The whole reason I’m now a race director of trail running events is all because of volunteering. I started helping at events as soon as I started running. I was inspired by the performances and drive of the athletes I was helping. In some small way I felt like I was making a difference for them. As a runner myself, I benefit greatly from the hours of dedication of countless volunteers at every race I attend. Just this last weekend I was helped by hundreds of volunteers at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in Europe. They filled my bottles, fed me pasta and were sure to make sure I was OK in my lowest moments. Some waited on mountain passes in the middle of the night just to pour Coca Cola or sparkling water in dirty runners’ bottles and packs as they marched onward through the Alps.
I volunteered for the Arizona Road Racers and then local ultra running events including the Across The Years and Javelina Jundred when I first entered the sport a decade ago. I would gladly spend hours and sometimes days shooting and editing video, figuring out timing systems, pouring drinks and serving food. The spirit of service and helping out is strong in our sport and is truly the “life blood” of what we do at Aravaipa Running now and at countless other events across the world. We run some and sometimes we volunteer and give back. We are eternally grateful of our volunteers and although do not pay them (would they really be volunteers then?), we show our appreciation through thanks, race credits and other goodies.
Phil Slama filling a bottle during the Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K
One race that I was particularly impressed with this year as I competed in races around the world, was the HURT 100 in Hawaii. They have a very long standing tight-knit running club on the island of Oahu called the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team or (H.U.R.T.) for short. They have been together for close to if not over 30 years and organize some stellar events on their home trails. Just like our own Javelina Jundred, the HURT 100 has a few major aid stations that are repeatedly accessed on a multiple loop course (HURT has five 20 mile loops) so you really get to know the people at each aid. I was blown away by the love and care they put into offering about a 100 different food options including individually wrapped and labeled vegan snacks such as rice and bean burritos and “sushi” rolls with rice and salted plum sauce wrapped in seaweed. Even late into the race I was given some buckwheat noodles with sauce from a volunteer’s own dinner! Wow, talk about selfless dedication! Not to mention the fun theme of the pirate aid station and even being gracious enough to allow me a nap in one of their aid tents.
Nina Dimitrova cooking up some quesadillas, an Aravaipa aid station staple
The HURT 100 left a mark on me and makes me want to strive to create even better events for our runners. I’ve been corresponding with the race director John Salmonson and we’ve come up with a pretty exciting volunteer perk that I’ve never heard of before. We really appreciate all our volunteers do and want to provide an opportunity that really goes to show how much we value you.
Each of our race organizations have agreed to provide the chance for one volunteer from the opposing group a paid trip to run each other’s premiere 100 mile races this upcoming Fall/Winter. So this means one lucky Aravaipa Running volunteer will be selected to gain a free entry into the 2016 HURT 100, including a paid plane fare (up to $500) and $200 in expenses as well as lodging with a local runner. One lucky H.U.R.T. volunteer will likewise be selected and have a paid trip out here to Arizona to run the 2015 Javelina Jundred and be hosted at a local runner’s home also with airfare (up to $500) and $200 travel expenses included.
While we wish we could fly all of our volunteers for a Hawaiian vacation (and brutally tough attempt at the HURT 100) we really do appreciate all you do and hope you will be excited about this opportunity and welcome the winners from both Hawaii and Arizona.
We will be reaching out to all of our volunteers who have helped over the past year within the next few days to see who is interested in putting their name in the hat for the selection lottery.
Because this looks like a great way to be thanked for volunteering with us (HURT 100 course) Photo: www.hurthawaii.com