Chicago Running Review

The Resolution is the Revolution. This year instead of a resolution, choose to be a part of a revolution. Revolutionize yourself, and choose to do something that for you, and the people around you is revolutionary. Avoid the challenges of sticking with your resolution. Don’t resolve – revolt, to a new you.

New Years Resolution: Volunteer in the Running Community
How to do it right:

Charities & Organizations:

• Choose a group that reflects your beliefs. It will make the hours you put in more satisfying.
• These groups may also have many non-running related volunteer opportunities.
• For some groups to look at this list of charities partnered with Fleet Feet Sports and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Races & Events:

• Volunteering at a race, packet pick-up, or expo gives you the opportunity to pay it forward to the runners who run the same path as you by spending some time helping them achieve their running goals.
• Choose a race or event in which you are not participating, or one that you do not expect to run your best effort.
• Choose a volunteer opportunity where you meet the physical requirements and plan your transportation ahead of time.

General considerations:

• Weigh the time commitment. A lot of races and events require a decent chunk of time and may require you to arrive very early in the morning. Make sure you can commit to the time.
• Put it on your calendar: It is easy to forget or postpone volunteering if you haven’t set aside a specific date. You don’t have to commit with the group with which you’re volunteering, but to keep the date free make sure you’ve set aside the date of the event.
• Contact groups you want to work with and find out what events they have coming up throughout the year. There are plenty of weekday/night and weekend opportunities available to fit your schedule.

Fleet Feet Sports volunteer opportunities:

• Races
• Lakefront Hydration Stations
• Race Packet Pick-ups
• Race Packet Stuffing
• Chicago Endurance Sports training groups
• Race Expos

Hopefully this guide has gotten you thinking about ways to volunteer, but to add a little more inspiration, here is Danielle’s inspiring volunteer story from the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Danielle’s Story:
Last year my best friend decided to run the marathon and I saw the opportunity to hand out medals at the end to all the finishers. I sent an e-mail to my co-workers who ran in the shamrock shuffle with me about volunteering at the marathon. We all knew how great the volunteers were there and wanted to ensure the marathon participants had a great experience too. I received numerous “YES! Sign me up responses” and it was a go!

Seeing my best friend train for so long with such motivation and perseverance I was thrilled at the idea to be able to congratulate her at the end and award her a medal. We knew it would be a long shot for us to see each other at that Finish Line, but we hoped it would happen. I was so proud of her and all that she did, but it hadn’t crossed my mind the road every other runner had as they prepared for this.

I got to the marathon, grabbed my volunteer gear and headed to the end of the race where I see massive crowds, tons of supporters, and cheers louder than any sporting event I’d ever been to. Soon enough the runners were crossing the Finish Line. They were sweaty, smelly, exhausted, but I could see in many of their faces the glow of success. They did it. I cheered loudly for each of them, draped their medals around their neck, and recognized the cause for which they ran.
I saw people who were stunned they had finished it, happy they could, and motivated to continue their journey forward. But what touched me the most, were the people who shared their stories. They reached out to me, gave me hugs, shared their personal struggles, and successes. I knew one runner’s story well, but left knowing the journey of more people than I could have ever imagined.

I was able to give my best friend her medal, another close friend his, and a badge of success and completed conquests to many others. This was not just volunteering; this had been a life changing experience.

Volunteering meant more to me that day than it had before. It has made me continue my desire to give my time to many organizations, but mostly it lit the flame I needed to gain my motivation to run again. I set a goal and can only hope this year on October 7th, I too will be a finisher, sharing my story with a volunteer, completing a journey, and motivating others to continue to give their time and volunteer!