Last Saturday, I joined Putrajaya Night Marathon as Skateline volunteer. I wasn't sure about my job scope in the event. Maybe just directing the runners to the correct lane (They have to run along open streets) and escorting lone runner. The job scope sounds pretty easy right? But if you're one of us, you will definitely disagree!
This is because the runners were running on open streets and the traffic always go crazy during peak hours! No, we don't have policemen to help us thus we have to do it by ourselves. They rather pass by than pull over to help.
T_T Imagine us with no traffic directing skills, standing in the middle of the road, waving the flag, asking/begging for the car to stop, still some of drivers will not stop. Very ignorant I can say! If they put themselves in runners' shoes, what will they think? One of the runner couldn't take it and scolded out loud. I wonder he was scolding us the volunteers or the drivers? He scolded in Malay with accent, therefore I didn't get what he said. I know, my Malays sucks. Moreover, we didn't take dinner until 3-4am leh!
Enough with the whining already. The main part of this entry is about respecting a runner's sportsmanship! I was at my station which is around 20km away from starting point. Then I saw a Skateline volunteer escorting the last or Nth last 42km runner. So, me and the rest had decided to skate along as we never thought that 20km is a long way go. Ya right! We were so naive.
;pSkated half way and got very tired, what's more on foot? The runner - Mr. Rahman insisted to finish the run. His spirit has inspired and motivated me to finish the run too! He just kept continuing without stopping! What I did was just silently accompanying him along the run as I'm really bad in cheering!
=_=8 to 9 km left, some skaters were gone and left me and another 2 friends with Mr. Rahman. Then the 2 friends have decided to call it quits. Seriously I was very mad! How can we stop right now? There was no one else to help him if anything happens. They do have few other association volunteers around with bike but they were just slacking and far away! I truly believe that we have the responsibility to follow the runner even though that has been overdone as a volunteer. Mr. Rahman kept telling us that we can leave without him but I don't think it's a great idea to leave him alone in the night.
Soon, I left my friends and continue with Mr. Rahman. I'm not trying to say that I'm being heroic. The message that I'm trying to deliver is that what happens if you are the only one in the middle of the road with no one around? How can you call for help when you need assistance? You may argue that today's technology is good enough. We can easily reach others with handphone. Worst comes to worst, what if he doesn't have the mobile with him?
Sarcastically, I left Mr. Rahman very soon. I had to leave with my friends as I don't have the transportation to get back to Cyberjaya by myself. I feel that I'm so selfish! Even until now, I still can't get over myself.
Around 4~5am, Mr. Rahman sms-ed me that he have made it til the end! He even got a metal for it! Although I couldn't share his victory on the spot but still I can feel the happiness! He's a true sportsman! Do not call yourself a sportsman if you don't have these attributes within you.
