You’re the lucky ones who get to sprinkle joy on every runner’s final moments — handing out medals, cheering like champions, and keeping the finish line flowing with just the right touch of finesse.

What to Wear: dress for adventure!
All our volunteer magic at the SSWS 5k happens outdoors, which means you’ll be sharing the same weather as the runners — sunshine, breezes, surprise sprinkles, sometimes we may even have a storm come thru. Come ready for anything the sky decides to offer. If there is a severe weather event, you will be notified in plenty of time to get out of the elements.

Every volunteer receives a special orange Lakeland Runners Club volunteer shirt — your badge of honor and the easiest way for runners to spot the heart & soul that makes race day possible. Pair it with comfortable shoes, because you might be standing, strolling, cheering, or hustling around for a while.

Think of it as dressing for a friendly outdoor adventure: bright shirt, comfy shoes, and whatever layers help you feel fabulous in the Florida elements.

No volunteer shirt or lanyard yet? No problem—you can grab both at packet pickup.

Your finish‑line superpowers:
• Create a graceful runway — give runners space to fly through the finish and slow down on their own terms.
• Find the sweet spot — stand about 20–30 steps past the line before offering medals.
• Trust the magnetism of medals — if they want one, they’ll come right to you—if spectators drift into the chute, guide them aside with kindness and confidence.
• Let the water stay put — runners can stroll a few steps to grab it, and that tiny walk helps keep the chute clear.
• Be a calm helper — for medical needs, point runners to the first aid tent and assist as needed. Anything serious gets relayed to a race committee member.

Once our last runner crosses the line — look for the cheerful human with balloons — then the finish line crew become the wrap‑up wizards 🪄.

You’ll help with:
• Tossing trash so everything feels fresh again
• Consolidating items into fewer boxes (the “tetris of tidiness”)
• Stacking and organizing equipment so it’s easy to grab
• Keeping leftover bibs, shirts, and medals separate for the race committee to sort

You’re not loading the truck — just giving the load‑out team a beautifully organized head start.