This past Saturday I did something I had been wanting to do for three years. I volunteered on my bicycle with the Columbus based “Mill Race Marathon”. What an interesting experience. Some 35 cyclists were involved this year supporting the Full and Half Marathon and the 5K. We were interspersed among the 3500 or so runners and walkers on the streets of our fair city on a cool September day.
As a newbie I did not want to be in a position with too much responsibility. For example, no leading a runner off course, or getting smoked by an elite runner I couldn’t keep up with. No, when the volunteer form was submitted I checked those positions that were more toward the middle or end of the course. Little did I know that rookie volunteers must be assigned to the trail or sweep position, as a rule. My assignment, along with another cyclist, was to be the trail on the last half of the full marathon. This meant bringing the final runner in to the finish line. This meant six plus hours on my bike (I elected to ride the entire route) with much of it at speeds that ranged from two to four miles per hour.
It may sound like it, but I am not complaining. I had a blast doing this. Continue reading
danielcash 