Maybe many people can say “I’ve been a volunteer,” but being a volunteer for a mountain marathon brings a unique feeling—facing steep courses, volunteers, just like the participants, also endure physical and mental challenges. Speaking of the 2013 ASICS Beijing Mountain Marathon, Jiang Yiting, who volunteered in the event last year, remembers the scenes of her work vividly.
2013 Beijing Mountain Marathon Volunteer: Jiang Yiting
In the blink of an eye, the 2014 ASICS Beijing Mountain Marathon is about to start on September 14 at the Xishan National Forest Park. However, this time, Jiang Yiting did not take part in the volunteer work, yet her attachment to the Beijing Mountain Marathon has not faded at all. “The Beijing Mountain Marathon made me feel the understanding and respect for runners.” Reflecting on the details of last year’s mountain marathon, Jiang Yiting couldn’t help but sigh.
Motivation for Volunteering
As a running enthusiast, Jiang Yiting often went jogging with friends. However, due to her limited running ability, even her running buddies could not provide sufficient guidance, and she deeply felt that she had hit an insurmountable bottleneck. Facing this awkward situation, Jiang Yiting thought of joining the ASICS Mountain Marathon to “learn from the pros” in hopes of improving.
Considering the difficulty of completing a mountain run, Jiang Yiting decided to take on a different role on the course—as a race volunteer, to observe the event from the sidelines and learn from the high-level athletes. “For someone like me, a runner with limited skills, getting close to elite runners seemed like an ‘unreachable’ dream, but the ASICS Mountain Marathon provided me with a platform to do so,” Jiang Yiting said.
Watching the runners speed past one by one, Jiang Yiting reflected that this volunteer experience had taught her a lot. She said, “The feeling of volunteering by the course is completely different; every runner’s control over the course is something I could never have experienced in my usual runs.” After the race, she also gained new insights into the course—mountain marathons are not just ordinary running.
Thoughtful Services
Putting on an exciting race involves the hard work and dedication of countless staff. During the event, Jiang Yiting spent most of her time providing services at the aid stations. Though it may seem like a minor role, it was this job that made her realize the importance of thoughtful service.
Jiang Yiting recalled that last year’s ASICS Mountain Marathon not only offered essential mineral water but also added bread, biscuits, and various flavors of sports drinks. This down-to-earth selection of services made many grassroots runners, who were not used to mountain running, feel well taken care of.
“In the past, I joined many races where the top two-thirds of runners received ample supplies, but when the remaining runners arrived at the station, there was nothing to eat or drink—not even volunteers. It left many with bad memories,” Jiang Yiting said. “But last year’s ASICS Mountain Marathon ensured that everyone received supplies at every station.” In addition to handing out thoughtful food and drinks, Jiang Yiting and her colleagues also enthusiastically cheered on the runners, standing their ground till the very end despite exhaustion.
Impact of the Event
After volunteering at the mountain marathon, Jiang Yiting felt that her mindset had become more peaceful, and she became more willing to listen and understand others in both work and life.
It turned out that a small incident during last year’s race changed the way she treated people and situations: before the race, some participants received race bibs that didn’t match their assigned numbers because they hadn’t checked them beforehand. The organizing committee promptly apologized and adjusted the bib numbers. Though seemingly a small matter, it made the participants feel much more comfortable with the event services.
Regarding this, Jiang Yiting said it was the most unforgettable volunteering experience she’d had. “The Beijing Mountain Marathon made me feel the understanding and respect for runners, without adopting a superior attitude. Taking a step back makes the world a bigger place. A bit more responsibility, more understanding, and more tolerance—if we bring such a volunteering attitude into our daily lives and work, it often leads to twice the result with half the effort,” Jiang Yiting said.
Looking Forward to the Mountain Run
This year’s ASICS Mountain Marathon features men's and women's 42-kilometer full mountain marathons, 21-kilometer half marathons, and 10-kilometer hiking events. In addition, ASICS also organized four pre-race training camps to give runners more opportunities to challenge their limits. Although Jiang Yiting did not volunteer at this year’s Beijing Mountain Marathon, the meticulous organization gave her great confidence in this year’s event.
“Compared to last year’s event setup, this year’s new additions are more appealing. I’m genuinely excited for the runners who love mountain marathons. Maybe one day, I’ll join the ranks of mountain marathon runners too,” Jiang Yiting said.
The ASICS Mountain Marathon is different from a regular marathon; it’s closer to a trail run, where runners need to apply more mountain-running experience and undergo targeted training for the terrain and route beforehand. It is a very tough outdoor challenge. During last year’s race, more than 100 volunteers provided services to the runners, and no matter where they were, every volunteer gave the runners their most beautiful smiles, supporting them as they pushed toward the mountaintop.