Couple serves as part of vital Fifth Season volunteer group

CEDAR RAPIDS - Carol and Dave Smith circle the date on their calendar every year.

Sure, it is the Fourth of July, a day that many people look forward to for barbecue's, summer weather and annual loud and colorful fireworks displays, but there's more to the holiday for the Cedar Rapids couple.

The Smiths are part of the important group of volunteers that help work the Alliant Fifth Season 8K race, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary Sunday at 7:30 a.m. The event is followed by a 5K walk/run, a youth mile and kids' fun runs in downtown.

The Smiths have been involved with the race since the beginning in 1986. With busy work schedules, the holiday event provided the perfect opportunity for them to satisfy their desire to volunteer. In 2005, they were presented a medal for 20 years of involvement.

"We just decided that was something we could volunteer to do," Carol Smith said. "This was something we were interested in ... It's been fun."

So, over the years Carol and Dave have taken their position as course monitors. They have cheered on friends and co-workers on the course. Carol recalled an elderly gentleman, who routinely ran in the event, and watching him was a highlight.

"He was like in his 80s," Carol Smith said. "We always looked forward (to see him). he was always in the tail end, but was always such a joy to see him persevere."

It wasn't as easy for Dave to determine a top moment, but he did mention that volunteers have to endure the elements right along with the runners.

"We haven't seen anything that really stands out," Dave Smith said. "There's been years where it's been stifling hot and down-pouring rain, but they're all good memories."

Those memories started when Dave volunteered as Carol ran in a couple of the first races, but then she joined him. Now, devoting their time to one of the area's biggest and most recognizable athletic event has become part of their holiday festivities.

"It's grown into something we both enjoy," Dave Smith said. "It gets us in the Fourth of July spirit."

It doesn't take a running expert to be part of the hundreds of people that help at water stations, monitor the course and traffic, staff the packet pick-up for participants, work the start and finish lines, hand out beverages, setup and breakdown the event. At least the Smiths aren't and it doesn't influence the pleasure they get from all of the activities associated with the event.

"We're not really major running fans, but it's the whole Freedom festival participation," Carol Smith said. "The other thing we also enjoy the post -race (events), like the kids' races."

The entire event has a strong social dynamic, providing an unique mixture of competition and fun. It's always a highlight for the Smiths to interact with the large group of runners and community members that gather near the race's start and finish after they leave their station.

"We always go downtown and mingle amongst the people and crowds," Dave Smith said. "Always glad to run into people we know who have run and congratulate them on completing the race. It's socializing and meeting people."

The event has been fortunate to have a number of regular volunteers over the year. Fifth Season Race Director Mike Regan said volunteers are the reason the race has reached the milestone year.

"We couldn't pull the race off without all the dedicated volunteers year after year," Regan said. "It means a lot."

The race is divided up into sections and a committee communicates with the volunteers. Without the collaborative effort the race won't flourish and be as seamless as it has been in the past.

"Everybody seems to come together and work their section of the race," said Regan, who shared in an email that Tom and Helga Mayhew and Pat Hook will be working their 25th Fifth Season race. Hook has worked a water station and has been joined by younger nieces and nephews.

Many of the volunteers have been loyal throughout the race's history, returning to work. The race has seen it's fair share of newcomers as well, according to Dave Smith.

"I think there's a good mix," Dave Smith said. "There are people who have been doing it as long as we have and yet there's new faces every year."

When will some of those new faces be replacing the Smiths along the course. Dave Smith plans on seeing plenty more and continuing their tradition of being a part of the city's Independence Day staple.

"Probably until they have to roll me up there," Dave Smith said about how many more the couple will work. "It's become a tradition for us."