I spent yesterday volunteering at the Hawthorn Half Day Relay and Ultra race at Hawthorn Park. I’ve run this race three times and it’s very special to me for many reasons, the main one being it’s where I finished my first 50K and became an ultra runner (2019). This year, I wanted to take a break from running it and decided to volunteer instead.
Since I started coaching cross country and track last fall, I’ve gained a newfound sense of appreciation and gratitude for being on the other side of running. And I really felt that yesterday.
I loved talking to the runners/walkers, hearing their stories, asking where they are from and what brought them to this race … seeing friends run their races and cheering them on … helping runners when they came by the start/finish aid station … filling water bottles, providing snacks, answering questions … just telling them they’re doing great and to keep moving, when I could tell they were at the point of doubting why they signed up for this event.
I teared up more than once watching the finish of the 6- and 12-hour race and seeing the strength/grit/determination on the runners’ faces as they pushed their way to the end of their very long day. I know that feeling well … and it’s just as emotional watching someone else push themselves to their limit.
A close friend would describe these experiences as “life affirming” — witnessing people accomplish things they never believed they were physically and mentally capable of doing. That’s exactly how I felt yesterday.
Huge congratulations to my good friend, Majel, who is the race director for Hawthorn Half Day. She put on an incredible event and it was my absolute honor to help her with this truly special race. 🧡