The Station Coordinator, Leslie, was fantastic and gave an enthusiastic and informative overview at the start of the shift. One of the better ones we’ve heard.
The second shift was really slow and probably didn’t need a volunteer pool as large as ours was (15 slots).
We had a great time with other volunteers and enjoyed our first time at Outward Bound.
Meeting the athletes for this volunteer role is a blast. Definitely an enjoyable shift. Minor issue: It would help to know in advance that we should bring a sack lunch, as food was not provided onsite, like it has been in the past.
I had an enjoyable volunteer experience. My first time at Twin Lakes aid station, my fourth volunteer-year in a row. I missed coming last year during COVID and so it was great to be back.
This was a fantastic experience as always. Meeting athletes face to face and working alongside other volunteers is a real treat. This is a fantastic volunteer for getting a taste of the energy of the event and the positive attitude of the athletes.
Fantastic experience. Amazing scenery. Loved assisting the runners and their support teams.
Ben and Diana were great Winfield station coordinators! Energetic, responsive, and personable.
One note about a Winfield volunteer whose son Brennan was with him. He was disrespectful toward volunteer Barbara, when she asked that the four of us making PB bagels wear two gloves instead of the one glove he suggested we wear only on the hand touching the bagel. He told his son to continue finishing the bagel he was on with the one glove, adding that it was a waste of gloves to wear two; definitely not interested in following instructions! My daughter and I took her advice and put on a second glove, recalling the instruction at the start of the shift that volunteers maintain cleanliness when handling food. Barbara walked off, upset by his dismissal.
We had several instances of misplaced drop bags or miscommunication regarding who had received the drop bags. The best example: when our volunteer called out the number of an approaching runner, as usual, we grabbed the respective drop bag, and took it to the runner (sometimes crew member, if they accompanied the runner) as they entered the aid station tent. Another crew member of this same runner approached us about ten minutes later, looking for the drop bag, which had already been handed over. The drop bag was never located by this crew member, despite repeated searches within the crew, within the tent and among the aid station area and drop bag rows. The crew member was understandably upset. Perhaps a protocol needs established that specifies the drop bag be only delivered to the runner and not to the crew, since there are multiple crew members who could receive/take the drop bag and the crew members don't always communicate with each other in the bustle of aid station. OR, checklists could be used... each bag is checked off (on a complete list of bib numbers/runners' names), and the first name of the person receiving the drop bag is written in. All this carried out by specific volunteer(s) whose duties include documenting Drop Bag Delivery.
I noticed that in last year's race (where my daughter and I volunteered at May Queen Outbound, running the drop bags), we didn't have any situations like this. The crews were not allowed access to the drop bags at all and this seemed to simplify the whole drop bag delivery process. We understand that crews might need access into the aid station, like at Winfield this year, but a system to track drop bag delivery would be helpful and could significantly reduce misplaced drop bags.
All in all, we loved volunteering and working with others volunteers (first-time volunteers Kyle and Nicole were super enthusiastic drop bag teammates) and plan to do it again next year!
Great experience, our 2nd year helping with drop bag collection. Fun to interact with the athletes and their supporters.
Loved the comraderie of the volunteers and the inspiring, though brief, interaction with the athletes.
Loved spending the afternoon with my daughter at this station!
