Volunteering at parkrun

[Anneep]

After my 10k on Thursday evening I felt Saturday am was a good chance for me to volunteer. I stood out in the wind and rain at Westmill parkrun (a lovely course but lots of mud) and remembered the encouragement I had been given two days before. I tried to engage as best I could those amazing runners and walkers who braved the conditions - and snapped pics of them too. I then helped the tail walkers to pack up. I LOVED IT!!! You know what? This is so weird but I got the same high as I do when running parkrun - if anything it lasted longer. I had thought that marshalling might be my least favourite volunteer role (I plan to try a few more over the next year) how wrong was I!

[tiggs1 Graduate10]

Well done for volunteering and in such bad weather

[JaoJao Graduate10]

I love volunteering, but I want to get my run in too so I’ve done a number of roles at my local which allow me to run and volunteer, these are run report writer, token sorting, first timers briefing and tail walker. You are right it gives you a massive high.

I’ve got some races planned in the coming months on Saturday evenings or a Sunday so I will use my Parkrun those weekends to try out more roles such as marshal, finish token support, timer, photographer, course check...

Do you have the parkrun google chrome extension on a desktop PC? You can get badges too!

[Anneep in reply to JaoJao]

Yes I do, as I like touristing too it’s good to see all the different challenges. You are right about the roles you can do and run, I’m looking forward to trying a few more out. Taking photos was fun I’m going to do that again if I can.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Brilliant effort, Ive helped at the changeover point on the highland cross (cross Scotland duathalon) a number of times and like you get a massive kick helping and encouraging

[Anneep in reply to Grannyhugs]

That sounds like a challenge! One of the sweet things at the race on Thursday was a volunteer with gloves on standing at the top of a hill with her hand out yelling “free power up” it made everyone smile

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Anneep]

Brilliant 😀

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

There was a survey recently and the result was that volunteers at parkruns got more satisfaction than the runners, congratulations to you for volunteering at Westmill Parkrun in the wind and rain.

[Anneep in reply to AlMorr]

Yes i read that and now I can see why!

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

I love volunteering at my local Parkrun and was doing it long before I ran in one. I’m now able to run proudly wearing my 25 volunteer T-shirt!

[Anneep in reply to Oldgirlruns]

That’s great! I can’t wait to get one too

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

Thank you for making the magic possible. I got hooked on volunteering, I did one parkrun and then my next was in my purple 25 shirt 🤣

[Anneep in reply to UnfitNoMore]

That’s a lovely thing to say! Makes me even more determined to volunteer the next really bad weather day as I’m very accident prone so think I’m safer standing or walking then) and I’ll definitely go for some of the other roles when I’m running.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to Anneep]

No volunteers, no parkrun! Sounds like tailwalking would suit!

[damienair Administrator]

I love volunteering too. I usually volunteer 1 in every 6-7 parkruns. I also sometimes do pacer on the first Saturday of each month. That’s a nice way to volunteer and fit in a good run. I’m at 15 Volunteer days now. Hoping to get that purple 25 t shirt next year. My favourite roles are finish tokens and barcode scanning.

[Anneep in reply to damienair]

Yes I’d like to try them too - I would do pacer but I’m too slow 😂

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Well done for volunteering! As our run director often says 'without volunteers parkrun wouldn't run'!👍