RMB UTCT 2023 - Volunteer Sign up

ABOUT

RMB ULTRA-TRAIL CAPE TOWN VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

We value the role all our volunteers play in RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town® and have put together some basic information to provide you with all you will need regarding working on the event. Before you sign up as a volunteer, please read through the following information so you have an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of volunteering.

We are looking for hard-working, dedicated people who love being outdoors and giving back to the sport of trail running. Volunteering at RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town® requires a special kind of 'selfless' person. Yes, you need to love running and being outdoors, but you also need to understand that it is potentially a long day and that signing up is a commitment not to be taken lightly. The runners participating across the various race distances will need you. Please consider that last-minute cancellations throw the team out - it is not cool unless you have a valid reason.

There are various volunteer roles we are looking to fill, so please make sure you only sign up for roles where you are available to help:

Route Markers Tuesday 21st, Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd

Registration Staff Thursday 23rd, Friday 24th

Start/Finish Staff Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th

Forerunners Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th

Sweeps Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th

Aid Station Staff Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th

Mountain/Route Marshals Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th

The Cape Town trail community is a special one, and it’s rewarding to be a part of an event where this sense of community is so apparent. We don’t pay our volunteers, but we do offer a discounted entry to select Summit Event races for 2024 plus you also get a Crew T-shirt. Most importantly, you get the opportunity to spend the day helping runners out on the route or back at the UTCT race village.

We ask that you bring a sense of humour and a desire to work hard and give back to the trail-running community. Each volunteer will receive:

• A Crew T-shirt.
• R350 discount on a single entry to one of the following events: The Skyrunning Series 2024 | Ultra-trail Drakensberg® 2024 | RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town® 2024

Please note that discounts are not carried over to the following year.

VOLUNTEERS ROLES

ROUTE MARKERS

Our Route Markers are vital in preparing the trails during Race Week. They are required from Tuesday to Thursday to assist with marking various parts of the route. This is limited to a small, experienced group who can work well in a team and are used to a long day out on the mountain, often in the heat of the day. There will be a Route Marking Workshop held in the Constantia green belts to give you an idea of what is expected. This is considered compulsory to attend.

FORERUNNERS

Our Forerunners are required at various times, including early mornings or late nights, over the Race Weekend. This is also open to a small, experienced group of trail runners who can work well in a team. All five events will require groups of Forerunners to run ahead of each race to ensure the route is well marked and markers are in place for the runners.

SWEEPS

Our Sweeps are required for Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s events, but we ask that you don’t see this as a chance to run the race course as a freebie. Sweeps must be prepared to be out there for the long haul, and most of you will hike behind the slowest runner. 

REGISTRATION & START-FINISH STAFF

We require volunteers to assist at the Start-Finish during Race Week (Thursday to Sunday). 

• Thursday/Friday: These volunteers will assist with Registration - Handing out race numbers etc. to all participants, Information Desk, Gear Check, and general admin around the Race Village. You can sign up for all three days or only specific days, depending on what suits you.
• Friday/Saturday/Sunday: These volunteers will assist with the Runners’ Zone, Finish Line Control, Medal Handout and general admin around the Race Village. You can sign up for all three days or either Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

TIMING POINT VOLUNTEERS

The following checkpoints are vital for capturing the participant’s times: Platteklip Gorge, Nursery Ravine and Dead Man’s Tree. Our teams of mountain marshals manage these timing checkpoints.

AID STATION VOLUNTEERS

From the runner’s point of view, aid stations are a refuge where they can get food and water to continue running and finish the race. From the race organisation’s point of view, it is a place to check on the runners to ensure they are doing ok and can continue running. Aid stations are also where we track runners’ progress, record their numbers, etc. Simply put, the primary reason we have aid stations is for the runners’ safety and to help them accomplish their goal of finishing the race. The aid station volunteers can also boost the runner's morale to encourage them to get to the finish line!

The Aid Stations are usually allocated to specific Running Clubs or Groups, which are indicated on our website.

Please make sure you sign up for the correct day and Aid Station or Timing Point.

MOUNTAIN/ROUTE MARSHALS

We require Mountain Marshals at strategic points on the mountain over the Race Weekend. These marshals must work in teams, be familiar with the mountain trails and route access points, and be able to hike/run to their allocated points. All Mountain Marshals will be issued radios, and certain positions will be issued Nano timing devices. 

• Direct the athletes, ensure they are safe in the City section and direct them in and out of the aid stations. 
• Have route knowledge and know the route in and out from their particular position.
• Manage a Timing Point on the route.

VOLUNTEER BRIEFINGS

We will host compulsory Volunteer Briefings - dates and times to be confirmed closer to race week. Please study the UTCT website to learn as much as possible about the race – this will help you, and make you a resource for other volunteers and, most importantly, the runners.

DIRECTIONS