I watch the struggling runner, the one who second guesses if they can even finish and I overhear a volunteer speak words of advice and encouragement to them, pouring into them that extra breath of energy to help them keep going.

The circle is complete.

I captained the aid station for last year's Shamrock'n Half Marathon AKA 'Armageddon' in Sacramento. The stories we share because of this event are priceless. If you survived volunteering that race, you can survive anything!! We all walked away with a sense of deep teamwork and camaraderie and sisterhood having (literally) weathered this together.

I have also volunteered for the trail ultras FLUT and Rio del Lago in Auburn. I love the trail community and rubbing elbows with runners capable of running 50 or 100 miles. What?!

Oh yes, and this last year's California International Marathon. What an experience! We had about 45 sole sister volunteers at this station and we all worked fast and furious all day. The runners we saw, the runners we talked to, so inspirational.

I hope that if you are reading this and have yet to consider volunteering for a race, you might look into it. An amazing experience you don't want to miss.