It’s just before 8am on a cool and grey Saturday morning in Jersey.

In just over an hour, nearly 320 people will be pounding the tarmac of Les Quennesvais cycle track but at this moment, it’s just me, Louise and (reluctant) local running celeb Wendy Gorvel standing in the car park.

Every Saturday, parkrun is a free, timed 5k community event held all over the world with Jersey’s version being launched on September 26 2015.

This is the first time that Rock N Road Runners has done a “takeover” so it’s all a bit new. Also in the car park are the usual RNRR Satruday morning trail runners, led by Will and tailed by Sylvie.

Rock N Road Runners stole…I mean were inspired by, the tail runners at parkrun to make road and trail runs more inclusive and open. So it feels only fitting that we help out with the volunteering every now and then.

The closer we get to 8am, the more parkrun stalwarts arrive. Mike, Sam, John, and Run Director Matt turn up to get the event prepped before runners arrive and today they have a willing army of hot pink wearing volunteers to help.

It’s funny being on the other side of the operation. Like breaking some kind of fourth wall. I’ve only ever seen it from the other side as a runner and even when volunteering, it’s usually rocking up at the last minute.

The amount of work that goes on behind the scenes is truly under appreciated.

Volunteers are allocated to their allotted roles which are all designed to make the event go as smoothly as possible.

I have taken the cowards way out and opted for a role with minimal chance of things going very wrong – finish tokens.

With half an hour to go, prep is all done and the full contingent of 15 or so volunteers are ready to welcome the masses.

It’s about this point when RD Matt invites us to say a few words about Rock N Road Runners before the event begins. This sounds great as Emily has done a sterling job in organising the takeover and would be perfect to do a few words.

Weirdly though, she’s pointing at me. Along with a couple of other people.

As Matt goes on to say, I’m not shy in coming forward. But I also absolutely hate stuff like this. Until it’s over. As a life coach once told me, I’m a collector of experiences. Turns out giving a speech to 300 runners was about to be my next experience…

The start

Matt stood on what I can only presume was a pink step-ladder from a doll’s house to give a brief introduction before handing over to me.

I’d love to say that I sold the merits of the club and our weekly group runs with grace and style. But in reality, the whole thing went in a blur so I have no idea what I said. I just know I didn’t swear.

Which was nice.

As a seasoned pro, Matt re-took command of the mic and set everyone on their way. It was an impressive sight to look at it from this angle. There’s something very moving about collective goals and personal challenges which parkrun encapsulates each week.

The volunteer team then headed towards the finish line where incredibly some of the frontrunners were already coming round for their second lap. It’s another amazing way to see a different part of a race (parkrun is not a race) that I would never normally be involved in!

Personally, I love the cheers of crowds so I tried my hardest to clap everyone through and I think that everyone else did the same.

What I didn’t appreciate was how many people would smile back or say thanks. Again it’s like being on the other side of a two way mirror.

After watching the leaders go through the 4k mark, the finish line team all got in to place and I have to say that I was pretty nervous. My hands and fingers were cold which made giving out the finish token to the first place runner more of a fumble than a glorious presentation.

Super Sam Horsfall kept an impeccable watching brief next to me, keeping me reassured as the trickle of finishers turned into a deluge and then a flood.

The funnel managers kept on top of the numbers coming through and I just handed out those tokens like I was a dealer at the Bellagio in Vegas, barely seeing the faces of the runners as they came through.

But it worked. And like someone turning off a tap, the numbers coming through slowed and I was able to get my head up and greet finishers individually, recognising some and congratulating all.

Behind me the scanners had done an impeccable job – we were part of a well-oiled finish line machine dressed in hot pink.

There’s a proper buzz that comes from doing an event well – whether it’s parkrun, a corporate meeting or Knebworth. And as Alex and John came through as final and tail runners, I felt genuine pride in a job well done. Mainly not getting anything wrong.

After that, we headed to Off The Rails for a well deserved breakfast.

As I said to anyone that would listen…this experience made me want to volunteer again. Just definitely not run 5k.

Below is a list of volunteers from the day but I’m super conscious that we have done one day. So many people give up their time every week to make it happen.

As the saying goes, if you can’t run, volunteer. If you can’t volunteer then cheer.

I’m already looking forward to our next Jersey parkrun takeover!

 

Volunteers:

Rob RUMFITT

Trevor GOODSON

Michael CHAYTOR

Alexandra SCHLUEP

Sam WILKES

Matt CUTHBERT

Sam HORSFALL

John DRELAUD

Wendy GORVEL

Richard ENGLISH

Wayne ENGLISH

Melanie GOUZINIS

John CUNNINGHAM

Debbie KENNEDY

Leila MILES

Ronnie ISHERWOOD

Helen CLAYTON

Juliet LE BREUILLY

Daryl HOPLA

Emily LE BEUVANT

Jenny GRAY

Lydia THEBAULT

Jo WRIGLEY

Sasha MASEFIELD

Emma KIRBY

Jason PIERRE