Kristen is tribe member you may recognize. Girls On The Run is an organization that hits close to your heart. This time of year its always nice to reflect and give back to communities that could use some support. As a tribe we will be volunteering along the course as course marshals for the upcoming Girls On The Run 5k. Please read this beautifully written blog post by Kristen and how you can support Girls On The Run next Sunday.
Girls on the Run has been a very important part of my life for many years. It would mean so much to me to have my wonderful November Project friends come out to volunteer on December 10 at the Girls on the Run 5K at Randall’s Island. The 3rd -8th grade girls all around NYC spend 10 weeks working with their coaches, not only on training for the 5K, but also talking about issues like healthy relationships, nutrition, goal setting, body image, and a whole host of other topics. The day of the 5k is a culmination of all of their hard work.
When I returned to New York a few years ago I wanted to bring all of my experience working at Girls on the Run-Chicago and with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon to do anything I could to help the New York City council of Girls on the Run. I already knew that Allison, the Executive Director of GOTR-NYC (and occasional NP participant!) was a fantastic woman and had become a good friend, so this was a no-brainer.
Past volunteers can tell you about setting up flags for each of the schools that are represented that day, handing out medals to girls as they crossed the finish line (how can you not shed a tear watching this?), biking the course to make sure it is clear before the start (love you hubby!), and how their hands got sore from giving high fives to girls and their running buddies. Truly, there is no other event like this and I would encourage anyone to come out to experience this day.
My background in race operations and emergency management means that I often work on the invisible aspects of event planning, and that’s where I’ve focused much of my time with GOTR-NYC.
Here are just a few things that Allison and GOTR staff and I focus on in the weeks and days before the event:
- What’s the best way to set up the barricades at the start line to ensure a clear flow of runners?
- What is the evacuation plan for Randall’s Island in case of emergency?
- Are the instructions for the many volunteers written as clearly as they can be?
- Who is buying the airhorn for the start? (Me, from Amazon, $10.51)
Here are a few situations discussed/handled the morning of last spring’s event:
- The ambulance team is late, find out where they are. Turns out they had gone to Randall’s Island instead of Roosevelt Island (where the event is held in the spring). But they got to Roosevelt before the runners started!
- Wow, we got the extra fancy port-o-potties delivered because the company had already sent all of their standard ones to other locations. Hope people don’t get too used to this!
- The bike marshal has reported that there’s some glass on the course at Mile 2 that has to be cleaned up before the start.
- A neighbor is complaining that the music is too loud. (Party. Pooper.)
Super sexy, right? But I love it. And no matter what volunteer job you might get at this event, you will know that you are helping young girls to have a life experience that teaches them that they are strong and capable. Most of you know that feeling when you cross the finish line after you’ve worked really hard to get your body and mind ready for an event. Can you imagine if you had gotten that confidence boost in 3rd grade? What else might it have inspired you to try?
I’ll end with what is often written on the back of the medals that girls receive at the finish line:
“I have the power to believe in myself. To stand up for who I am. To say “yes” to a challenge. To cheer on new friends. TO GROW UP STRONG.
Cue Kristen crying…
To sign up to volunteer on December 10 go to http://www.gotrnyc.org/5kinfo
When the form asks you if you are volunteering as part of a group you can pick November Project from the dropdown menu.
Exact assignment is still TBD, but likely this group will be assigned to be course marshals along a particularly confusing part of the course. Also, in NP spirit, costumes and craziness and noise will be appreciated (I’m thinking Remi in his dinosaur suit and lights, like at Take The Bridge…).
Please come out, you won’t regret it!!
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I’ll be there with some new recruits! Thank you for being here Kristen!