Once this was done we waited for the runners to start finishing and did our best to spot ‘our’ runners in the distance so we could have their bag waiting for them by the time they arrived at our particular lorry.
The next few hours turned into a mad game of bingo as random numbers were continually called out and people scurried around trying to retrieve bags before the next numbers were called.
It's always great to see the look of astonishment on the runners faces when they find a bag they left several hours ago in another part of London is waiting for them as they arrive at the lorry.
I lost track of the number of comments along the lines of “amazing organisation”, “best organised Marathon ever”. Hopefully in 2012 people will be saying the same about the Games.
Me with the bags and lorries:
Handing out the baggage is really only half the story. As I was one of the number spotters, I was on the ‘front line’ and ended up tying shoelaces, undoing bags, giving directions, punching numbers into mobile phones and most of all just lending an ear at the finish line.
The Marathon is an emotional event for many people and in the absence of family and friends at the finish line, we are often the people runners turn to, to relive the highs and lows of their experience.
You can’t help but be caught up in the emotion of the event and feel truly inspired by the stories you hear – from those raising money in fancy dress, running in memory of a loved one or just to achieve a personal goal. There are tears, laughter and every emotion in between.
My day finished at about 5pm and although very weary (although not as weary as the runners!) I know I will definitely be joining the ranks of the volunteers again next year as it was a great experience, despite the early start!
It's brilliant to be a bit closer to all the action as a volunteer - I'm injured so I won't ever be running one myself, let alone competing at 2012...
London 2012 colleague Tamsin with her finisher's medal:
