It is officially National Volunteer Week and we couldn’t miss the opportunity to give a huge shout-out to Ragnar’s very own Volunteer Team Manager: Debbie Beauchene. Debbie. Is. The. BEST! Not only is she pretty much everyone’s favorite person, but she keeps our races running because we couldn’t do what we do without volunteers!! Get to know Debbie a little better.
Happy National Volunteers Week! First off, thank YOU for all that you do! What’s message do you want to give to volunteers nationwide?
“You may have heard this before, but each Ragnar volunteer is the glitter duct tape that brings our adventures to life for our participants. We missed you dearly in 2020!”
Volunteers are the backbone to making our events happen. How did you find yourself doing what you do as the Volunteer Team Manager at Ragnar? What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your role and why should everyone consider volunteering in general whether that’s Ragnar or not?
“When I was in one of those ‘what do I want to do with my life?’ phases many moons ago, I shared with someone how I’d love to be a full-time volunteer. Through life’s twists and turns, the one constant has been volunteerism. I love being a part of activities and missions that allow my contribution, no matter how small, to make a difference for the one or the many.
I started running later in life and ran my first Ragnar 8 years ago – Great River Road 2013. My husband was ‘voluntold’ my team needed his help. The experience of volunteering at his first Ragnar event and my first Ragnar adventure led to 3 years of volunteering for Ragnar and then joining the company 5 years ago full-time on the Volunteer team.
My work on behalf of Ragnar brings much joy to me. It’s the intersection of helping ordinary people do the extraordinary; do more than they could have on their own. That intersection applies to our runners but includes the Community Groups we work with across the country. The fraternity that’s able to host a leadership conference for underrepresented high school students because of the funds they raise. Or family and friends raising funds for a foundation in honor of a loved one gone due to cancer. And our team volunteers – the number of stories of someone that had no idea what they were volunteering for and then later ran their first Ragnar!
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that people are people, no matter where they live in the country – we like to have fun, we like to be appreciated, and we like to make a difference.
Why volunteer? If it’s for a Ragnar Relay (email me) or your local food shelf – you are needed!”
You’ve run a few Ragnars yourself. What’s your fondest memory, scariest memory, and funniest memory?
“Fondest – Hard to only pick one, but have to go with the year my extended family ran Northwest Passage in honor of my uncle & to raise $ for a wheelchair van for him (we raised more than enough). He crossed the Finish Line arch with us and that team picture is priceless, as is the memory of my parents walking one of the legs.
Scariest – Running the yellow loop at night during Florida Trail, I heard something in the bush (swamp?) next to me. So I changed my brisk walk into more of a jog. When that sound kept pace with me but more loudly, I ran the fastest I had in a looooong time!
Funniest – Exchange 30, resting with my Van 2 peeps in the hot high school gym. Sharing the uncontrollable giggles with our legs up the wall in recovery mode while people tried to sleep around us.”
Okay, so, Ragnar volunteers include an essential group called S.W.A.T. Sounds intense. What does that stand for and how does volunteering at a Ragnar event differ from volunteering at other running events?
“Ragnar SWAT stands for Sweaty, Wet, and Tired. While our runners could say the same for themselves, ‘Sweaty, Wet, and Tired’ goes to a new level when helping execute a Ragnar Relay. Ragnar SWAT volunteer 3-4 days of their personal time in roles with greater responsibility.
The biggest difference between volunteering at a Ragnar event and a running event, like a half or full marathon, is 1) the team dynamic, and 2) the opportunity to have a blast volunteering at 2 am in the woods or in a dirt lot in the middle of nowhere!”
We have to ask… your dream Ragnar team. Who is on it?
1) Carlos Whittaker 2) Emmanuel Acho 3) My adult children 4) Lauren Daigle 5) A first-time Ragnarian with a great sense of humor.
What’s next personally for you? Do you have any races, events, or trips coming up?
“I just returned from working at Trail Atlanta and can’t wait for Sprint Wasatch Back in June. I like to run a Ragnar every year and with this year busier than ever for me, Sunset Miami in February was that race. My main goal for 2021 is to return to forward motion CONSISTENTLY.”
