A Moment in Bareno Run 2010

This time I was a volunteer rather than a runner. I have never been a volunteer in a running event before, so this is my first experience. This event is organized by Taman Bukit Jalil Running Club. Prior to the run, we had a briefing session at Stadium Bukit Jalil. We (5 of us from our usual running gang) became volunteers for this event and we were tasked to the time keeper group. Our task is either becoming a time keeper or position card distributor. Hence, I chose to distribute position card for the Women Veteran 15km category (coz don’t want to become time keeper, tension…). A day before the race, we also went to the stadium to help distributing t-shirt to the runners. The New Balance vest is nicely design in white and light blue. Our volunteer t-shirt also not bad in bright green colour , easy to spot us from far.

Runner Goodie Bag

This morning at 5am we reported to Stadium Bukit Jalil. Breakfast was provided, we had bread, hard boiled egg & water. Around 6.00am runners started arriving and by 6.30am we could see quite a number of runners. There was a warm up session conducted to get the runners prepared. Ya, they were shaking their butts, jumping and moving following the instructor’s step. We saw some runners warming up, some chatting, some waiting nervously, some still “lost” finding their way. It was really a different feeling becoming a volunteer to a runner. As a volunteer, I enjoyed the whole morning calmly; if I was a runner, the feeling will be nervous cum excited. Sound system readily prepared, emcees walking around with wireless mic. The guy emcee is good, he has a nice deep voice and keep giving information to the runners. We got ourselves ready to help distributing ribbons and “barricading” the starting entrance. Race started with 15km category at 7am and followed by 10km around 7.25am. Thereafter, 5km fun run was also flagged off.

New Balance booth is setting up in early morning

Once all runners were off, we started to set up the finishing area. Sponsors’ A-Boards & ice cream cones were arranged in order to guide runners entering to the correct finishing line according to their category. When we were almost finishing setting up, we were informed that the 1st runner was approaching and the time was like just around 7.45am. Eagerly, we get ourselves ready at our own category position (we supposed to give out position card and wrote down the timing for 1st-7th place and worked with time keeper). Photographers also made their way to find a good spot for nice shots. The 1st runner came in was in Man 15km Category and all of us cheering for him when he crossed the finishing line! What a great moment!

Setting up the finishing line area




Finishing point


Setup done

Soon after the 1st runner, I can’t remember if 2nd runner crossing the finishing line was from Men 15km or 5km fun run. I had to wait anxiously for my category. Finally the 1st woman arrived for the Women Veteran 15km, she finished at 1hr14 min official time! Around 8.30am, majority of the runners started to come back and we were busy distributing the position cards to them. It was great to see our friends and the runners proudly crossing the finishing line. About close to 9.30am, most of the runners have completed the race and we were waiting for the marshals to announce the final runners on the road. When the final runner crossed the finishing line, we cheered for him too and marked our job completed in distributing the position card. We were soon off to clear up the setup, re-collecting all the ice cream cones and dismantling the A-boards.

This race was quite happening as there were milo van, cendol van, tau foo fah van, fruit & drink stalls for the runners. Besides that, runners were also entitled for lucky draw from sponsors. Trophies and cash vouchers were given to top 5th runner of each category. Medal were given away most of all runners except Men category. New Balance booth was also there selling discounted apparels and shoes. I managed to grab a pair of sock for myself :)

This is really a good experience for becoming a volunteer. I could feel the passion of the organizers and the club in working hard preparing for this event, and they are all a bunch of sporting and lively people to be around with. And I could see the passion of the runners when making their final attempt crossing the finishing line. Well done to all! Till then see you again in next year run, probably I will be a runner instead of a volunteer, but who knows right?

P/s: Thanks to William for the photos