Volunteering is Good

This morning my Track Club, The Prospect Park Track Club put on our annual Cherry Tree 10 Miler and 3 Person Relay . I did not run this race, I rarely run PPTC races. I prefer to help.

There are lots of ways to "help". You can donate to charity, do a random good deed, vote, or just be polite. My helping today was extra satisfying.

For this race I was a member of the committee that planed the race. My opinion counted and I know that is a not so small way I affected the way the race happened. I enjoyed working with the people on the committee

I spent half the day Saturday getting ready for the race. I rented a U-haul and bought 50 gallons of water. I went to a storage room and filled the truck with tables and other race equipment. This morning I left my house at 6:30 and put my bike in the back of the cargo van. I unloaded the equipment and set up 2 water stations. I also set up a tent that became the shelter for the baggage check.

I rode my bike to a pivotal area near the subway and the Park and mad sure race participants knew how to get to registration and then the start. I also made sure runners were smiling, 10 miles can be scary. I got a phone call telling me that there was a need for safety pins at the starting line. I got on my bike and got them from the registration area.

After the race started I saw that help was needed at a water station, I filled cups and gave out water. (Good thing I was wearing waterproof shoes.) I also made sure that racers knew that they had to have their bib facing forward to get scored properly. (This "old school" technology was new to a lot of runners). I help break down the finish line and get it back into the van.

I am not listing these things to brag, I just want to point out that I had an important roll in this event.

I feel great knowing that the part I played in this event was significant. I know that about 700 people had a good time today because of the work I did. This is a good feeling.

I will run tomorrow.