Nearly 975 volunteers have signed up to help with the third annual Mill Race Marathon, leaving fewer than 30 spots to be filled to staff two days of events.
Most of the openings are as course marshals for the marathon, half-marathon and 5K races on Sept. 26.
Those volunteers will stand at different points along the course to ensure that runners follow the correct path and stay out of the way of any potential danger.
“It doesn’t surprise me that those are the positions that are still open,” volunteer coordinator Brad Klosinski said.
“Most people like to work with their friends. But if you want to work with your friend as a course marshal, you might be a couple blocks away,” he said.
Even if you’re working alone, being a course marshal has its own perks, Klosinski said.
Before stepping into the volunteer coordinator role, the Cummins employee served as a course marshal at mile 25 of the marathon, which gave him the opportunity to support and encourage runners as they neared the finish line.
“It’s a great way to see special things happening on the course,” he said. “You see people doing things they never thought they could do.”
Besides course marshals, the remaining volunteer positions are mostly for parking and shuttle bus attendants, Klosinski said.
Only four volunteers are still needed for various roles for the Sept. 26 Kids’ Fun Run.
As additional volunteers sign up, they will be contacted about attending training sessions, Klosinski said.
The committee had planned to recruit 1,000 volunteers, Klosinski said.
But regardless of the final volunteer count, Klosinski said the races will have to go on.
“In the end, people are gonna toe the line, and they’re gonna cross the finish line,” he said. “They’re going to be safe and have a blast.”
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To volunteer for either the Kids Fun Run on Sept. 25 or the marathon, half marathon or 5K on Sept. 26:
- Visit millracemarathon.com
- Select the “Volunteers” tab
- Select “Full/Half Marathon Activities” or “Kids’ Fun Run”
- Click “apply” on an open position
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