Marshalling at a XC race

At the AGM of the running club, various committee members stressed the importance of volunteering for your club. And I fully intended to do that. I really enjoy the various things running clubs do for me, and they can't offer it without some input. And if not from me, from whom? And the first opportunity of the year presented itself in a race within the framework of the Welsh cross country (XC) championships. I wasn't going to run myself, so I would be available for other chores, such as registration or marshalling.

The lady who organised the event, Helen, let me know she wanted me for the 2 pm race (the various categories would start at different times). And there would be a briefing at 12:30. And she casually mentioned to bring a cake for the pop-up café. I hadn't quite noticed there would be a pop-up café, but yes I can deliver cake! So the night before I baked a ginger cake, and on the day itself I decided the weather warning for snow and ice was a bit exaggerated, and got on my bike to get to the athletics track at Treborth, which is close to the Menai Bridge. 

Cake

Once there are parked up, delivered my cake to the pop-up café, and found Helen. She asked if I was racing myself at all, and when I said no, she asked if I was okay to marshal the 1 pm race as well. Of course I was! So she gave me a printout of the route, with the positions of the marshals indicated, and off I was.

Arriving on site

The juniors were still racing. And it looked like a tricky one! Quite a lot of it was over playing fields, which get incredibly muddy if you have enough people stomping through them in January. I met my marshal neighbour Garfield, and got in position. I was a bit early. That was okay; I could daydream a bit, and read the newspaper I had brought, and chat to pass by. There was even a spaniel puppy who took quite a shining to me. So cute! So I wasn't bored.

What the runners would see just before reaching me

How muddy the track was just beyond me (in full screen you can see the cone, arrow and bag that mark my station in the distance)

Then the first runners appeared. It was blatantly obvious where they had to go, but I waved an arrow at them anyway. And yelled encouragement to every single one. I always get a bit carried away!

A strange sensation was that this race, while not actually going over the athletic track, had the athletic track as its venue. And there were quite a lot of people who were doing this race in spikes. My part of the route, though, went over a little bit of concrete. That creates quite an interesting sound! And some people were loudly questioning their choice of footwear. But even though everyone ran past with very muddy legs, I didn't spot anyone with clear signs of having wiped out entirely, so they must have been coping well!

When it looked like the last runner of the 1 pm race had passed I decided to have lunch. I had come prepared, of course. And then it fairly soon was 2 pm, and I could start waiting for the first runners of that race.

In this race, there is even one person I knew a bit: Michael, a fellow Eryri Harrier, who I had go to chatting to after the Pwllheli race. But as is my habit, I shouted encouragement at everyone including the last runner. And then it was done.

I walked back with Garfield, taking down some of the route marking along the way. And then my task was done! I went to the loo and then accepted the route home. I knew there was bad weather on the way!

I think this race could have easily done without me; as I said, the route was blatantly obvious. It was clearly indicated with tape. But I also know from experience that an enthusiastic marshal can give you a bit of an energy boost. So I hope that in that way I was still useful! And, I suppose, if something or someone would have damaged the tape, I would have been immediately on it sort the situation out. So I guess I did make a meaningful contribution to the race, and there by the club, and thereby Welsh running. A good way to spend a Saturday afternoon!