Volunteers Make It Happen!

By Megan James

“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.” –Maya Angelou

Whether it is through competing, coaching, volunteering, organizing, or spectating, many of us who read this magazine are invested on some level in the sporting events it promotes. Before you read on, I encourage you to take a minute to identify your primary involvement, and how that has changed over your lifetime. 

My husband and I have been avid runners since high school – and still are today, though our environment has changed: me to the roads and him to the trails, and neither of us on the track! One thing we’ve tried to instill in our daughter and the middle/high school athletes we coach is the importance of giving to the community you are a part of, and we can do that by volunteering at races. This works especially well if one of us is competing and the other signs up as a course marshal – spectating and helping at the same time. One race my husband signed up for this year has a volunteer requirement as part of registration; you have to submit at least eight hours of volunteer service to the greater running community, and they verify each submission before race day. Last spring, all three of us worked at an aid station at the Mt. Toby Trail Race, which made for a fun family day!

If we as athletes value the events we participate in, then it is up to us to make sure they keep going year after year. To better understand the ins-and-outs of the event organization, I reached out to a few local race directors. Through a mix of direct quotes and paraphrasing, read on to learn more about their volunteer teams and events: Andy Ruiz, Farmer’s Daughter & Toad Strangler; Kristen Hislop, Delightful Run for Women; Kathy Meany, Adirondack District Masters Swimming; Theresa Newton, Crystal Lake Triathlon; and Maureen Cox, Mohawk Hudson River Marathon.

How did you get involved as a race/event director?

Andy: “I was a long-time racer and decided it was time to give back to the cycling community. I love giving back to the cycling community that has given me so much… full circle”

Kristen: “I moved to the area in 2006 and started running the Freihofer’s Run for Women. I thought it was awesome to have an all-women’s event in our backyard with all the elite athletes” After leading the Training Challenge and working on the Health & Fitness Expo for a few years, Kristen had the opportunity to become a co-director in 2017.

Kathy: “I realized that opportunities to train and compete as an adult swimmer were not going to happen unless we made them happen!”

Theresa: Lee Hilt has been director for eight years, as part of the Capital District Triathlon Club, who manages the race. He and his wife, their three kids, and sometimes their significant others have all worked the race in some capacity over the years, and we always celebrated together at the end of the day next door at Lakeview Bar & Grill. Lee has decided to pass the baton this year. 

Maureen: “The previous race director, Cathy Sliwinski, invited me to join her race management team… I had recently retired and getting involved with Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club helped me transition. The energy that people in the running community have is contagious and I love being a part of it.”

How many volunteers do you typically need for the event to be successful?

Andy: With Farmer’s Daughter bringing in over 1,000 cyclists from 23 states, it is one of the largest gravel events in the Northeast; it takes 75-100 volunteers to run smoothly. 

Kristen: This year’s Run for Women will need 400 volunteers. A few of the positions need muscle power but most just need enthusiasm and energy. 

Kathy: “We are an ALL-VOLUNTEER, CITIZEN ARMY serving the adult swimming community and providing opportunities for our members.” Each of the four annual swim meets requires about 25 volunteers: two race directors who plan for three months in advance, three certified officials, and at least 20 others to operate timing, count laps, post results, and more! 

Theresa: The race has to fill 125 volunteer positions in order to be successful and keep safety as a top priority. All positions have been filled by about 80 people in the past few years. There are about 25 volunteers who show up every single year!

Maureen: A team of about 40 volunteers manages about 200 volunteers on the course and at start and finish, plus another 200 at the water stops. Author’s note: many high school teams volunteer at MHRM and – speaking from personal experience as a high school coach of one of these teams – they have a blast!

Can you share a fun fact about yourself or another volunteer?

Andy: I’m also on the board of the Capital Bicycle Racing Club and run a Junior Development cycling team with 38 juniors who race all over the country. 

Kristen: “We have volunteers who have been here since the beginning! We find that once someone volunteers, they are more likely to return the next year. You are working with people who have signed up to be there – they are excited and happy.”

Kathy: Doug Koop of Kingston has been a competitive swimmer for most of his life. He has served as treasurer of the ADMS board for 18 years, officiates at meets, and directs our annual meet at the Kingston YMCA. At 84 years old, Doug regularly competes in at least one open water race and four swim meets a year and gets a standing ovation at the completion of each of his events. 

Theresa: Eric Sanborn shows up every year at 6am to park cars and welcome the racers. Then he sets up his space in transition and joins the race himself! Following the race, he is volunteering for takedown as well. 

Maureen: Karen Smith is the coordinator who brings a contingent of ham radio operators on race day; they are at every water stop to relay information about the runners and any needs. 

Can people volunteer and participate in the same event?

Simple answer from all directors: YES! All events have pre- and post-race volunteer needs for those who also want to participate in the event itself. This includes mentors and helpers at training programs, pre-race expos, course set-up and take-down, and more!
What makes your event unique? Why should people volunteer and/or participate?

Andy: We’ve created an experience for the participants on an incredibly difficult course, with over-the-top food at aid stations, cool swag, and a great after party that includes volunteers to seal the deal!

Kristen: Freihofer’s cookies! Volunteering is a great way to get a feel for an event if you’re on the fence about participating. Our volunteers receive a custom T-shirt – this year’s tagline is “no loaf’n around on this job.” All of our volunteers are invited to a thank you dinner during race week to meet other team members and receive final instructions. 

Kathy: “I think our volunteers find great satisfaction in being at a meet and witnessing fellow athletes between the ages of 18 and 95 from a wide range of backgrounds, abilities, and swimming experience participating in such a challenging, healthy, lifetime activity.”

Theresa: “Crystal Lake Triathlon is an inspiring race, held at a scenic venue with a great group of people.” Now in its 25th year, it has always been a popular race for first timers, and the CDTC hosts weekly training nights on the course for all levels during the summer.

Maureen: Mohawk Hudson is the only marathon in the Capital Region, and the volunteers get to be a part of the race that attracts runners from all over the world. “They witness the joy of runners on the course, feel the thankful smiles and waves as they go by, and get to be a part of the best race management team around!”

As you can see, there is no shortage of opportunities for those who want to volunteer in any capacity to support these exciting events, and many others. If you look at the race calendar (also included in every issue of Adirondack Sports!), you will see that every weekend is filled with a variety of sporting events. You might want to dust off your backstroke but aren’t sure if the atmosphere is right? Have a few hours between kids’ activities on a Saturday and don’t want to go all the way home in between? Or, currently on a training pause due to an injury or off-season? I can guarantee there are opportunities for you – and who knows, you might just find yourself coming back for more!

Megan James (megan@ptimmersion.net) of Charlton is a running specialist physical therapist and certified running coach. She is an avid runner, with special interest in 15K to half marathon distances, and loves tempo runs! Learn more: ptimmersion.net.