Dartford Giving

By Kate Hargreaves

I’m a keen runner and one quotation that I like to spout at people every now and again when it loosely fits into the conversation is “If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.” Kathrine Switzer (the first woman to officially run the Boston marathon) said this, and it’s wonderfully true, but I think it can also apply to races and runs of all distances, which is why volunteering as a marshal at a running event might be just what you need to reboot your outlook if the ongoing pandemic is getting you down.

Running event marshal “What is it?” This role can vary depending on the event. For sheer convenience as well as heaps of community spirit, I’d recommend a parkrun or junior parkrun, both of which have recently restarted post-pandemic. At these events, you will be expected to direct runners of which route to follow, and cheer and support them as they go. Alternatively, if helping at one of the big marathon or half marathon events appeals to you, a marshalling role might also have elements of crowd or traffic control. There are also health and safety responsibilities of any marshal role, but this might be limited to knowing who else in the team to alert to any issues that arise.

“Would I enjoy it?” If you like being outdoors and are happy to interact with the general public to some extent, then you’ll probably enjoy it a lot. You may well find yourself with a new group of friends made through volunteering at the event too. “How much time do I need for it?” These roles are almost always ad hoc with no commitment required beyond the one event, which may require around an hour of your time (e.g. parkrun) or a full day (e.g. a marathon). Often people enjoy helping at these events so much that they become regular volunteers. “What would I get out of it?” As Kathrine Switzer said, it can restore your faith in humanity, which is a pretty big offering. The idea behind this is that watching so many people giving it their all in a race the vast majority of them know they won’t win is often inspiring, to even the least sporty among us.

“Are there any requirements?” Generally, very few. A willingness to cheer, clap or offer words of encouragement is usually appreciated by runners. Dogs and children are often welcome to accompany marshals to offer their support too. There may be some restrictions on how events are being run (excuse the pun) at the moment, but maybe we’ll be back to high fiving sweaty strangers at some point!

“Anything else I need to know?” Being a marshal often isn’t the only volunteer role available at running events; others include helping at water stations in marathons or assisting with the course set up or being a timekeeper at parkruns.

“This sounds great, how do I get involved?” It will vary by event. For parkrun, you can find your nearest event at https://www.parkrun. org.uk/events/ and check out the volunteering page or find that event’s facebook or Instagram page to find out more about volunteering. For bigger races, check their websites for how to get involved.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email kate@dartfordliving. com. Happy marshalling!

St George’s Church Hall DA11 0DJ