Marshaling

Resting this weekend from running marathons but still involved in race. I’m a marshal in Donabate run.
When I have woke up today I was very happy that I won’t be running. Wind was so strong and it just started to rain. Could just imagine how bad it can be on the seaside. Now I know sitting on the cliff pointing runners in the right direction. But go to beginning. Got here with Karolina, Gary’s friend. She was starting early and I should be here as well as early as possible so we ended up being in Donabate very early. Need to stop writing runners are approaching counting on me to show them where to turn. First wave gone. They still look happy despite wind. Nice. Taking some photos now as well. It’s kinda strange feeling not to run and just watching others. But always nice to be able to help.

Sitting here on the cliff waiting for runners. Wind is picking up again, rain started. Not a pleasant weather to run. You need to be determine to race in such a conditions. I don’t remember if I have ever run up similar ones. Marathon in Nice was windy and rainy but no as bad. Here even when sun is coming out for split second it is not helping. It’s too bad cause surroundings are really stunning. Views, sea, just magical. Oh, one more thing. Some part of route is going through hospital. Now partially closed but back in years when in full swing it was mental institution with really weird cases in it. Kind of spooky now when we were driving down here. Like in the horror movie. Closed down wards, old buildings, strange sounds. We could use name for that marathon – ‘Mental marathon’. You need to be mental to run in such a conditions through old, closed mental institution.

In couple of minutes first wave of regular starters should be passing me. Will see how they are doing in that weather. But I’m not expecting any sub 3 finisher today. Will see anyway. I’m really cold today. Whenever I was running I thought always that marshaling is an easy job to do. But must tell you, it is not. You need to be ready to help runners in any way you can. Make sure that lucozade and coke are is in plastic cups, water bottles ready to be handed out. Jellies, chackolate bars… That just food and drinks but there is something more important than that and it is good word and ecuragement. Espesially on that day… it was very windy and when running on the beach runners were treated with ‘sand face mask’. Everyonr of them was complaining about sand getting everywhere. Have you ever run and eat sand? Maybe as a kid… but not as an adult. And now, now I had to ease runners ‘sand problem’. Water was the simplesy solution and it was in demand.

So, I was trying to do my best. And I think I did ok cause plenty of runners thanked me for help when they were passing me for the last time or at the end of the race, or on the facebook. Hard work but it is worth it.

Some pictures as well.