Giving Thanks and Giving Back to Your Running Community
Like many of you, I have been running races for years - decades, even. From high school cross country, to a local 5K, a homespun trail race, or a tens-of-thousands of runners road race, sign me up! The good ones really shine and the not so good ones really sting (like the time I waited in packet pick up for 45 minutes and nearly missed the start!).
Up until I started working at Jus’ Running in the fall of 2012, I had only ran races, not helped out behind the scenes. As a participant, the race experience starts around the time I pick up my bib until I grab a water bottle from the finish line and start cooling down. However, as a race organizer the race begins months, often years before. There are innumerable moving pieces involved in a race: permits, sponsors, website and communication, logistics, finish line refreshments, aid stations, T-shirts, volunteers - it gets overwhelming.
Every weekend a team of hardworking people put together and execute races so that hundreds and thousands runners can push themselves, achieve personal bests, and have a good time. At a minimum, all you have to do is show up.
What if you went an extra step?
What if instead of just showing up, we as runners gave thanks and gave back to the race organizers and running community that makes each race so fun and so special?
Giving Thanks
I know it may seem that a start and finish line just pop up in the street or the woods overnight, and generally they do, but everything else - the careful planning, the race shirts and swag, the snacks at the finish line, and the friendly faces putting the medal around your neck as you cross the finish line - those things takes months to orchestrate. Sometimes it’s not perfect, sometimes an event really falls short in some way, maybe the course has too many turns or the parking situation is a nightmare or the shirts are cotton instead of your preferred tech material. Providing feedback to the race director is often helpful since there are always blindspots while event planning.
My challenge is for every critique you make of a race, whether you share it with the race director or keep it to yourself, highlight one or two things you loved about the event. Participants regularly provide feedback for the things they wished were better while neglecting to mention the elements they really enjoyed. I want to remind runners to share their appreciation with race directors; make them understand that their job is important, their hard work was worthwhile, and that you can’t wait to participate again next year!
Giving Back
Not everyone can be a race director (and not everyone should be) but everyone can get involved in their local running events at some level. Volunteering at your favorite event is a guaranteed way to make a race director smile. It’s also an easy way to give back to your beloved running community, sacrificing a few hours of your day at most.
Races are nothing without volunteers. Those people handing out your bibs so you can get to the start line on time, keeping you from making a wrong turn when your brain is hypoxic, handing you a cup of water while you’ve never felt more dehydrated in your life, and putting that finishers’ medal around your neck as you are about to collapse are volunteers. These kind folks who gave up their morning to make yours special are usually having as good a time as you are. Volunteering provides fulfillment and can be the biggest cure for FOMO should you not be able to participate in the race. Giving back through volunteering is a sincere way to express that you care for and appreciate the community that supports your athletic endeavors.
Sponsorship is also a profound way to give back to your favorite events. Funds raised through sponsorships help towards the cost of race shirts, post-race refreshments, prizes, and many other key elements that make s race special. If you are able, consider a financial contribution to the races you love.
Please visit the links below to find ways you can be involved in Asheville-area races.
Volunteer at the Asheville Turkey Trot November 23, 2023
