On November second 2025, a large group of us participated as volunteers for the Manhattan Marathon from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The weather was clear and mild, perfect for an outdoor event. After checking in at the designated meeting point, the organizers gave us a short briefing and assigned specific tasks to different areas of the route. Each volunteer was responsible for assisting runners, maintaining order, and providing guidance or support to spectators. Although the schedule was busy and demanding, everyone was full of energy and enthusiasm.
The volunteer service lasted for four hours, from morning to afternoon. Although we were a bit tired by the end, everyone felt fulfilled and proud. We witnessed the perseverance of marathon runners and experienced the joy and sense of achievement that come from volunteering. This event gave us a deeper understanding of how large-scale events are organized, strengthened our teamwork, and enhanced our sense of social responsibility.
Overall, the Manhattan Marathon volunteer experience was a meaningful way to spend our weekend while contributing to the city’s sports culture. Through this experience, we learned to communicate, cooperate, and serve others more effectively, and we felt the warmth and support that come from teamwork and community engagement.
Our main responsibility was to assist runners during the middle section of the race. We stood along the route, handing water to runners and gently sprinkling small amounts of water on them to help them cool down and stay energized. Although these actions were simple, we could see that the athletes felt supported and encouraged. In addition, we had prepared many handmade posters with messages such as “Keep going!” and “You can do it!” decorated with bright colors and smiling faces. When the runners passed by, we held up our posters and cheered loudly to motivate them, sharing our enthusiasm and encouragement through every gesture. The atmosphere was lively and warm, and we all felt the joy and meaning of being volunteers.
Reporter: Yiwei Chen
Volunteers: Jason Zeng (4hrs), Alivia You (6hrs), Jayden Liu (6hrs), Yingxiang Liu (6hrs), Felicia Liu (2hrs), Yuya Liu (6hrs), Yuze Xu (4hrs), Yucheng Fu (4hrs) , Jinru Xie (4hrs), Jiangyuan Yu (6hrs), Catherine Tao (2hrs), Zachary Chen (4hrs), Sherry Xia (4hrs), Eric Xia (4hrs), Jocelyn Chen (4hrs), Linjinhan Xie (4hrs), Eunice Ou (4hrs), Jing Liang(4hrs), YiWei Chen (4hrs), Shilei Lin (4hrs)
