Volunteers at Big Races

iRunFar just published an interesting article by Zander Chase highlighting some data around the 200 mile phenomenon.

The 200-Mile Phenomenon: A Data-Based Look at Their Growth and Demographics

Browsing some of the numbers and charts I was reminded of a recent post by Aravaipa on the Cocodona’s Instagram channel:

We’re still 400 volunteers short of full capacity, and we need YOU to help bring this race to life.

Three weeks to the event, still 400! volunteers short. As an RD myself this terrifies me. (But I also cannot put me in the same category as Aravapia in size and scope, I will fully admit this.)

But these two post got me thinking of how many volunteers it takes to run these large scale events and so I did some numbering.

• Western States: 369 runners, 1,600 volunteers, not counting pacers and crew for runners.
• UTMB: (2025 numbers) 11,362 runners across the various races, 2500 volunteers, not counting crew for runners.
• Cocodona: (2026 numbers) 1,373 runners across the various races, 400 volunteers still short, not counting pacers and crew for runners.

I glanced over the volunteer signup form for Cocodona and it looks like (generously) 2/3 of the spots are filled. So we could assume they’d need about 1,200 for the event in total. That would put them at a ratio of approximately a volunteer per runner?

Comparing that to Western States, which runs such a unique operations – as a nonprofit with massive history – that it can afford a massive volunteer to racer ratio of over 4! Which is nuts. If that would be the standard for trail races hardly a single event could operate.

UTMB for the Finals week in Chamonix has at a ratio of .2 volunteers per runner, which seems very efficient and sustainable.

Not sure what the conclusion is I am coming to here – if any. Every sport utilizes volunteers and not everything can be visualized in a spreadsheet. In many ways volunteers are the lifeblood of every events that bring people together. And even if the organization is a full on profit-driven corporation their business model will always rely on dedicated people who love giving their time and expertise to help others fulfill their dreams. There’s something slightly weird about asking people to give their time and expertise to a business venture one draws a profit from – I struggle with this. But people do love to get involved, be part of something, and they explicitly want something easy and not immediately get hired and get full tied down. So volunteering does provide an important outlet for folks who love to give back and love to be part of something. Jesus, I am talking myself into circles, for this I apologize. So, what can I say. Go out there and be part of something. Get involved. Volunteer. Do something you love, and give back!

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A couple of side notes:

• I am curious what the number of paid staff is that is added for each of these big events. Clearly UTMB in Chamonix must have a much larger number of paid staff and contractors. Bus drivers, medical and search and rescue, etc I assume are paid positions in the Alps.
• One aspect not considered in these numbers is that of pacers and crew. While not required by any of these events they do add to the equation in some ways. For example Cocodona does allow active pacers to utilize the aid station food and drinks. Do race organizations feel better knowing that many of their runners are running through the night with their pacer who (hopefully) is there to ensure the runner stays safe? I would assume so.