Why volunteer on an ultra-running expedition race?

The next edition of the Cape Wrath Ultra® will take place this May. Here, some of the event volunteers past and present explain why they give up their free-time to come along and help out: 

Michael Murray

When I participated in The Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race in 2019 I really came to appreciate how incredible event volunteers are. While I had countless great interactions with many of the volunteers throughout the week, one example which I’ll always remember was at end of day 4 when I dragged myself into the campsite at around 9.30pm completely exhausted. I was greeted by an amazing volunteer who spent over an hour with me making sure I had everything I needed to recover as best I could for the final day. When I finished the race the next day, they were waiting for me to check that I was ok. I'm certain that without the support of these wonderful volunteers, I wouldn’t have made it to the finish line.

Following this I knew I wanted to volunteer with Ourea Events to help give other participants a similarly amazing experience. I can’t wait to volunteer on the Cape Wrath Ultra in May!

Cat Slater

Being a volunteer for me is an opportunity to give something back to the running community and a fantastic way to meet like-minded people. It can be hard work but there is such a great team approach to everything it just becomes a lot of fun. Specifically, for me, being amongst a team of extremely experienced medical professionals from varied backgrounds was invaluable and I loved every minute of it.

Pam Nix

I had such a fabulous experience volunteering for The Berghaus Dragon's Back Race that I wanted to volunteer for the Cape Wrath Ultra in 2020. Many of the lively characters I volunteered with will be participants so it will be a joy to support them.

Ourea Events are superb, very professional but also approachable and positive. Operations are carefully planned, and volunteers are given good training. There was a great feeling of comradery from the start and it just got better every day. It was really nice to be appreciated too, we got a lot of positive feedback from the participants we were there to support. Just a blast really, why wouldn't I do it all again?

Matt Snow

I spectacularly bombed out of The Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race in 2017, but I carried on running half days and got to know some of the volunteers. It wasn’t something I’d done before, but straight away I knew I wanted to join them.

The event organisers are lovely and have become friends over the last couple of years. I put my name in the volunteering hat for the Cape Wrath Ultra in 2018 and was chosen to be on the checkpoint team. This meant I drove out to some incredibly remote parts of Scotland, made some good friends and had a really rewarding 10 days. As a police officer in a fairly stressful post, volunteering is a great way to have a relaxing working holiday with like-minded people who literally become friends for life. Do it, you certainly won’t regret it. 

I’m signed up to run the Cape Wrath Ultra in May 2020, which I’m determined to do! Hopefully! 

Nico Gross

It was a very specific moment that made me decide to volunteer for the Cape Wrath Ultra. I remember it clearly. After the first day of racing The Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race in 2017, I arrived into camp quite beat and not too sure what to do and where to go. Then, when a girl half a head shorter than me and not looking like she did loads of weightlifting, offered to carry my heavy overnight bag to my tent, I didn’t want her to. A mix, I guess, of pride that I could still do it myself and pity for her. But she convinced me to let her do it with an amazing determination, friendliness and happiness, that on the spot I decided: I want to volunteer too!

Lisa Watson

I signed up to volunteer at the Cape Wrath Ultra in 2018 for a bit of escapism. For me, when life is stressful a week away where I have a clear purpose, can work hard, meet so many new people with the same interests and spend all my time outside is the perfect remedy. While volunteering, I made friends for life and was immersed in Scotland in all its glory. The Ourea Event team really is a family who welcome everyone with open arms, while last time I signed up because I needed to escape, I’m coming back to volunteer this time as I don't want to be anywhere else!

Remi Alex

When I ran my first marathon 3 years ago, I immediately fell in love with the feeling of freedom. Train hard, run fast, hit the wall… I always crossed the finish line. Eventually, I started to be aware of all those little hands helping out: someone handing you a warm plate of food, carrying your bag or cheering you on.

Then I took part in The Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race and everything changed. I never pushed that hard, suffered that much and hit the wall that hard. But throughout this amazing journey, I became fully aware of the amazing people that make all these events work. It could be a small gesture or a spectacular rescue but it’s always with one aim – to help you achieve your goal. This is why I want to become a small hand in the background, I want to make the difference in any way possible for someone else to achieve their dream. The ultra-running community is a big family where we take care of each other. 

Both the Cape Wrath Ultra® and The Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race® are organised by Ourea Events. Find out more about volunteering here.