Autumn Rush Race Volunteers - Thank You!

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Autumn Rush was my first experience with organizing a trail running race.  While I have been organizing and coaching trail running clinics through my business P.A.C.E. Sports Fitness, for the last 8yrs, pulling together an event as big as Autumn Rush took it to a whole new level.

I was fortunate to have a lot of people support me and without them the event wouldn't have been as successful.  My very good friend, Shannon Willford, was the co-race director and together we pieced together challenging, fun, yet technical courses for all 3 distance.  Not to mention designed a really fun 1.5km route for the kids course which we were thrilled to have 20 kids participate in!  Shannon also was responsible for all the permits and communications with parks, picking up the posters etc... and in charge of aid station food, post-run food and the BBQ supplies.  She was on the course marking team, as well as early morning set up and take down. 

Autumn Rush had a total of 30 volunteers who I want to recognize and give thanks to because without them not only would the event not have taken place, but I have received such positive feedback on the extra efforts, kindness and encouragement of our volunteers that took our event above and beyond!

Jamie Arnett took on he key role as volunteer coordinator this year.  This job is all  encompassing and requires limitless amounts of time leading into the event and on race
day.  Jamie's organizational and exceptional communication skills made her a perfect fit for this busy role.  Thanks Jamie for knocking your role out of the park and covering all the
bases for our event this year.  Here's a shout out to every volunteer who invested roles in one way or another.  If you are missing from the list below - please email me:

Stephanie -  poster distributor, BBQ, early morning check in and sign on, set up and take
down.  Oh! And racer :)
Hayley - early morning check in and sign on, set up and take down.  Oh!  And racer  :)
Alana - early morning check in and sign on, set up, go-to-girl for misc duties during the day;
Robbie - kids race sign on, kids  course marking and course marshall;
Terri  - mug designer extraordinaire, course marshall at bottom of  Angels;
Ian - assistant volunteer coordinator, pre-course marking, sign making, early morning set up and take down, aid station delivery, photographer, picking up and dropping off supplies to sponsors and hamburger maker for the busy race director and her son :)
Carrie - early morning set up and take down, aid station #1 Mexican Theme host, photographer.
Nathan - early morning set up and take down, aid station #1 Mexican Theme host, mug designer, race artist who created the name of our event, designed the race logo and poster
design;
Ellen - early morning set up and take down, aid station #2 Halloween Theme host,
photographer;
Chris - pre-course marking, early morning set up and take down, aid station #2 Halloween
Theme host;
Heather - aid station #3 at the bottom of Angel Springs;
Yvonne - aid station #3 at the bottom of Angel Springs;
Lisa - course marshall at the bottom of Angels;
Jody - Assistance with awarding prizes & take down/clean up;
John - right hand man to Shannon  Willford.  What didn't John do?  We can all thank John
for getting the food and BBQ.  He was our master chef among a zillion other misc. jobs before, during and after;
Trent - right-hand man to Rene Unser.  What didn't Trent do?  Lots of prep work the weeks leading into the race, course marking, early morning set up and take down, pre-race riding and sweeping.  Oh!  Not to mention allowing me to mess up his garage for a few weeks ;)
Kevin - early  morning set up and take down, pre race rider, course marshall, sweep and photographer;
Joe - pre-race errands and pick up/delivery days before the event, table lender, race bib
organizer, check in sign designer, mug designer, race announcer assistant and result calculator, take down and best father a race director could ever ask for;
Gerrie - pre-race errands and pick up/delivery days before the event, race package stuffer, made the apple pies for prizes, worked the food table and did food prep, take down and
best father a race director could ever ask for;
Ken - pre-race errands, race package stuffer, mug designer and best brother a race director
could ever ask for;
Carrie - pick up 2 nights before race, package pick up, table lender, hot chocolate
delivery and racer;
Ashley - package pick up;
Dave  -  package pick up & early arrival for drop off items;
Jan - pre-race set up, tarp,  race clock donation and  racer;
Daryl - flagging donations, pre-course rider and take  down;
Carter - kids course markers, communications with race headquarters and take down/clean up;
Richard - table lender;
Seth - assistant to handing out kids prizes;

We received a lot of very positive feedback about our event but the most common comment
reflected our volunteers and how encouraging and supportive they all were.  Thank you!

Rene