As a course monitor, you’re part cheer squad, part guide, part guardian angel for our runners. Your mission: keep vehicles off the course, point runners in the right direction, cheer loudly, and help everyone stay safe and smiling. Think of it as hosting a moving parade where every participant gets their own round of applause.

Bring all the enthusiasm you’ve got — runners feel that energy, and it matters.

You’re also the friendly face who helps prevent accidental shortcuts and calls for medical support if someone needs help. You’ll see every runner from the first to the last, and they’ll appreciate you every step of the way.

When to Arrive

On race evening, check in at the volunteer table on the Lake Mirror Promenade between 5:45 PM and 5:55 PM.  We will have a group briefing and then get everyone to their designated position on the course.

For our volunteers on Iowa & Success once the sweeper passes by a second time, please help stack the center line cones in groups of 3, and then you are welcome to join the sweeper and celebrate all the way to the finish line.

For our volunteers on Main St, LaKe Ave, and Orange St please wait to be released by our course crew as they pick up the course. 

What to Wear

Dress for adventure! All the Mayfaire 5k magic happens outdoors, which means you’ll share the same weather as the runners — sunshine, breezes, surprise sprinkles, or even a classic Florida thunderstorm.

You’ll be notified if severe weather requires getting runners safely back to the promenade before roads reopen.

Every volunteer receives an orange Lakeland Runners Club volunteer shirt — your badge of honor and the easiest way for runners to spot the heart and soul of race day. Pair it with a bright safety vest and comfortable shoes. You may be standing, strolling, cheering, or hustling around for a while.

No volunteer shirt or lanyard yet? You can pick them up at check in.

Please take a few minutes to review the maps below.  We can reduce driver frustration by assisting them with alternate routes or explaining how long their delay will be. Do not confront an angry driver. We have a permit to close the roads, and you will help place equipment and signage, but only the police can enforce those closures. 

Along Main St, Lake Ave and Orange St, our positions are primarily located in entrance/exits to parking areas. It is OK to help someone exit a parking lot and get off the course. 

For example, between 6:30 and 6:45 PM our start line crew will be setting up the timing mats and truss system so we need to keep cars away from the start area, but we can still help drivers leave the area to reduce their frustration. 
Catapult Lot - turn right and exit out toward Massachusetts.
The Joinery Lot - turn left and exit on Rose St (it may not be where they want to go, but at least they are not stuck waiting).
The Lake Mirror Center - they can exit out via Lemon St or Main St. 
The Magnolia Lot - cars can not exit because Indiana is a one-way street, and Orange St is closed.

We want to keep cars off of Main, Lake & Orange St.  At 6:45, all traffic needs to wait until the roads are reopened by our equipment crew.

Along Success Ave, residents may leave their homes. Please escort them off the course as quickly as possible. 

If a driver enters the course while the race is live, our duty is to alert the runners and assist them out of harms way.