The Impact of Volunteering at Ultramarathons — and Why YOU Should Do It

Every finish line crossed, every aid station that saved your race, every perfectly marked trail section - none of it happens without volunteers. But what does volunteering at an ultra actually entail, and why should you consider giving your time?

Richard Gleave dives deep into the rewarding world of ultra running volunteerism, exploring how this often-overlooked aspect of the sport creates not just successful races but stronger communities. Drawing from personal experiences at races from 50-milers to 100+ mile events, Richard shares how volunteering transformed his relationship with ultra running and provided unexpected inspiration during periods of low motivation.

The episode walks through practical aspects of volunteering - from the various roles you might fill to tips for being an exceptional volunteer. Learn how anticipating runners' needs, maintaining a positive attitude, and being flexible can profoundly impact racers' experiences. Richard recounts a powerful moment when a simple act of kindness at an aid station became the turning point in a struggling runner's race day.

Beyond logistics, this conversation explores the deeper rewards of volunteering: the community connections formed, the race insights gained, and the renewed perspective on what makes ultra running special. Whether you're a seasoned ultra runner looking to give back or someone curious about the sport without committing to racing distances, volunteering offers a front-row seat to the determination, struggle, and triumph that define ultra running.

Ready to experience ultra running from a different angle? This episode provides everything you need to take that first step into volunteering. Connect with the podcast on social media @choose_to_endure or via email at [e-mail] to share your own volunteering stories or suggest future topics.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello friends and welcome back If this happens to
be your first time with us.
Thank you so much for stoppingby.
You're listening to Choose toEndure the show dedicated to the
non-elite runners out there,where we share stories,
interviews, gear and trainingtips specific to the tail-end

(00:20):
heroes of the Ultra universe.
My name's Richard Gleave.
I've been running Ultras since2017, and I have taken on and
finished numerous Ultradistances, all the way up
through 220 miles, and I amunashamedly a member of the back
of the pack, just like many ofyou are.

(00:42):
This episode, we're going toshift gears a little bit away
from running to somethingequally as important, and that
is volunteering.
So if you've ever crossed afinish line of an ultra race, if
you've ever fueled up at an aidstation, or you've ever had to
navigate a tricky trail sectionand follow markers, you'll know

(01:06):
just how crucial volunteers areto the success of any ultra race
.
Volunteering at an ultra is afantastic way to give back to
the community, to connect withfellow runners and to experience
the energy of a race from acompletely different perspective
.
So in this episode, we'llexplore why volunteering is such

(01:29):
a great choice, what you canexpect from the experience and
how you can potentially make themost of it.
I'll also try to share somepersonal volunteering stories
and highlights that show justhow rewarding volunteering can
be.
Are you ready to go?
Let's dive in.
Discover raw, inspiring storiesfrom runners who've been right

(01:53):
where you are.
This is the Choose to EndureUltra Running Podcast With your
host.
He's English, not AustralianRichard Gleave.
Okay, let's start with the why.
Why should you considervolunteering at a race,

(02:16):
especially if and when you'renot actually running?
Well, firstly, giving back tothe community Ultra running the
races.
They rely on volunteers.
Without them, aid stationswouldn't run smoothly, people
couldn't pick up their packets,trails wouldn't be marked and

(02:36):
runners wouldn't be getting thesupport they need during the
race.
Volunteering is your chance tobe a part of the team that makes
the magic happen.
Also, volunteering is a reallygreat way to meet fellow runners
.
You can meet race directors andother really cool members of

(02:57):
the ultra running community.
The friendships and connectionsyou can make I promise you will
last long after the race isover.
The other cool thing aboutvolunteering that I found really
helpful, especially early on ifyou're new to ultras or
considering tackling a longerdistance or a different style of

(03:19):
racing, volunteering is afantastic way to see how these
races work behind the scenes andget inspired by the runners
that you meet who are takingthem on.
The first time I volunteeredwas at an aid station during a
50 mile race, and I distinctlyremember watching those runners

(03:42):
come through.
It was pretty cold down atBrazos Bend.
Seeing the determination, theexhaustion and their gratitude,
despite being caked in mud andshivering, was really, really
inspiring.
It reminded me why this sportwas so awesome, and it gave me a
completely new appreciation foreverybody out there who makes

(04:04):
these races possible.
So, now that we've talked aboutwhy volunteering is a really
awesome choice, let's discusswhat you might expect.
So there's a number of rolesthat you can generally fill as a
volunteer.
You really could be doinganything, but most of the time

(04:24):
it'll be along the lines ofchecking runners in at the start
line, maybe handing out food atan aid station, sweeping the
course after the last runner.
There's a whole bunch of otherroles, but each one of them is
important, and they allcontribute to the race's success
.
It does, though, mean there'spotential for long hours, but

(04:44):
those come with big rewards.
Volunteering, especially forshifts that are less popular,
often means early mornings, latenights, and sometimes both, but
the energy of the runners andthe camaraderie of your fellow
volunteers, I promise you, isgoing to make it all worthwhile.

(05:06):
Races are dynamic.
Things don't always goaccording to plan, so teamwork
and flexibility are key.
As a volunteer, too, make sure,if you are volunteering, that
you are ready and able andwilling, in some instances, to
jump in really wherever you'reneeded, whether that's
organizing or reorganizing dropbags, filling water bottles,

(05:29):
whatever it might be.
Just make sure you're there andready to jump in.
During one race, I signed up tohelp with packet pickup, but I
ended up spending most of theday at an aid station because
they were just short onvolunteers.
They didn't have anyone tocover that shift, so I offered
to go out.
They drove me out to the aidstation, and I stood there and

(05:50):
watched the last of the runnerscome through.
It was pretty uplifting, I haveto say.
It wasn't what I expected tohappen that day, but it turned
out to be one of the mostrewarding experiences that I've
had.
Being a volunteer, though, isn'tjust about showing up.
It's about contributing to thebest of your ability.
So here are some tips to ensurethat you stay a valuable member

(06:14):
of the team.
Firstly, be reliable.
If you sign up to volunteer,make sure you show up for your
shift, show up on time and beready to work, whatever that
work happens to be.
Race directors and runnersreally depend on you.
Secondly, bring that positiveattitude that I know you've got.

(06:36):
Your energy and your enthusiasmreally make a big difference,
especially for tired runners whoneed a boost.
There's nothing worse than agrim volunteer.
Be lively, be encouraging.
That's what these runners needto hear.
Also, if you can try toanticipate runners' needs, if

(06:57):
you're at an aid station, payattention to what runners might
need or might look like theyneed, before they ask for it.
Usually it's about refillingbottles, so start there but then
move on to handing snacks,offering a chair.
Do they need medical attention?
How are their feet going?
Whatever it is, any acts ofkindness even telling them they

(07:18):
look great lie through yourteeth.
Any acts of small kindness cango a long way.
And if you're unsure aboutsomething as a volunteer, make
sure you ask a question.
Don't hesitate to ask the racedirector or even other
volunteers or your aid stationcaptain.
Everybody is working towardsthe same goal.
Everybody wants to help therunners and wants to help the

(07:38):
race go smoothly.
Everybody wants a successfulrace, so make sure and feel free
to ask questions.
At one race I noticed a runnerstruggling with a hydration pack
at an aid station, so naturallyI offered to help.
I refilled their pack, madesure they had electrolytes
before they left some salt tabs.

(07:59):
That was really all they neededand later, at the end of the
race, they came back to thank meand said that small moment was
definitely a push they neededand gave them the energy to get
to the finish.
It was a really small thing andI thought nothing of it, but
apparently it mattered to thatindividual and it was a reminder
to me that even the smallestactions can have a big impact on

(08:21):
somebody's race.
It just depends where they areand their mindset.
So never discount the smallactions.
And finally, let's talk aboutwhat you'll gain from
volunteering.
Firstly, inspiration.
Watching runners push throughchallenges is incredibly
motivating.
I promise you you'll leave thatrace inspired to tackle your

(08:44):
own goals or a new distance or anew style of ultra race.
Volunteering also helps youfeel a lot more connected to the
ultra running world.
You're going to meet people whoshare your passion and you're
going to build relationshipsthat go well beyond the race.
It also helps your raceperspective.

(09:04):
Seeing events from thevolunteer side is going to give
you a new appreciation for whatgoes into these events, what it
is it takes to make them happen.
It definitely makes you abetter runner, it makes you a
more considerate runner and itprobably makes you a more
grateful participant.
And it probably makes you amore grateful participant.

(09:28):
Also, there's this concept ofthe joy of giving back that we
all know about, right.
Knowing you help make someone'srace experience possible is
really rewarding.
On a personal level, it's areminder that the sport is about
more than individualachievement.
It's about supporting eachother and getting to the finish
line.
After volunteering at 100 Miler, I felt a deeper connection to

(09:49):
the sport than ever before.
Seeing runners dig deep toreach their goals and knowing
that I played a small part intheir success was really
fulfilling.
It inspired me to sign up formy next race and gave me a
renewed sense of purpose thatI'd been missing and trying to
find from a motivationstandpoint through training
throughout the whole of lastsummer.

(10:12):
So to recap, here are some keytakeaways about volunteering.
Number one volunteering superpowerful way to give back,
really great way to connect withothers and super way to learn
more about the sport.
Number two if you volunteer andI think you should expect to

(10:35):
fill a variety of roles, worklong hours and adapt to the
needs of the race, but, asyou're doing so, know that the
efforts that you put in aregoing to make a massive
difference.
Number three be a greatvolunteer by showing up, staying
positive, anticipate runners'needs and be flexible.

(10:59):
The rewards of volunteering,including inspiration, community

(11:25):
perspective and the you, orfind an event that you've always
been interested in and sign upfor a volunteer shift or two.
I promise you, racers arealways looking for extra help
and volunteers are such a keypart a crucial part of creating
an amazing race experience.

(11:45):
A crucial part of creating anamazing race experience your
time and your energy will make areal difference for runners and
the entire race community.
Brilliant, if these takeawaysresonate with you and you are
ready to take the next steps inyour volunteer journey, keep
that conversation going.
If you're out there browsing theinternet, don't forget to

(12:06):
subscribe to this show too.
That way, you'll get notifiedeach time a new episode drops.
And if you're enjoying what youhear, make sure you follow,
share and leave a review.
That really would mean theworld to me.
Your support helps grow.
The podcast connects morerunners to this amazing ultra
community that we have andspreads the word to those who

(12:26):
could benefit from informationwe share here, just like this
chat on volunteering.
You can find us on Instagramand Facebook at Choose to Endure
, or visit us anytime atchoosetoendurecom.
I love to hear from you,whether it's to say hello,
suggest a topic or share yourstory so that we can talk about

(12:49):
it on air here and maybe evenhave you on as a guest.
You can email me directly atinfo at choosetoeenjoycom.
Interacting with listeners,just like you, is one of my
favorite parts of doing thisshow, so please don't be shy
about reaching out Until nexttime.
Run long, run strong, go find arace to volunteer at and keep

(13:17):
choosing to endure.