Volunteer marshalls

[stinkwheel]

Just seeking opinions from the collective.

Mrs stinkwheel has asked me if I'll volunteer as a marshal for a sporting event she's doing at the weekend. They are apparently desperately short.

I've given it a hard no. It's being run by an events company who chage between £80 and £275 per entry. Presumably with the intent of making a profit. I don't see why I should volunteer my time and effort. I know volunteers get a discount off future events but I have absolutely no interest in entering one.

I see me supporting my wife to get her there and back again, making sure she has all her kit and helping her train for it as fair enough and I've done full logistical support for her for various mad sporting challenges over the years (her last one nearly killed me, I had to get food, clothing changes and a support watercraft into four different lakes for eight swim/run transitions in a 24 hour period). But acting as an unpaid marshall for a commercial company seems like going beyond my remit.

Also dealing with members of the public, seems like all responsability, no reward. I wouldn't be keen even if I was being payed.

Or am I wrong (yes, I know I'm wrong anyway, even if I'm right).
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[UncleFester]

Devils advocate, what if you not marshalling means she can't do it .......

I wouldn't do it because "cheeky cnuts" but then I don't have to live with your wife
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2017 Z1000SX

[stinkwheel]

[UncleFester]

You're probably going to do it aren't you
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2017 Z1000SX

[stinkwheel]

[UncleFester]

I do like the thrill of sleeping next to a wife i know has the mental capacity for murderous thoughts - it's a my version of hyrox,

Saying no to doing something she'd like me to do and then going and doing something i know she doesn't like really adds to it.

Maybe work on one of the bikes before she goes out, run some parts through the dishwasher, that kind of thing. Service a carb on the kitchen table .... although that's not a sacking offence here and might not be there either
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2017 Z1000SX

[Ste]

Do the organisers actually make a profit or are they just hoping to break even with any profits going into the pot to cover any financial shortfalls for next year's event?

If marshals were paid rather than volunteers then entry fees would be more expensive which would lead to fewer entries and before you know it the event is no longer viable.

Most events in the marathon canoeing and sprint canoeing calendar are marshaled by volunteers and entry fees for those events range from £10 to £500.

If you're marshaling then your wife will be short of one person on her support crew which is another logistical headache.

If the organisers haven't got marshals sorted for an event this weekend then it should have been cancelled a few days ago. I presume people are traveling there right now so it's going to be shit for them to discover on arrival that the event is cancelled due to lack of marshals.

How many hours do they want you to marshal for and specifically what are they wanting you to do? In my experience, roles range from things are actually quite fun to things that are best described as "I'm not doing that again".

I'd have concerns about how the event is being run if they're leaving it this late to sort out having the necessary numbers of marshals.

[Polarbear]

I really dislike these pay to enter events. Wifie just did a triatholon that she had to pay to enter after doing all her training and giving her time to get sponsorship or donations or whatever.

I know its the normal way its done mowadays but I don't like it so I'd say no.
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Victory Cross Country American tractor.

[stinkwheel]

I'm not actually all that worried about her safety, she just got back from a 5 day solo backpacking treck. Admittedly, she forgot stuff and I had to go and geocache it for her.

Frankly, I don't think I'd be one of lifes marshalls anyway. I don't like people much and I like the public even less. The more people and the less I know them, the less i like it. It's stuff like organising people onto the right busses or going round afterwards picking up section markers.

I think I'd consider it if it was being run by a club or a not for profit. Like I've scored sections for long distance trials put on by local motor clubs. I was set to go out in the boat for safety for one of the triathalons but on receiving more info, I decided it was actually a shitshow where they were expecting kayaks/canoes to do the job of a RIB (a small solo watercraft is of almost no use to someone who is in genuine difficultiy short of throwing them something that floats to hang onto.).

I do support for Mrs stinkwheels swims but that's a one on one and she knows how to get into a canoe and behave around one without risking me going swimming too.

I don't know if they are actually making money but I'd hazard the organisers aren't giving their time for free.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.