Welcome to Chicago on March 29, 2009. Let me restate that - MARCH! Not December as it felt out there this morning. We had rain/snow/slush for today's Shamrock Shuffle. No....I did not run it. If I had registered, I would have stayed in bed.
Today Mark and I volunteered. For the record, Mark is an incredibly good sport. He said he would come out and volunteer with me. Neither he nor I expected a winter storm. Our job was to get hte Gatorade ready at the first aid station for the 8K race. About 35,000 were registered. Conditions were raw and brutal.
We had to be there at 7:30 this morning, and we checked in promptly. We got two tables set up, and I lost the feeling in my hands - with two pairs of gloves on. They gave us a break before the race started, and we waited inside a condo building with other volunteers.
Mark was giving me that daggers glare. I reminded him that no one made him come along. He is a good sport though, and wanted to be there with me. For the record....I greatly appreciate his being there today.
He could take no more once the race got going he ducked into a building. I started passing out Gatorade and the waves of runners came by. The elite atheletes did not take any. These folks were in singlets and all things short...and they looked CCCCOOOOLLLLLDDDDD! 2004 Women's Olympic Marathon Bronze Medalist Deena Kastor was entered, and I cheered her on as she whizzed by.
I'l be honest....I did not enjoy this experience until I started getting thank yous from the runners. This made me feel terrific, because if I were out there running, I would be so glad there were volunteers there to give me Gatorade. I made sure no matter how cold I was, I gave a smile to all runners, and gave them encouraging words!
All in all I am glad I did it....next year? It better be 50 degrees out there!
Charlie
1 comment:
Great day Charlie! Everyone runner should volunteer at least once a year...our local club makes it a requirement to be eligible for their grand-prix series.
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