Volunteer Sign Up

In order to assist you in deciding where you are best suited to volunteer in the T-Day race this year, we have developed the following guidelines.  

First, there are two broad categories:  Indoors and Outdoors

Indoors Wednesday

These jobs are for those who prefer to stay warm and dry during their service. But that doesn’t mean they are easy – you should carefully decide which task fits your personality type best.
If you always follow the Boy Scout Motto “Be Prepared” and do not like to leave things for the last minute, consider the following jobs:

EARLY PACKET PICK-UP

Held Wednesday, November 21 in the afternoon at Francis Sporting Goods.  A working knowledge of the English alphabet is helpful.

FOOD & WATER PICK-UP

A pick-up literally is useful, but not essential.  Also a desire to do some heavy lifting, as in boxes of fresh fruit and cases of bottled water.  These are to be delivered to Woodlawn School Wednesday evening.

SIGN TAPER UPPER

This would be a great job for the passive-aggressive type who likes to tell people where to go but wishes to avoid directly telling them.  If several persons are vying for this job, height will be considered an advantage. This will be done in Woodlawn School on Wednesday evening.

Indoors Thursday

These jobs are all basically for wimps, i.e. those who cringe at the thought of getting their little toesies or fingers cold working outside in November.

PRE-REGISTERED PACKET HAND OUT

A working knowledge of the alphabet is useful.  Really, that’s about all it takes folks. Well, there's always the little problem of someone wanting to pick up their packet, but there is no packet under that name. After verifying that they did not indeed enter the Witness Protection Program and change their name since they registered, there will be an unfortunate soul running around who unknowingly selected the volunteer shirt with "Race Director" printed on the back to refer them to.

DAY OF RACE REGISTRATION

Here, it can get interesting if you are the dramatic type – will the guy who runs in with five minutes to spare before gun time really be able to get registered and get to the start line on time?  Also, you get to explain that you are so Neanderthal that you will not accept credit cards but will only take check or cash.  Actually, we already have a great day of registration crew and anyone who wants to join them will have to get special permission from Molly.

If you are the nurturing type, please consider being on the . . .

FOOD CREW

These people need only a basic understanding of fractions i.e., to half a banana means to cut it into two pieces, to quarter an orange means to cut it into four pieces, etc.  You should also be prepared to prove that you can be trusted with sharp objects, such as knives.  This job involves getting to the school before the crack of dawn to prepare and put out all the race refreshments in the school cafeteria.

If you are more of the warm & fuzzy positive reinforcement type, please consider volunteering for the

AWARDS CREW

These people get to meet and greet all the excited happy award winners and hand them a lovely medal and valuable gift certificate from Francis Sporting Goods.  There are just no negatives to this job until you realize you gave the woman the 2nd overall prize when she should have gotten the 2nd in her age group prize!  This will require some "splainin" when the real 2nd overall winner arrives.

MERCHANDISE SALES

New this year will be a table where we will sell shirts, mittens, etc. left over from previous years.   This job will involve handling cash, again explaining the Neanderthal thing about no plastic.  This is an opportunity for those who are incensed that they did not get a shirt with their entry to vent on you that this is a real rip-off to have to pay EXTRA for a shirt! Seriously,  this should be a warm and cozy job that hopefully results in fewer boxes of old stuff in my basement.

Outdoors

Now for those wonderful OUTDOOR (sun or rain or sleet or snow) jobs.

PACE SIGN HOLDERS

New for 2014 will be pace sign holders at the start. Due to the size of our event, we will employ (in the non-monetary sense) five or six workers holding minutes per mile signs to stand at pre-ordained spots in the start area so that runners will place themselves fastest runners closest to the start line - i.e., 5 min./milers first, then 6 min./milers all the way back to the baby strollers and walkers. This job is for those who not only like to have their ducks in a row, but also lined up according to pace - from the flyers back to the waddlers.

AID STATION WORKER

This is probably the toughest job of all and is only for those who don’t mind getting cold AND wet.  You actually have to smile warmly at the runners as they run by and grab a cup of water, splashing at least half of it on you in the process.  Some may actually spill it all on your feet and then grab for another one.  Historically it is below freezing and the spilled water immediately freezes making all the filled cups and bottles want to slide off the table. All in all, probably not the best way to spend your Thanksgiving Day morning; however, our experienced crew leaders are almost guaranteed to make it fun.

COURSE MARSHAL

If you are the tough drill sergeant type who loves to directly tell people where to go, a course marshal position is ideal.  We need lots of these and as a special added inducement, you get to wear one of those flashy orange vests that scream “I’m in charge here”!  Great fun and ego trip for an hour.

FINISH LINE WORKER

With the chip timing system, a lot of the fun jobs like tearing off the sweaty tags of runners who are trying to barf are no longer needed.  However, if you love excitement and want to be part of the action at the finish line without the effort of actually running the event, there are some highly specialized finish line tasks required such as holding a clip board and jotting down some of the finishers’ competitor numbers.

DJ ASSISTANT

If you are an expert in electronic sound systems (or not) we need a couple assistants to help our DJ set up and move around (heavy lifters preferred) his equipment.  This requires an early arrival Thursday morning.

TEAR DOWN AND CLEAN UP

If you are a procrastinator and likely will oversleep and arrive late, there is still a volunteer opportunity in the tear down and clean up area.  No special skills required but it would be preferable if you showed up  before the last runner finishes.

If any of the above sounds like just your thing for the afternoon before Thanksgiving or for your early Thanksgiving Day morning, please give me a call or e-mail.

All volunteers will receive a Woodlawn student designed t-shirt and will be eligible for a drawing for several local business gift certificates.

Thank you!
Dee Boeck
Race Director
785-841-3587
boeckdee@gmail.com