Even with running so so many races, I still find time to give back to the running community and volunteer at races and race expos, plus I love all the free stuff you can earn as a volunteer.  Helps make up for all the money I shell out to participate in races.

The very first race I volunteered at was the Dirty Girl Wisconsin in 2011, it was their very first event and still one of my favorites to volunteer at. I’ve now volunteered at 5 Dirty Girl events, 3 in Wisconsin and 2 in Illinois, since then I have volunteered at several events.

Volunteering at Dirty Girl

Here are a few:

Chicago Marathon 2012 (2 days at the expo and race day)

Cheer station at the Chicago Marathon 2012, I was just before mile 13

Team Ortho – booths at Chicago Marathon and Shamrock Shuffle

Zooma Women’s half 2012 (Expo and race day)

Lots of swag

Met one of my favorite bloggers skinnyrunner

Hot Chocolate Expo 2012

Rock n Roll Chicago Expo 2013

Lots of swag from the Rock n Roll Chicago expo

Ironman Racine 2013 (at finish line)

Volunteering at the finishline, got to see the first athletes finish the race.

Madison Mini Expo 2013

I’ve gotten to know so so many great people by volunteering at different events and I’ve been able to get involved in events that I am not sure I want to run, but want to check out.  I’ve also gotten a few free race entries by volunteering, so that is one of my favorite perks of volunteering!

I have a few more events that I will be volunteering at this year so I really have kept my schedule pretty full and busy, but I LOVE it!