Get a boost from the Extra Mile Crew

Those last few kilometres of a race are always the toughest. You’ve hit the wall, struggled over it, and now you’re trying to find the energy to get to the finish line.

It’s in these moments that a few words of encouragement can make a world of difference.

That’s why we’re introducing a new feature in the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon called the Extra Mile Crew.

The Crew is a dedicated team of volunteers who will be ready and waiting to offer on-route encouragement to runners.

We spoke with Lara Winnemore and Domenic Caminiti, co-captains of the Crew, to find out how the team is going to help out on race day.

“We envision the Extra Mile Crew as being a support mechanism that’s there for the runners who feel they need a little extra boost to help them reach the finish line,” said Caminiti.

“Our goal is to get you to the finish line and we’ll do whatever you need us to do to make that happen,” said Winnemore.

While some runners may want to stay focused and in the zone, Caminiti said the crew will be there for the runners who feel they could benefit from a temporary running partner.

When a runner signals that they want a hand, an Extra Mile volunteer will run alongside them until they reach the next volunteer. Volunteers will be positioned every 200 to 300 metres in the last 10 kilometres of the course.

Both Caminiti and Winnemore are experienced runners and volunteers who’ve been on the road and on the sidelines during race weekend.

For Caminiti, he said one of the best experiences of his life was watching the 10K and waiting to cheer on the very last runner.

“We were all waiting near the end to cheer on the last runner like they were first,” he said. “It’s a great feeling to be able to be there and support them and you get that reward of seeing a huge smile.”

The Extra Mile Crew is looking for volunteers who’d like to help out on race day

So what does it take to join the crew?

“Positive mindset, enthusiastic, passionate about running and, above all, willing and committed to helping race participants have an amazing experience,” said Winnemore.

And a decent pair of running shoes and some experience too.

“Ideally you’re an experienced runner who will be comfortable running back and forth for a pretty long time,” said Caminiti.

If you’d like to join, send an email to xmilecrew@runottawa.ca with your name and your running experience.