Featured 5k of the Week - Shout-out to the Organizers and Volunteers!!!

Featured 5k of the Week - A shout-out to the volunteers and organizers!

You know, when an event goes right, nobody notices the "behind-the-scenes" people, nobody really even notices the volunteers and workers in plain sight.  This applies to a minor league baseball game, a 4-day concert event, an NFL game, or a 3-day Fest.

But, see, that's a good thing!  When everything is running smoothly, all of the workers do go unnoticed.  Yes, that might be a bit disheartening for the workers/volunteers.  But, deep down, they know, if they aren't noticed - then nothing went wrong.

In a good play - you don't see the lighting people or the stage hands - in a good movie, you don't see the gaffer or key grip (or even know what they do).

So, here is a HUGE THANK YOU to all of those people at a 5K that we don't notice.  Thank you for all of the time you put in before/during/after the race on race day - and the days/weeks/months leading up to the race.

The organizers, coordinators, operations personnel who : book bands, painstakingly plot out an accurate course, secure the permits, work with local law enforcement, contact vendors, secure sponsors, advertise, order shirts, manage registration, answer e-mails from participants, worry and fret over weather conditions, securing a timer and/or timing devices, re-walk the course over and over to make sure it is a good course, find ideal locations, answer questions from vendors - and all of this BEFORE the actual race day.

On race day, make sure the vendors are there, answer questions, make sure tents get set up, make sure everything is where it should be, react and be agile when that ever-present curveball is thrown (and it always is), make sure power is working, make sure the band is on time, greet the runners, greet the volunteers, coordinate with dozens to hundreds of workers/volunteers, worry and fret and deal with the weather, answer questions from workers and runners, and all with a smile!

The volunteers - the ones who don't even get paid for this - that stand outside in the rain to give the runners water, that stand outside in 98 degree cloudless sun to give the runners water, the volunteers who stand in the same conditions to work the starting corrals, or work the timing machines and the finish line.  The ones who run from vendor tent to vendor tent delivering this or that.  The ones who answer questions from vendors, workers, and runners.  The ones who make sure the runners have the best possible running experience in any conditions - cold, wind, heat, rain - you name it.

To the First Aid/First Responder teams who are ever at the ready should they be needed on the course, before the race, after the race, needed by a vendor or volunteer who might need them.  To law enforcement/community officers patrolling the streets to keep the runners from harm and also get the cars parked and exited in large events.

And I am 100% positive that I missed at least 2 dozen other tasks performed by all of these people.  People, that if everything goes right, you might not even notice.

I always make it a point to thank each course worker as I pass them, no matter how tired I might be at that point.  I try to thank as many non-course workers as well.  And you know what, they genuinely appreciate it.  Your "thank you" isn't just a gesture - it actually lets them know - IT WORKED - IT ALL WENT WELL.  

So, again, thank you to all the workers and volunteers at all the 5Ks, big and small.  (and other races as well - not just 5Ks).

Without their hard work and dedication - we'd all be running in some chaotic fashion somewhere and not even know our times - and be thirsty!!