Races (OCRs, trail runs, traditional running races), wouldn't happen if it wasn't for marshals. Paid or volunteers- they are essential to ensure the day runs smoothly and more importantly, safely. When you do an OCR you always sign a death waiver and I bet you 99% of the time you never really read it, I know I don't. You sign to say if you get injured, you won't sue and that you are running the race at your own risk. There is bigger risk with running an OCR than there is a normal running race and there is always one thing competitors unconsciously assume will happen: that the obstacles will be safe and secure and that the only injuries that will happen are down to human error on the competitors part.
Accidents do happen and there are the occasional serious one but very, very rarely do serious incidents happen. The courses are well built and as I have seen first hand, the race team are well prepared and briefed about what to do in the event of an accident or emergency.
I volunteered in March at the Major Series in Tamworth (near Birmingham). I had seen an advert on Facebook asking for volunteers for their Midlands race with the payment of a free entry into their September event. Can't turn down a freebie and it'll add to my mileage so I emailed the race HQ and was accepted onto the team.
When I arrived onsite, we signed in and were given a snack and drink pack (a nice touch) and vouchers getting us a free burger and coffee after the race was done. We were assigned into teams and I ended up heading out onto the course. There was a mix of volunteers and paid staff from the British Military Fitness (who were running the event) and some paid serving soldiers. The paid guys were in charge of each section but everyone was given a race information pack containing contact number for everyone, a risk assessment, course map and information about what to do in the event of an emergency or accident. I ended up being positioned at a road crossing for all those doing the 5km run but as they weren't running until later, I offered to help at the water slide.
The race itself went very smoothly and we cheered the runners on and gave them a 'helping hand' to go down the slide (aka a hose and buckets of water). Once the first 5km runner came through, I hoped over my fence and helped people over the fence and watched for traffic on the road. I also had the fun job of directing the racers over a very steep hill moment after they had just climbed a steep hill.
Once the backmarkers had come through (2 designated marshals whose job it was to tell the marshals as they passed that the last person was through), it became our job to pack up the area. Not before some of us had a couple of goes on the water slide!
After we'd packed away it was the long walk back to the event village and on the way we picked up the last couple of racers. One lady was struggling so I grabbed her hand and jogged with her to the finishing line. That's what I enjoyed most about marshalling was cheering everyone round, I know from racing how much you need that encouragement.
I would say everyone should marshal a race at some point. Just to see the 'other side' and to give back that support and encouragement that we often rely on when times get tough out on the course. Plus you usually get a free race out of it!
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