Guest Contributor: PB Half Ambassador Antoni Hanus
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill
Running has given me so much over the years—friendships, unforgettable experiences, confidence, a new-found appreciation for fitness and countless finish lines. But as much as I love crossing the finish line myself, I’ve discovered that some of my most meaningful moments have happened off the course.
Through my volunteering at races and within my neighborhood school community, I’ve learned that giving your time and energy can be every bit as valuable—if not more valuable—than giving money. It’s what fuels me, and it’s one of the most rewarding parts of my life.
My first volunteer experience at a running event was at a Kids Rock race in San Antonio. I cheered so enthusiastically that I completely lost my voice for two days afterward. It was worth every raspy word.
That day sparked something in me.
Since then I’ve volunteered annually at the LEGOLAND Kids Mile, helped with my children’s school running club, distributed countless bibs at San Diego Running Co events and supported races of all sizes. Picture this: it’s 7:20AM. Most teachers and parents are still reaching for their first coffee. Meanwhile, I’m standing on the school playground, ready with a giant cowbell, an oversized motivational sign, and sometimes even a Bluetooth speaker—doing everything I can to get hundreds of kids excited to start their day. Their smiles, laughter, and energy fill my cup and make every early morning worthwhile. I genuinely cannot think of any better way to start a day.
One of the things I love most about the running community is that it’s incredibly easy to give back.
Even if you’re running the race yourself, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer before or after the event. Who better to welcome first-time runners at packet pickup, answer questions, calm nerves, or share race-day tips than someone who’s been there before? A few encouraging words from a fellow runner can make all the difference.
And if you have enthusiastic friends or family members who don’t run, invite them behind the scenes.
Encourage them to volunteer at a water station, hand out medals, direct runners on the course, or help at the finish line. They’ll experience the excitement from a completely different perspective while helping thousands of runners achieve their goals.
Of course, you don’t even need an official volunteer shirt to make an impact.
Simply showing up with a smile, a loud voice, a funny sign, a cowbell, an airhorn button, or a Bluetooth speaker with your favorite playlist going, can completely change someone’s race. When the miles get tough and runners start questioning whether they can keep going, a single cheer or an encouraging (and often hilarious) sign from a stranger can give them exactly the lift they need.
After crossing the finish line, a runner came over to me, pointed to my sign and portable speaker, and said “That got me through it.”
Those five words meant more to me than they probably realized.
I wasn’t handing out medals. I wasn’t organizing the race. I was simply cheering as loudly as I could, trying to lift people’s spirits one runner at a time. Knowing that my encouragement helped someone push through a difficult moment made the early morning wake-up, the sore throat, holding my sign, and every blast of the cowbell completely worthwhile.
The truth is, races simply don’t happen without volunteers and supporters. Every cup of water, every medal placed around a neck, every encouraging high-five, and every cheer from the sidelines exists, because someone chose to give their time.
As runners, we often chase personal bests.
But one of the greatest achievements isn’t measured by your watch—it’s measured by the encouragement you give someone else when they need it most.
So here’s my challenge.
Don’t just run your next race.
Bring a friend to cheer. Volunteer at the expo handing out bibs or t-shirts. Get back on the side of the course after you finish (medal around your next to motivate, and reassure them there are still snacks and beer at the finish!) and encourage the runners still out on the course. You’ll discover that helping someone else reach their finish line can be just as rewarding as reaching your own.
You may never know whose race you’ve changed.
But every now and then, someone will find you afterward and say, “You got me through it.”
And I promise—that makes it all worthwhile.
About the Author: PB Half Ambassador Antoni Hanus
