Comments on: ROTARIANS, RUNNERS, & WINE https://sandrawagnerwright.com/rotarians-runners-wine/ Writer - Historian - Traveller Tue, 19 Aug 2014 21:14:59 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 By: Sandra https://sandrawagnerwright.com/rotarians-runners-wine/#comment-1515 Tue, 19 Aug 2014 21:14:59 +0000 https://sandrawagnerwright.com/?p=3003#comment-1515 In reply to David Hammes.

Mahalo, David, for taking the time to amplify the work of aid station volunteers. Rotarians have been at Aid Station 5 for a number of years, and we look forward to it as a highlight of our community service. I should mention that Mary Bergier is the one who remembers to send around the sign up sheet and “reminder” map.

]]> By: David Hammes https://sandrawagnerwright.com/rotarians-runners-wine/#comment-1512 Mon, 18 Aug 2014 22:08:11 +0000 https://sandrawagnerwright.com/?p=3003#comment-1512 Sandra is being characteristically modest. This is the single most important aid station on a very challenging course. The design of the course means that the same runner passes the aid station three times. So for every one runner the volunteers have the potential to have to make three (or more) hand-offs/assistance/helps.
Not only that, the aid station is placed strategically so that it has to handle water, electrolyte fluids (‘Gatorade’ being the generic…well…they don’t like to read that), and energy supplements like ‘Gu”. For some of us runners it is the first aid station we actually use. That depends on the weather–if it is cool and damp, as it was this past Saturday–then we typically stretch out the stops until this aid station. On the hot, sunny days, we’re drinking right from the first aid station onward.
Now, not to slight some of the other aid stations, some of them have to handle runners from two or all three of the different races, the 5K, 10K, and 1/2 marathon, so they see many participants, too.
All of the volunteers get there early and leave late.
Their efforts are very much appreciated by all the runners, from the first ones to the last. The runners know that without volunteers there is no event. Many runners also volunteer at different events through the year, and entry in to some runs is conditional upon showing that one has volunteered during that year at similar events.
Sandra and the other volunteer also provide the most amazing vocal support. This course hasn’t many spectators and the volunteers at all the aid stations are amazing in their enthusiasm and cheerfulness.
With appreciation and the hope of seeing all the Rotarians at Aid Station #5 next year,
David Hammes

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