What a time to be a runner in the US. The weekend billed as America’s Marathon Weekend was nothing short of amazing, and I’m so glad I made the trip. I’ve tried to find the perfect words to describe the vibe, and the best I’ve come up with is this was the SXSW of the running community. The energy in the air was electric all weekend long. Packs of runners pro and amateur alike zipped by on their shake outs. You couldn’t walk far around downtown Atlanta without spotting a running celebrity.
I was interested in traveling to Atlanta just to spectate, but my friend Yvonne is long-time volunteer with Atlanta Track Club. She was serving as a crew chief for a hydration station on-course for the Trials, and asked if I’d like to volunteer. To be part of something so momentous was a no-brainer. Yvonne was one of 33 crew chiefs, each with 17 volunteers (more about that here).
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already read coverage about how Atlanta Track Club knocked it out of the park. Fans, media, the runners all echoed this, and my experience backed that up wholeheartedly too. The way they prepared volunteers, the gear provided—everything was top notch.
They communicated frequently about how each job was mission critical and shared stats that showed the scope of the day. This would be the largest personal fluids operation in history.
My post was at the tail end of our station, which meant most of my tasks were collecting discarded personal hydration bottles, generic water and energy drink bottles, sponges, or gel packaging and sorting it. Most of the bottles could be recycled, the sponges were compostable, and the rest was trash. I really applaud Atlanta Track Club for making recycling a priority. Some of the areas were higher volume, and they weren’t able to sort throughout the day. Volunteers, myself included, donned gloves, dug in, and sorted it all by hand after the race was over.
Volunteering meant I got a prime spot on-course, and for the first three loops, I got to see all the action up close and personal. The joy, grit, struggle in the faces. The camaraderie of runners working together in packs to combat the elements and the hills. Sometimes as the runners flew by, their bibs rattled loudly from the wind. Watching the leaders change with each loop. The hyped up spectators around me calling out runners by name, cheering their hearts out.
The one trade off was that I didn’t get to see the finish, and had to make do with accounts, videos and coverage from others. It was a bit strange to be right there, yet not see the winners cross that line. Still, I’m so grateful that I had this opportunity, and if I had the weekend to do over again I’d choose volunteering in a heart beat. And I have to admit, I am jealous of Atlanta Track Club. What a force for running, and for good. Atlanta is one lucky city to have them.
Everything else surrounding the Trials race added to the vibe. I saw former Olympians and current stars speak at the expo. Watched up and coming Atlanta-area high schoolers compete in 100 meter sprints. Joined group runs and after parties. Every major running brand had events or product releases. Part of the reason I compare the weekend to SXSW is because there was so much going on simultaneously. You could run yourself ragged trying to experience it all.
Spending time with Oiselle Volée teammates from around the country was a personal highlight. After Yvonne picked me up at the airport, we feasted (the only proper word for the amount of food involved!) at an Ethiopian restaurant. Friday morning, Atlanta gifted us perfect sunshine for a group run, which we followed up with brunch at Ponce City Market. Saturday night after the Trials, there was a dance party and fashion show.
By the time the public race came up Sunday morning, I was pretty beat, running on much less sleep than normal. I ran the full last year, so I decided to try the half this time around. I didn’t quite have the energy for an all-out race, but I got in a really good training run for Boston with all those hills. For those final few miles I thought: Thank goodness I’m just doing the half! And OMG, how did I handle these hills last year for all 26.2?
The weekend wrapped up with post-race pizza and ice cream amongst friends, a perfect ending. I flew home weary, but grateful and in love with running all over again.