Capital Crescent Trail.
On Sunday, supporters of Girls Gotta Run, a Washington-based volunteer organization that aims to provide gear and training resources to Ethiopian girls training to be professional runners, gathered at founder Patricia Ortman's Chevy Chase home. They were there to to meet Garrett Ash, whose Running Across Borders is a partner organization of GGR.
The generosity of the runners and other supporters was palpable as guests traded stories about how and why they decided to get involved. One runner in attendance put it this way: "I was already putting in all these miles. I just thought I could put them to good use by helping out an organization like this."
Running offers a wide variety of ways to give back to charities and nonprofits you believe in. Runners can also give back to the sport that has given so much to them by volunteering at a road race.
This is yet another great way to make new friends in the running community -- it's hard not to bond with the person who's helping you fill thousands of Dixie cups with water and Gatorade -- and to find new races to add to your calendar for next year, as you get a bird's-eye view of the course.
Plus, serving as a race volunteer provides a way to get involved without draining your checking account signing up for too many races, or to stay connected with the running community while you're recovering from an injury.
Ready to sign up? The DC Capital Striders Running Group is looking for volunteers to help set up its DC Capital Striders 8K along the Capital Crescent Trail on May 30. Contact Rick Amernick at rla3911@gmail.com for more information about how to get involved with this event and other area races.
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