At Bonnet Springs Park, you don’t have to worry about traffic—your mission is much more joyful. You’re there to cheer, guide, and keep runners cruising along the correct path. Think of it as hosting a moving parade where every participant gets their own round of applause.

As a course monitor, you’re the friendly face that reassures runners they’re headed the right way, helps prevent any accidental shortcuts, and calls for medical support if someone needs a hand. You get to see every runner from the first to the last, and they’ll appreciate your energy every step of the way.

On race morning, check in at the volunteer table between 6:00 AM and 6:15 AM to confirm your spot. Then head to your assigned location and look for the cone marked with your position letter, then get ready to cheer and support everyone from first to last. 

Once the sweeper passes by — every position will see the sweeper twice except H — you can join the sweeper and celebrate all the way to the finish line.

What to Wear: dress for adventure!
All our volunteer magic at the Bonnets Springs Park 5k happens outdoors, which means you’ll be sharing the same weather as the runners — sunshine, breezes, surprise sprinkles, or that classic Florida “is it hot or cold, no one knows” morning air. Come ready for anything the sky decides to offer.

Every volunteer receives a special orange Lakeland Runners Club volunteer shirt — your badge of honor and the easiest way for runners to spot the heart & soul that makes race day possible. Pair it with comfortable shoes, because you might be standing, strolling, cheering, or hustling around for a while.

Think of it as dressing for a friendly outdoor adventure: bright shirt, comfy shoes, and whatever layers help you feel fabulous in the Florida elements.

No volunteer shirt or lanyard yet? No problem—you can grab both at packet pickup.

Position A location 1 is at the parking lot nearest the children's playground. It is possible that someone enters the park early to walk and may not be aware that the 5k is occuring. During the time that the boulevard is closed for the race start (~ 7:00 AM to 7:45 AM), these parking locations need to be monitored so no one leaves during this window. Once the sweeper passes, the lot can be opened. Then you'll move into the park to location 2 and be near the side path that runners could use to cut the course.

Position B location 1 is at the first lane of the Event Center Parking lot. The certified course requires runners to use the second lane of the parking lot, so this is to monitor runners from cutting the course. Once the sweeper passes, you'll move to where the path to botanical gardens intersect the Circulator, again to stop anyone from cutting the course.

Position C location 1 is where the runners exit the parking lot through the maintenance gate. You'll make sure runners run thru the gate and do not turn into the middle lane of the parking lot. Once the sweeper passes, you'll move to where the cones split the Circulator so runners are directed into the inside lane so they will run parrallel to the runners completing their first lap of the park. 

Positions D – E are to make sure runners stay on course where sidewalk paths intersect the Circulator.

Position G is to monitor the end of the cones and flagging separating lap 1 from lap 2 and directing runners to the finish at the end of lap 2.

Position H is to manage people traffic flow from the lawn thru the breezeway to The Depot and parking lot.