The high five is still alive and well.
I wanted to support the Valentine 10K because of the organizations it benefits; the Stephen J. Wampler Foundation and the Islander Sports Foundation. Our middle school daughters have played sports this year through ISF. I was up at 5 a.m. Saturday, February 12, to take my husband to the airport so making it to the volunteer tent by 6:45 a.m. was easy. My three daughters and I were assigned to direct traffic and line the course at Jacinto and Glorietta. It was a cool and drizzly morning.
The course along Glorietta just after sunrise.
Donning our Valentine 10K shirts with “Volunteer” on the back, we clapped as the first runners passed our position. As people continued to run by, one of my girls asked if I was going to clap the entire time. YES! I told my girls that when I am running a race I love when people are clapping and cheering, even if it’s not directly at me. I find it motivating. Sometimes when you are pushing yourself physically, the clapping and cheers of someone on the sidelines is the little bit you need to lift you to the finish.
Waiting for the race to start
The girls found their groove and spent the next ninety minutes cheering, high-fiving, clapping and motivating the competitors as they passed. There were runners, joggers and walkers. There were babies in strollers being pushed by their parents, classmates from school, and total strangers. There was an 80 year old woman walking with her son. There were tutus and wild socks, devils horns and hearts on headbands. There was even a guy in a suit and tie!
High Fives for everyone! 
Though everyone participating may not welcome, appreciate or need motivation from those along the course, one thing is for sure, many enjoyed the girls’ enthusiasm. Another volunteer commented to me that it was amazing how many people would change their course to get close enough to high five the girls. Some participants even broke in to a jog, from a walk. Others smiled and thanked us for being out there. It was a great way to spend a morning and it was fun. Indeed, the high five is still alive and well and making people smile.
Kellee Hearther
Online Editorial Intern
eCoronado.com
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