Road races with more than a thousand people in them just don’t happen with the wave of a wand and a handful of organizers.
Rather “it takes a village.”
That’s the case with the Bucks County Roadrunners Club’s annual Thanksgiving Day 5-Mile/5K/1-Mile race, coming up once again on Thursday, Nov. 27.
The event, which has been around for the better part of 40 years, continues to hit its limit of about 1,200 runners each year, in part because it’s so well organized.
Event veteran Bill Schaffling estimates up to 50 volunteers lend a hand each time around to ensure a fun and safe event.
The 5-Mile course winds its way over open access roads in Middletown Township, traverses much of scenic Core Creek Park and then finishes up at Summit Square Shopping Center just off the Rt. 332 Newtown Bypass.
For those helping out each year it’s a labor of love – a chance to give back to a sporting and social event they dearly appreciate.
“It’s grown quite a bit since I got involved in the ‘90s,” Schaffling said during a telephone interview. “Back then it was small and easy to manage.”
BCRR does a great job coordinating all aspects of the races. They start with activity on the website around May and begin holding meetings in July.
There are veteran runners at nearly every position, including race directors John O’Brien and Rich Kanak, along with Matt Conard, Joe Boyce, Phil Miele, Linda Lederer, Pat Goodwin and Tim Bulat. Other key volunteers include Jim Larson, Jay Ricco and Shakar.
The shopping duties list of event planning is seemingly endless. There’s awards, shirts, timing equipment, water-food supplies and so forth. Plus there’s an ongoing concern to make the whole thing as injury-free as possible.
Volunteers really are the heartbeat of this race.
“Yes,” Schaffling said. “We ask for volunteers constantly. You need ‘core’ people to direct traffic out on the course. I need my people because they know what to do.”
Planning for all situations can be vital.
Last year, the waterstop people didn’t show up.
“So we had to improvise,” Schaffling said with a chuckle. “We got extra people and moved them there. That’s what happens. You have to make changes on the fly if necessary.”
A race of this magnitude can present parking problems, too, when you suddenly have hundreds of cars showing up on an already busy traffic day.
“We had kids helping out,” Schaffling said. “Rich (Kanak) and Mike Gross coordinated that. They did a great job.”
It helps when the same volunteers keep coming back year after year because they know what’s going on and don’t have to always be shown what to do.
“That’s so important,” Schaffling said, “because they know their jobs. You don’t have to show them what to do. They just help when they know it’s needed. Besides the race committee you have volunteers that really make the job much easier.”
The race sells out just about every year because it has so much to offer. The course alone makes it a red-letter day on any local runner’s calendar.
“The course is flat, people get out early and there are a lot of families there,” Schaffling said. “I think that’s a big part of it, the tradition, the course, the location.
“I also think we’ve done a good job of getting people parked and later getting them out of there. Lots of people have somewhere to go that day. So we try to get the people who want to get out of there away in a timely manner.”
The best part of running this race, perhaps, is working up an appetite for the big dinner later in the day.
“It’s true,” Schaffling said. “It’s part of your day. Do the race, go home, eat and you don’t feel as silly.”
Here’s a list of Thanksgiving Day race officials:
>Race directors: John O’Brien, Rich Kanak.
>Sponsorship director: Rich Kanak.
>Registration director: Linda Lederer.
>Volunteer coordinators: Matt Conard, Joe Boyce.
>Venue/Finish line coordinator: Pat Goodwin.
>Course coordinator: Tim Bulat.
>Parking coordinator: Rich Kanak.
>Race announcer: Pat Goodwin.
>Event treasurer: Phil Miele.
>Food/water: Bill Schaffling, Joe Boyce.
>Social media director: Pat Donadio.
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>Race calendar
>Friday
Runnin’ Thru the Lights 2-Miler, 5 p.m., Shady Brook Farm, Yardley. Contact www.runsignup.com
>Saturday
Davis Elementary School 5K, 9:15 a.m., Warminster. Contact www.runsignup.com
Sunday
32nd annual Philadelphia Marathon, 7 a.m., Philadelphia. Contact www.philadelphiamarathon.com
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