Rick Norris explains why he keeps coming back every year to volunteer.

 

We are thrilled to introduce you to one of our long-time volunteers, Rick Norris as a small way to celebrate National Volunteer Week.

Rick has been a vital part of our team for six years, starting as a spectator cheering on runners with his sister and friends back in 2000.

After a few years of cheering on runners, Rick decided to take his involvement to the next level and became a volunteer supporting our three world-class races. When we asked Rick about his most memorable experiences over the years, he shared that it was the diverse group of people he met that made the biggest impact on him. As a volunteer, Rick had the opportunity to work alongside people from all walks of life, and he cherished the connections he made with them.

One of Rick’s favorite memories was when he and his sister served as sector co-captains and had the opportunity to work with the Jersey Village High School ROTC. Rick described the group’s energy as “dynamic leadership” and was inspired by their enthusiasm and dedication.

Rick also enjoyed volunteering in the warehouse, where he worked with the hard-working crew from A-Rocket Services. He recalled the physical demands of the job but appreciated how the team made it enjoyable and fun.

When it comes to his experience as a volunteer, Rick summed it up by saying, “I think it is important to surround yourself with as many people as possible who are different from you in aspects of life…” and volunteering over race weekend allows him to do just that.

As much as Rick enjoyed meeting new people, he also loved the “swag” he earned as a long-time volunteer. He joked that “it’s all about the shoes” and proudly shared a photo of some of his favorite items he had collected over the years.

But beyond the swag and the people, Rick wanted to emphasize how impressed he was with how well-organized and run our races are; and he praised our team for their reputation in the running community worldwide, expressing his appreciation for being a part of it all. What we have to say to that, Rick, is that none of that would be possible without you and the thousands of other Race Crew volunteers that dedicate themselves to serving this city’s largest single-day sporting event come rain or shine.

Volunteers make our reputation as the ultimate hosts in the industry at the Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and We Are Houston 5K presented by Aramco and Chevron possible.

We are incredibly grateful for Rick’s dedication to our events, and to every volunteer past, present and future. If you are interested in receiving more information about becoming a volunteer, please sign up on our email list here. And if you know someone who is a part of our Race Crew, please tag them in the comments and share their story with us. We can’t wait to hear more about the amazing volunteers who make our events possible and welcome more of you to our city in January 2024.

If you’d like to receive information about joining the Race Crew, click here!