VolunteerIng
Over the decades,. we have supported a wide range of volunteer activities. Covid lockdown ended some of them, but as the world settles into its new normal, we are looking for new ways to give back not just to the running community, but to the larger community that surrounds us. I.e., if you have a brilliant new idea, you might find yourself leading the next great TRL volunteer activity!
Marathon Pace Team
TRL has long helped to provide pace teams for the Portland Marathon to lead runners to their target finish times. Typically, pacers run half the race distance, so this is a great way to turn your long run into being a hero for people chasing a Boston qualifier.
Aid Stations
Each July 4, Lizards get up at the crack of dawn to provide volunteers for the final aid station at the Foot Traffic Flat. We did the same for the Portland Marathon, until it changed its course and eliminated “our” aid station. Staffing the last aid station is a tough assignment because it’s a long shift, but it’s also very rewarding
Helping the Needy
TRL members have engaged in a number of activities to help the needy. Currently, our main program is collecting used running shoes to help the homeless and low-income high school students. Low-mileage shoes (most likely meaning ones you didn’t like), go to high-school runners. Higher-mileage ones go to the homeless, or anyone else who need a shoe they can walk in. As of July 2025, we have collected a total of 4,431 pairs.
Portland Marathon Pace Team
Our goal, each year, is to provide as many pacers as we can for a wide variety of pace groups, using two runners pace each half of the marathon for a large number of finish times–with a total of four runners for each pace group. Making this work is one of the volunteer highlights of our annual cycle. If you want to help, contact [email protected].
We have done the same for other local races (including half-marathons). There are few things more rewarding than using your normal long run to pacer others to their dreams. And whatever your pace, we probably have a slot for you. Historically, we’ve paced everything from a 3:00 marathon (6:52 per mile) to 5:00 (11:27 per mile).
Aid Stations
In addition to pacing runners, TRL has a long history of finding other ways to support runners of all abilities during their races. Currently, this most strongly takes the form of providing aid station volunteers. Historically, we have always taken the most challenging assignment: the final aid station. That’s challenging because by the time the last runners get there, particularly in a marathon, our volunteers may have been on their feet for a long time. That said, the later in the race you are there, the more important you realize you are. The biggest gift, ultimately, is the full heart you receive, the appreciation from the athletes, and being a part of something truly special!
Helping the Houseless
Many runners are privileged to have warm homes, clean clothes, good shoes – things we take for granted that others greatly need.
For nearly two decades, TRL helped those who aren’t so privileged by volunteering to help with dinner preparation at the Blanchet House, a local feeding center. Their volunteer needs changed, but each December, we collect clothing for the homeless. Year-round, we collect used shoes for those in need of warm, comfortable footwear: a perfect use for running shoes that no longer are suitable for running, but still have lots of walking life left in them. To date, we’ve collected nearly 4,500 pairs–enough to walk to the Moon and back 5 times. If they are really lightly used, we give them to low-income runners at local high schools. (We can do the same with lightly used running clothes.)
