Where to start?
The woman who fell on her face and mumbled “I gotta finish!” even has blood poured from her mouth? The woman who puked right in front of us, or the one that obviously barfed just before and hadn’t bothered to wipe her chin? Or how about the gal who cramped up and just collapsed in the street, screaming in pain? The countless men with blood-soaked shirts? Or, the talk of our table: this one runner on course for a 3:45 finish who was literally foaming at the mouth?!
Actually, there were several mouth foamers, but this woman’s was like none I’d ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot in my 35 years of running.
Such were the observations from the Mile 25.4 Aid Station during today’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego. The San Diego Track Club was in charge of seeing all runners were properly hydrated for the last .8 miles to the finish at Sea World. At the very end, we even offered our leftover turkey rolls, which all went to some very hungry stragglers.
Yes, we got everyone at their worst, but there was also a deep, reciprocal appreciation between the marathoners and the race crew at this point in the race. And I loved the crews I worked with, most of whom were fresh recruits with a great sense of humor – and humility. We served many Achilles runners, most in wheelchairs; one young man who ran by us with an artificial leg and prosthetic arms drew especially heavy applause.
The elite all seemed to move effortlessly, while the pain showed most prominently on the people shooting for a 3:30 to 5:00 finish. This is when all kinds of crazy things started to happen from the people who went out too fast or began to bake in the mid-morning sun (which returned to cool and cloudy for the last to make the cutoff onto Fiesta Island.)
The tears of frustration from the mid-pack eventually gave way to tears of joy from the back of the packers, of which there were thousands in this race. We all stayed to the very end to make sure the last received the same treatment as the first.
This also made for a very long day for the track club members and their friends and family who spent hours soaked in sticky Cytomax and went home sunburned and hoarse from yelling encouragements the entire morning. I also went home with far less photos than intended, having lost battery power just as the elites were coming through.
In our marathon training program, we’re encouraged to tell someone running next to you, “You make a difference in my life.” Today, we think we truly did.
18 comments:
You did make a difference and it was obvious with all of the smiles from the runners. We saw the lady who was foaming, too. Scary!
Woah!! The descriptions of runners with blood soaked shirts, foaming at the mouth and falling over sounds pretty intense.
It's amazing to see how many come out and volunteer to support the runner, cheer them on and make sure they are staying hydrated!
Very interesting to hear it from that perspective. Both parties are inspiring...the bloody runner & the volunteers that help make sure finish!
Awesome! Sometimes volunteering is the bet part of running, especially when the volunteers really know what the runners are going through Great job to you and your team of volunteers! Having people out there to cheer in the very last runners is so important!
Walter, Turbo, and DramaGirl were there, then went to help out the aid station at 21 miles (I guess it was understaffed).
They'd never volunteered at a race before. Afterward DG told me, "mom...I'm really glad I did that today. I really felt that I was helping people who REALLY needed me."
Yes, dear, you were!
You make a difference Anne!
For the first time I read a report from another perspective: very very interesting.
Thank you so much for sharing your moment out there at this running venue. Thanks for the inspiration. And we wonder why non runners think we are crazy for what we do......Do we even care what they think. lol. I know when I see people getting out there running which are handicapped, it makes me feel stupid for complaining about legs that feel heavy, when I have them and it makes me appreciate my self even more and thankful. Thank you very much for the look into this in a different way.
Thank you all so much! So much appreciation to all who helped the runners at the aid stations!
~a
The marathon from the volunteer's point of view-- what a unique perspective!
I've heard that going under 3:00 for the marathon is the hardest thing to do! Great support for the runners.
I love volunteering. I have never volunteered a Marathon, but I have done half-iron tri's...same thing, I have seen people at their worst and I know I make a difference. Way to go out there!!!
You are awesome!!! I was at mile 14.5 and saw some people in pain so I'm sure you saw alot more than me!!!! So nice of you to volunteer!!
I can't believe I missed you! I didn't know you were volunteering. My son mentioned that he helped set up cups on the water table with Jody.
Being at the hydration tables does bring a different perspective, especially that far into the race. I'm very glad to know you were there. You made a difference!
Awesome photos!!! I am always thankful and happy to see the smiling faces of aid station workers!!!
Cytomax, I just might foam too if I had been drinking that ;) give me Gookinaid any day (man, did I just give myself away)
The Achilles is doing great, in fact I started running last week without any pain. Well pain in other places but not the Achilles! The bad news, broke my big toe yestereday (crap)guess that means more recovery time :(
And here I thought I was the only one in pain! It's been two days since my first marathon but I'm still reeling at how much of an impact it has had on my life.
Thank you for being at mile 25, even though it may have looked like I just ignored you. I probably enjoyed the Cytomax the most at that station!
Awww Anne, I'm so touched by this post! If I were running the full marathon and saw you at mile 25, I would have cried. You guys did an awesome service!
Crap Anne! I was less than a quarter mile from meeting you! When I finished my relay, I hoofed it over to the finish and then ran back probably close to mile 25.5 to pace in a bunch of fellow runners. Shoot!
Way to go out there and thanks for helping. I always try to thank the volunteers - as runnrs we're doing something. As volunteers - you had to get up way too early and give up your weekend on top of it. Thanks!
Such an awesome post. Brought tears to my eyes at the end, Anne, honestly it did.
They always say the ones trying to finish in that 3 range are the ones working the hardest. They are definitely working, it's all just a matter of relativity.
wow, foaming? I've never seen that before!
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