Before I start, I want to add special appreciation for Master Trooper Toni Schuck. She's the LEO…read morewho positioned herself & her vehicle in harm's way to stop the intoxicated wrong-way driver on Race Day. I know many volunteers were still at the starting line, & the last wave of racers, as well as bridge support volunteers, were still on the bridge then, so the outcome could've been so much worse without her impulsive & heroic sacrifice. Thank you, Master Trooper Schuck.
This review is based on my experience as a volunteer for the 5th annual Skyway 10k in 2022. I signed up for Bridge Support, hoping for great views. Though I was not disappointed, only racers & media were allowed on the incline spans of the bridge. I was posted at the first water station, about a mile into the race course, so I assume all 8,000 racers passed me that morning. And my views were indeed AMAZING!
Important note about the Skyway 10k: every cent from registration fees goes to the Armed Forces Families Foundation (AFFF). Not to toot my own horn, because my position was easy aside from waking up super early, this event would not be possible without the countless volunteers that show up & offer their time.
And so many racers thanked me for volunteering, which caught me completely off-guard the first dozen times. Also surprising, to me, was the age range of racers: every adult generation was represented! Fitness level also ran the gamut, which leads me to wonder if I should register myself next year. But, if I don't, I'm definitely volunteering again.
My only complaint is that I was confused about when I needed to arrive at Tropicana Field. The Bridge Support shift was to begin at 5am, but I didn't know if that was when I should arrive, or if I needed to arrive sooner to take a bus & be IN POSITION at 5am. So I arrived at 4:05am. I was indeed early for my position (1st, actually), but I was still surprised by the number of racers already queued for the 1st wave (their buses began leaving at 4:45am). Closer to race time, after 6am, 2 more volunteers were dropped off at our post, so I'm certain I was early.
I was checked in quickly, then issued my volunteer t-shirt (which is so soft!) & hazard vest. I was also offered my choice of boxed lunch (ham or turkey) & a couple of lapel pins (JUST for volunteers!). Side note, I took my Jimmy John's turkey sandwich to work on Monday & it was delicious.
At Tropicana Field, after the bus leaders were given their instructions & headed toward their posts, Starting Line & Bridge Support volunteers were addressed. I wish the coordinator had a megaphone because I couldn't hear every word, but I don't think I missed any vital info. We then headed through the metal detectors & boarded a bus. After stopping at the Starting Line at the southern end of the northbound bridge span, the 6 of us remaining decided amongst ourselves which of the 3 water stations we would work. Though my friend & I chose the 1st station, which was the furthest from the main bridge span, we had a great view across the water. The other 2 water stations were at the beginning & end of the incline, so those views were much different.
Starting off, we had 2 giant tanks of water, each with fountain-style faucets. The faucets were awkward so we needed to show most people how to use them. The water aggressively spurted straight up & the reactions were amusing. We also encountered many racers that seemed irritated we had no cups, but the organizers did not want any trash on the bridge that could blow into the bay.
There were port-o-lets near our water station, which I appreciated. Right before the race started, I used one & found it to be sparkling clean & well-stocked.
We were dismissed from our post around 8:20am, after the last wave of racers had started, & we were told we could walk the bridge if we wanted. My friend has a physical reaction to heights, so I knew she wasnt going further than the second water station at the base of the incline, but I wanted to walk as far as could in spite of my aching feet from standing for 4 hours. However, when the last racers passed me, I got on the next bus, which conveniently was the one my friend was already on. Our ride back to the Trop still took over an hour but the organization was very smooth. It was also quite strict, as we were stopped after loading racers to add 7 more to fill every seat.
Back at Tropicana Field, the after party was fantastic. Several food trucks were parked, along with a number of retail vendors, a couple of alcohol samples, & a decent band. The QR code signs for race results were cool, too, so I could see how my athletic friends did.
My volunteering experience for this year's Skyway 10k was so enjoyable & much more rewarding than I expected. Now I'm thinking I may want to participate next year. As a volunteer this year, I get priority registration for 2023, so we'll see how ambitious I feel when registration opens. Either way, though, I'll be back!
