just thought i'd chime in with a little Boston report from my point of view!! last year i was assigned to the first medical tent at the finish line which was great considering how awful the weather was last year and because they re-routed the elites and VIP's thru there on the way to their private areas --- so cool!! this year i was assigned to medical sweeps team which meant outside along the chute -- really cool!! i didn't see the elites this year but was even happier to see all the other thousands of runners!! to me that's really what Boston is all about!! i was teamed up with a friend from work along with one other RN, 2 MD's and 2 EMT's.........we also had a group of college students with us who were manning the wheelchairs...........our job was to triage the runners as they came past the food tables to see who might need to get into the medical tent -- at first wasn't sure how we were going to do this, but for some reason the people at the food tables were short volunteers and the bananas never made it into the little food bags so I started grabbing bananas and handing them to the runners telling them they weren't in the bags and getting runners to talk to me, look me in the eyes and i would continue to walk (often backwards) with a few that needed a little more assessing!! it was soooooooooooooo cool!! people were so awesome!! i can't tell you how many runners smiled brightly as i smiled and said congratulations, nice job at the same time did quick assessments - i joked how i never thought i'd go from OB triage to banana triage............sooooo many runners said thank you to the volunteers - i do that whenever i race too but it really is cool to hear and will remember to say thank you even more often my next race..........my gf was surprised - she said "are they told to say thank you" lol ......... i said no that's just what we do!! i loved being right there at the end and interacting with BOSTON FINISHERS!! i saw Bob and Harriet at the end but couldn't really spot any other RA boomers..........forgot the foil would be wrapped around people blocking their numbers at that point and it was amazing how many runners came by us at the same time - everyone starts to look alike at that point - lol!! next year i'll be signing up for medical sweeps again as soon as volunteer registration opens up!! it was a great way to experience the thrill of Boston!! CONGRATULATIONS to all our runners!!

Thanks deez, for being at the finish line and helping! I do this exact job at the Colonial Half Marathon and I, too, am a Labor & Delivery RN! Funny how that works! Congratulations on a successful Boston Marathon!

Thanks for posting! I'm glad to hear that runners were thanking the volunteers. I've always wondered if the volunteers get how much they are contributing to the amazing experience. Btw, it isn't a bad idea to let runners know to thank the volunteers.

Deez, thanks for your report and for volunteering. It's neat to see a different perspective. I haven't had any first hand experience with medical people at races as most of them have been smaller and shorter and I have been fortunate to not get injured. At the largest race I was in, the PF Chang Rock and Roll Arizona, the medical tent was right by the finish line for the half and I was amazed at how many people were in the tent, most with ice packs on knees or ankles. In my only marathon, which was small, there was an ambulance standing by with a couple of EMTs. When I finished, I went over to talk to them. I asked if they had had much "business" to which they said "no". We agreed that it was a good thing and I told them I was glad they were there even if they weren't needed since you never know what may happen. Thanks again, Deez. TomS

Thanks for being there for the runners. And thanks for the RR from the volunteer perspective. Paul

thanks everyone!! i never made it back into the medical tents once the race started, but we would get updates with stuff like -- medical tent B is at capacity -- any runners needing assistance need to go to tent A which was the one right at the finish..........i sent quite a few people to the tent with severe foot/leg cramps and some probably with hyponatremia -- their faces were salt caked and they felt dizzy.........my gf had a runner go down and had to get him into a golf cart and he was transported with oxygen on.....if i get an update on actual stats i'll pass it on!!

Denise! Your enthusiasm just pops out of this post. Thank you for volunteering and in this capacity. The service you provide is invaluable. I looked for you on my way through the sea of baked potatoes and on my way to the family reunion areas. I had a few volunteers ask if I was okay, but I was just squinting hard and trying to see if I could spot you. I knew you were there somewhere as I could feel that amazing spirit of yours. I hope you'll heal up soon so we can connect at another race! You rock! Karin

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the running community. Thank you for doing this.