I recently volunteered at the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Race in Columbus. This race ran through the streets of downtown Columbus and finished in the Arena District. Along with several of my friends, I volunteered at the finish line, handing out electrolyte drinks to the finishers. I learned of this opportunity through the Dunn Sport and Wellness Scholars Program.
At this event, I worked at a table beyond the finish line. Before the race began, I helped set up tables and prepare the electrolyte drinks for the racers. After mixing the drinks in large coolers, we used pitchers to fill up hundreds of cups with the drinks. As the competitors finished, we handed out the drinks so they could refuel. Seeing the smiles on the runners’ faces was priceless, as they had just finished a goal that they had been training for for months. Large events such as this race aren’t possible without volunteers, and I loved being a part of the crew. This volunteer experience taught me about organization and timeliness. If every crew working for the race wasn’t ready at the right time, then everything would have fallen apart. This experience left me in awe at how much thought goes into planning such a large event. I learned so much about logistics and organization in volunteering at this race. I’m glad I was able to help such a ‘sweet’ race!