By Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon Pacer, Mike Hsiao.
Volunteering, simply put, is an art. Like any great structure ever built, there is a story of planning, engineering and building, happening behind the scenes that rarely surfaces. My name is Mike Hsiao, and I am the 1 hour, 45 minute Pacer for the 2016 Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon, and I am also the team captain of Race Force Athletics and Volunteering Club. Race Force is a non-profit organization that has been volunteering at Canada Running Series (West) events since 2008.
The volunteer process usually begins months before the event. The safety of all participants is a key deciding factor in any volunteer program. For example, with an event such as the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon, where numerous hydration stations are essential, volunteers are needed. Other examples are at key intersections of the course where, along with traffic personnel and police, volunteers are needed to help answer questions and guide runners.
Ensuring volunteers have a positive experience is the next step. The foundations of any successful program include where the volunteers need to be placed, volunteer shift length, and food all need to be taken into consideration. All of these steps happen even before the recruitment of volunteers happen.
Recruitment takes place after all of the key roles have been identified. Budgeting for volunteer food, t-shirts and costs associated with running the program are also taken into consideration. Recruitment itself is an art. After all of the volunteers are recruited, the race day co-ordination is a whole other ball game. In the grand timeline of volunteer coordinating, race day only occupies a small portion in the big picture.There is proverb that says: “For 10 minutes on stage, it takes 10 years of preparation off stage”. We want to create the best experience for the volunteers, to give them valuable skills and a well-rounded experience. So, you may ask, is volunteering worth it?
YES! Not only does supporting an event such as Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon benefit countless people and causes in need across hundreds of charities, it also brings people together and create smiles! So, if you are a runner reading this, be sure to give a volunteer a high-five or a hug when you are out running the 2016 Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon, or any other race. If you are a volunteer, chat up your fellow volunteers, and who knows, you may find yourself a new best friend!
Register to run the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon with Mike on Sunday June 26th.Sign up here.
