How will I know where to set up my aid station?
We posted directions and GPS coordinates for each aid station under the 'volunteer’ section of our website. We included an aerial image, too.
What do I do when a non-runner asks me how their runner is doing? Where their runner is?
Do your best to answer them. However, your primary responsibility is taking care of runners. A perfectly valid answer could be: “Your runner has not come through this aid station yet.”
What does “DNS” mean?
DNS means “did not start.” It refers to a runner who registered for the race but did not actually start. This is important because we will provide each aid stations with an entrants list, which, when compared to the DNS list, will produce a runner list — that is, the runners who are actually on the course. The runner list is what you’ll use to track runners.
Are the timelines exact?
No, the times are approximate. We have tried to be conservative, but you should reasonably expect actual times — when the first runner arrives, for example — to differ.
What is a “drop bag?”
A drop bag is a bag runners pack before the race and give to us, race management, to then deliver to a particular aid station. A drop bag provides an additional means of individualized support for a runner, and it might contain extra clothing, food or headlamp batteries. Runners will label their drop bag with (1) their bib number, (2) their name and (3) the aid station. When a runner arrives, ask them if they have a drop bag — not all will have one.
Can I eat the food at the aid station?
Of course. However, we recommend bringing something for yourself because aid station food doesn’t really constitute a meal.
Will we have water?
Hike-in aid stations will have soft-sided water bladders and purification tablets. Volunteers will be responsible for fetching and purifying water. Drive-in aid stations will have jugs of water.
What happens if a runner wants to drop?
We want a 100% finish rate. While this goal is highly unlikely, we hope it drives most of your decisions as a volunteer — like encouraging a runner to continue on. If a runner wants to drop at a hike-in aid station, make sure they know they have to hike out with volunteers once the aid station closes (this should encourage them to carry on.) If they insist on dropping, you need to do four things:
Mark the runner as a DNS in the runner tracking sheet.
Remove their bib write ‘DNS’ and the time on the back. Then, place the bid in the aid station binder.
Remove their Garmin Mini tracker — BUT DO NOT TURN IT OFF. The tracker should remain with the aid station gear.
Send the following message to HQ: “[AS #]: Drop [Bib #].” For example, if runner #65 drops at Hunting Camp, the message will be: “AS 9: Drop #65."
Confirm how the runner is getting off the course. Do not let them wander off! Ideally, they have crew parked nearby to drive them. If they don’t have crew, encourage them to get a ride with someone else’s crew. Lastly, let them know they have to wait for the aid station to close and get a ride with you, the volunteers.
What happens if a runner wants to leave an aid station to, for example, rest in their crew’s car?
Encourage runners to remain in ear- and eye-shot of the aid station. Runners cannot leave an aid station without letting you know! If they want to nap in a car, they should have a volunteer near the aid station as their proxy!
Can I pull a runner from the race?
Absolutely. Again, we want every runner to finish — but only if it’s sensible for them to do so. The aid station captain has 100% authority to remove a runner from the race, and race management will 100% back their decision. Here are a few example reasons:
The runner doesn’t have bear spray
The runner is not well and continuing on is dangerous
The runner is being an ass hole and won’t adjust their behavior despite your warnings
The runner is breaking a rule and won’t adjust their behavior despite your warnings — for example, wearing headphones
The runner is too far behind the approximate times below. While most of our aid stations don’t have set cutoffs, we still need runners to maintain a reasonable pace
The sweeper arrived in our aid station, but we’re missing a runner. What should we do?
First and foremost, stay calm. Chances are, you simply missed a bib check-in, and the runner is through the aid station. Message HQ and ask about the status of the runner. HQ will have a “live” — within a 15-minute window — view of each runner’s progress using their GPS device. Keep in mind, it can take HQ five minutes to receive your message, ten minutes to get a ping on the runner,
What do we do if we’re running low on something, like purification tablets or a certain type of food?
If the item is essential, like purifying tablets at a hike-in aid station, message HQ and ask for more. If the item is non-essential, like Oreo cookies, don’t worry too much about it and suggest a close alternative. Candidly, if you are running low on something that’s essential, you may have to start rationing. With the water purification example, it’s unlikely HQ can get you additional tablets in time. Get creative!
Further information
For additional, more generalized volunteer FAQs, we encourage you to read our comprehensive Volunteer Guide.