Liu Huan (left) instructs volunteers on how to arrange the water cups.
"We have to be at our assigned spots on the track by 6:30 a.m., so we need to leave early." At 6 a.m. on March 22, Liu Huan from Block A of Jinshagangwan was already starting his car in the garage. He was heading to Nanbin Road. That morning at 8:30 a.m., the 2014 Chongqing International Marathon was set to start, and Liu Huan was going to participate — but not as a runner, rather as a judge.
Even handing out water is a skill
At 30 years old, this is Liu Huan’s second time serving as a judge at the Chongqing Marathon. The physical education teacher from Chongqing No. 1 High School said, "This year I’m in charge of the water station at the 40-kilometer mark, just like last year." It’s the last supply point before runners make their final sprint, so there’s no room for error.
At 6:30 a.m., the reporter met Liu Huan at the 40-kilometer judging point. He wore a black top, gray sweatpants, and sky-blue sneakers, with a bright red judge’s badge on his chest catching everyone’s eye. Sports drinks and mineral water were gradually being delivered and distributed to the various hydration stations in preparation.
While moving the water, the reporter noticed a plastic bag containing bottles of various colors and shapes. Liu Huan explained that those were the runners’ personal drinks. Last year, he was in charge of the personal drink area — a physically and mentally demanding task. "Once personal drinks arrive at the hydration station, you have to memorize the bib numbers of the runners who brought them," Liu Huan said, pointing to the numbers taped to the bottles. When a runner approaches, you have to spot their number on their jersey and hand them the right drink. "The worst part is when a runner grabs the wrong drink in a panic, and you have to chase them down to get it back."
Since this section of the race is toward the end, it takes runners some time to get there. "The busiest time should start around 9:30 a.m.," Liu Huan explained.
Around 10 a.m., runners in the half-marathon began arriving at Liu Huan’s area. Half an hour earlier, he had directed volunteers to pour water into paper cups and line them up on the table. "It’s the last station before the sprint, and the runners are really tired. When there are a lot of people, it’s hard to control the situation," Liu Huan explained.
Picking up trash is also part of the judges’ job
Many runners at this point were already exhausted. They would grab a cup of water and chug it while running, then toss the cup onto the road. Concerned that it might trip up other runners, Liu Huan and the other judges helped clear the trash off the track and move it to the side.
While clearing the track, they also had to keep an eye on the hydration stations. "This year there are a lot more half-marathon runners, and we’re worried the water supply won’t be enough — then they might rush over to the full-marathon hydration area to grab water," said Liu Huan, who has participated in the marathon for two consecutive years. With experience, he knows it’s important not only to ensure enough water for the half-marathoners but also to guarantee supply for the full-marathon runners. While clearing the track, he also reminded the half-marathon participants to stay safe.
The full-marathon hydration points also provided bananas for runners, which the judges had pre-cut into halves for easier consumption. Sometimes, when volunteers were too busy pouring water or arranging cups, Liu Huan would step in to help. "There’s a banana peel in the middle of the road!" he heard a volunteer call out from the hydration point, and Liu Huan quickly went over to pick it up and throw it in the roadside trash. "Luckily you spotted it — if a runner had stepped on it and fallen, that would’ve been a problem."