💗 parkrun volunteers! What's your favourite... - Bridge to 10K
💗 parkrun volunteers! What's your favourite job? Tell us why! 😊
I love dishing out the finish tokens, it's like being The Queen 😄
I've enjoyed every volunteering role I've tried so far, going to try and do them all. But I loved seeing everyone at the finish giving out tokens and talking to everyone who had done so well to get to the finish and make their own personal achievements.
I like being a marshal too, but bar code scanning means you get to briefly chat with the runners, wish them well and congratulate them too. Always good to talk!
I get stressed out that I’ll mess something up with some of the other jobs I’ve done - scanning and timekeeper - I’m happy to encourage people round.
I love the timekeeper role......really happy finishing faces 😃
I enjoy being marshal as I can wear gloves when it’s cold, and I get the chance to make a lot of noise cheering people on. If I want to run as well as volunteering, I do finish tokens - 2 ticks on the same day, ✅ ✅
I like to do First Timers Briefing as it allows me to run as well. I also like tailwalking, for a similar reason and especially if I have an event the next day that means I shouldn’t run on Saturday (as I’m still in my first year of running). Sometimes I feel as if First Timers is a soft option as you get a volunteer credit for five minutes work and get to run as well: but I find that the tail walker slot is the one that fills up quickly and I could probably so first timers most weeks if I wanted to with not many people competing for the role.
Loving the sheer variety of responses here. Just shows there’s something for everyone at parkrun. Even those who have to be sedentary can still do certain volunteering roles.
I voted marshal, but like R4inbow , I’ve enjoyed every role I’ve done so far, I love cheering everyone on, especially the slower ones- I remember how much it meant to me, that a complete stranger was encouraging me when I first started going, and I hope I do the same for others....
Mx
I like timekeeping because I get to watch everyone cross the finish line.
Tail Walker as you get to chat to the walkers or slow joggers, get a PR time recorded as well as volunteer credit and keep warm by walking or jogging during cold weather. What’s not to like! Haviusaid
Having said that I was going to say, I am timekeeping this week so will have frozen fingers and everything else!
As so far I've only done marshal (twice!) it had to be that - but I did enjoy supporting and encouraging fellow runners and walkers.
I put barcode scanning as it’s nice to congratulate folk on finishing & there are sometimes comedy moments when barcodes are stashed in unusual places!
Great fun being a Marshal ... as I was told when I first did it - "there's nothing quite like shouting encouragement at random strangers on a Saturday morning!"
It is a great vibe and you do feel you are contributing something positive to help the runners achieve their goals.
(I am hoping actually to do the run myself soon now I have graduated in C-5K 😄 . )
To be honest, I’ve only ever done pre-setup but I have done it the majority of my parkrunning career (13/24). Ironically, this weekend I am diversifying for the first time and doing token sorting. And Katnap has also joined in with the setup since he’s been running. We live quite near to our parkrun so it’s not much harder to get up a bit earlier to set up than it is to just run.
It’s purely selfish really, so I can run as well as volunteer but I figure that one day I will be injured so then I can do the other roles. I also plan to do non running roles when I have a race on (e.g. the Saturday before the Regency Run in April).
My boys do the timekeeping, bar code scanning and teas etc so the whole family gets involved.
Can I just mention that, after token sorting today, make sure you really wrap up on a cold day - it’s got to be the coldest job of the lot!
I like doing barcodes as it means you get to celebrate the run with everyone. Plus cuddle all the doggies 
I like marshaling. I always volunteer to marshal at "the turn" and bring my bike as (obviously) it's 2.5k from the start. I have to tie a big "caution runners" sign to the backpack and cycle out wearing it.
I enjoy the fact I'm finished more quickly, and I love shouting encouragement especially to the kids and dogs. 
Respect to barcode scanner people - I'm frightened to volunteer for that. It's a role for proper grown ups.
I like to see the run from the other side and realise what I must look like as I jog along!!😄
And I really enjoy the banter as the runners g o by !😄
We've got a new parkrun here in Cambridge, it started in September, and some of you will have seen my post about 5K your way/move against cancer. Well I went along for the first one of those, and just loved it. It's a very different parkrun from the other one here, much more open and no chance of getting lost, in fact I like it so much I've tried out a number of volunteer roles. I've done marshall, funnel manager, first timers brief as well as bar code scanning and time keeping, that has been my favourite role so far. I'm intending to try out all the roles, then maybe go for run director.
I love barcode scanning and I’ve done it several times. My dog is always attached to my waist and she’s definitely an attraction! ❤️
I make a point of grinning. saying hi and well done to everyone. I know I like it when I’ve run and the barcode scanner makes a little effort to be friendly. 🏃♀️🏃😀
I love timekeeping, and seeing that great smile of relief when people, especially the more challenged ones, get over the line.
And last week I particularly loved cheering on the winning lady runner! Not that I’m biased or anything......
I always want to hand out the finish tokens. Gives me a great opportunity to se/greet every runner and offer a little congratulation.
