Thank you Marine Volunteers

Author: Robert Dietz, 2024 MCM Diplomat

Let me preface this blog that I am grateful for all our volunteers that help out at the Marine Corps Events you all are awesome! Every volunteer has helped these events run smoothly and I am grateful. I felt like I had to do a special shout out and Ooh Rah to some of these Marine Volunteers.

This year I was a Semper Fidelis Participant (17.75K, Historic Half, and the Marine Corps Marathon), Throughout these races I was a witness to the Marine Corps Marathon Organizations greatest assets:  the Marine Volunteers that help out with their events throughout the year. During the events it is prevalent that 90% of these volunteers are from the local marine bases.  These marines help out with race logistics, security, course marshalling, fuel/water stations, Bib pick up, Morale, and race metal disbursement. Every Marine I have encountered this year has displayed the Marine Corps values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment while volunteering at these events. If you were a participant at one of these events these marine volunteers were a stake holder in your mission accomplished and I wish we could give them Strava Kudos for the help! This blog is my way of saying Kudos to these Marines.

 Some of my favorite memories from 2024 involving these dedicated Marine volunteers include:

Marine Corps 17.75K Post Race: A Marine in the finisher village was asking me how my race went and noticed I was shivering from the rain. He went and seek out a heat sheet for me to warm up in the amphibious conditions that were present that day. Thank you again Sir!

Marine Corps Historic Half: All the Marines giving me a Ooh Rah and fist bump on my race! Yes, If you are reading this I was the crazy guy ignoring tangents and making my course longer just to give you a fist bump for volunteering.  Ooh Rah and Thank you all!

Marine Corps Marathon Packet Pick up: At packet pickup where I was surprised the gentleman working the Packet Pickup scanning station didn’t just check my ID and scan my QR code he asked about my running journey and what number marathon it is for me because it looked like I do a lot of races. Just this simple interaction made me feel welcome to be at the marathon because in my 8 years of running I have never had any volunteer at a packet pick up inquire about my running journey and this was an awesome welcome interaction to the weekend.  Thank you again sir!

Marine Corps Marathon Race Day: I would like to give a special shout out to the V-22 Osprey Squadron that flew over the starting corrals and say you guys (and gals) Kick Butt and definitely amped us up at race Start. I would Also like to shout out to the Marine Corps Band at the Lincoln Memorial Steps for the awesome tunes. Marine Corps Marathon Entertainment is top notch! Thank you all!

Marine Corps Marathon Post Race:  This one really made me laugh when I was making the long walk to the finish festival at Rosslyn the Marine handing out the bananas offered me a banana and I stated to him “I ran this race just for the banana” The Marine responded by practically offering me a whole bushel of bananas and it made me crack a smile on my painful walk up the little hill. Thank you for making me laugh Sir!

There were plenty more interactions with the Marines that made these races memorable that I could even write a short novel on them. If you are reading this and never experienced a Marine Corps Marathon Race I highly encourage you sign up for one to have memories like this yourself. I can’t wait to celebrate 250 years of the Marine Corps in 2025 at these races. Thank you again to every Marine that volunteered this year from the bottom of my heart!