S1 TRAIL — VOLUNTEER TEAM
Our races are made by you
Aid stations in the night, cut-off gates out on the Karst, finishers to cheer home. Every year 450 people make our races happen. You can be one of them, even for just half a day.
Who we're looking for
No experience required. You don't have to be a runner. From 16 up; under-18s need a parent's consent.
When
Five events in twelve months, from August to June. Shifts of 4-6 hours. Even just one.
What you get
Volunteer race pack, meal and drinks on shift, insurance. From six hours up you also get to choose: a free race entry or your expenses back.
How to apply
You fill in the form, we get back to you within a week. No commitment until you confirm your shift.
A race is made of people standing at one exact spot
A trail race looks like it's made of paths and race numbers. In fact it's made of people standing at one exact spot, often at night, often in the bora wind, waiting for a runner they have never met to fill their cup and tell them there isn't far to go.
It's not a figure of speech: without those people the race cannot be authorised, cannot be made safe and cannot be run. There are 450 of them in a season, and every year we need new ones. That is why, for us, the volunteer team comes before everything else.
The teams
You tell us what appeals to you and we do our best to make it happen. We can't always guarantee the station you ask for, but we try to put you where you'll feel good.
Aid stations
The most requested station, and the finest. You prepare, pour, slice, fill bottles and cheer. You are the memory the runner takes home.
Route
You cover a junction, a crossing, a tricky point. You point the way, keep an eye on who goes past and call race control if something isn't right.
Start and finish
Start pen, timing gates, chip timing, medals, finish-line refreshments, applause. Fast pace and plenty of people.
Bib collection and race office
Handing out bibs, checking entries and mandatory gear, giving information. If you're precise and you enjoy talking to people, this is your place.
Base Vita (life base)
Only on the long races: hot meals, showers, drop bags, runners who sleep twenty minutes and set off again. The night-time heart of the race.
Logistics and set-up
Before and after: loading and unloading, gazebos, barriers, boards, signage. The work nobody sees and without which nothing gets going.
Course marking and take-down
You mark the course in the days before and collect every piece of material afterwards. Not a single ribbon stays on the Karst: that is a commitment we have made to this land.
Wildcard
Not sure where you'd fit? We send you where you're needed, when you're needed. It's the role for anyone who wants to see the race from several angles.
One shift, one weekend, whatever you can give
A standard shift lasts 4-6 hours. You can do just one, or follow us for the whole weekend: you decide when you apply, and we can still adjust a few days before.
The long races run through the night, so there are night shifts. They're the toughest and also the finest: if you feel up to it, say so in the form — whoever covers the night has our eternal gratitude and priority on the rewards.
If you're coming from further away we won't leave you stranded: beyond 50 km we provide a bed for the night and a contribution towards travel, and where the role calls for it, an itemised expense reimbursement as well.
Race pack, meal — then a free entry or your expenses back: you choose
We don't pay you — you're a volunteer, and we're an amateur sports association. But we don't want you to be out of pocket, and we want you to come back. The volunteer race pack, the meal on shift and the insurance are always there, from the very first shift, even if you only do one. And since a good part of our volunteers don't run, from six hours up a free race entry isn't the only way: you can have your expenses reimbursed instead. Hours add up across the whole season, not race by race.
- Volunteer race pack
- Meal and drinks during your shift
- Insurance
- Certificate of participation
- Volunteer race pack, meal, insurance and certificate
- One free race entry for a race up to 30 km or your expenses reimbursed
- Volunteer race pack, meal, insurance and certificate
- One free race entry for a race of your choice, even over 30 km, or your expenses reimbursed
- Volunteer race pack, meal, insurance and certificate
- Two free race entries for races of your choice or your expenses reimbursed
What about out-of-pocket costs?
We look at them case by case, depending on the role and the conditions: if your job involves frequent travel, long hours or several shifts, we grant an itemised expense reimbursement — also as an alternative to accommodation, if you'd rather sleep at home. It applies whichever reward you choose above.
We count as short races those up to 30 km, and as long those beyond. The race entry is valid for any of our races in the following season and is transferable: you can even give it to whoever you like. If you don't run, we reimburse the expenses you had instead.
Come with your club
Are you a member of a sports club, a CAI mountaineering section, a local pro loco, a school or a volunteer association? Bring us the whole group. It's the best way to do this job: you're together, it goes faster and it's far more fun.
- We put you all at the same station, we don't scatter you along the course
- We agree shifts and times together, based on how many of you there are
- We give the association a financial contribution to support its activities, in proportion to the number of volunteers and the hours covered
- Individual rewards still apply: each of your volunteers gets the race pack and the meal, builds up their own hours and picks their own reward, race entry or expenses
No skills needed, just turn up
- You're at least 16 — under 18 you need a parent's consent
- You don't have to be a trail runner: plenty of our volunteers have never run in their lives
- Student, worker, retired: anything goes, the shifts can be fitted around you
- All you need is clothing suitable for a few hours outdoors and the will to lend a hand
If you do run and want to stay inside the race even when you're not racing, know that lead runner and sweeper are roles for those with trail legs and a trail head.
What happens after you apply
You fill in the form.Five minutes: who you are, which races interest you, which team appeals to you, when you're free.
A real person replies.Within a week we write or call you to work out together where to put you. No commitment until you agree.
You get your shift.About two weeks before the race everything reaches you: station, times, how to get there, who your team leader is, what to bring.
On race day.You check in at the volunteer meeting point, pick up your pack, and your team leader explains everything on the spot.
Afterwards.We send you your certificate and, if you chose the race entry, the code to use it.
Five events in twelve months
Five different ways to be in the thick of it. You can apply for one, for some or for all of them.
Sardon Run
Villaggio del Pescatore island. The Karst dropping straight into the Adriatic, five distances, a finish by the sea.
Caven Run
Čaven, Slovenia. Vertical and trail races, autumn across the border.
La Corsa della Bora
Gulf of Trieste. The biggest one: it runs through the night, it has the Base Vita, it crosses the border. This is where we need the most hands.
Alpe Adria Ultra Trail — Winter
Julian Alps. Snow, cold, short and well-covered shifts.
Alpe Adria Ultra Trail — Summer
Val Saisera and Val Dogna. Three days, nine races, three borders.
What people always ask us
Do I need to belong to a club or hold a membership card?
No. We only ask for the details we need to cover you with the insurance.
Can I come with a friend, with my team or with my group?
Yes, and nothing pleases us more. Mention it in the form: we keep groups at the same station. If you're a club or a sports group, write to us directly, because in that case we also give the club a financial contribution.
I'm under 18.
From 16 up you can, with a parent's signed consent. We give you daytime shifts, always paired with an experienced volunteer.
I'm not from Trieste, or I don't speak Italian.
No problem, we're a border race: our teams speak Italian, Slovenian and English. Tell us which languages you speak — there are stations where it's a real asset.
How long will I be on my feet? I'm not in great shape.
There are stations for everyone, including seated and sheltered ones. Just say so in the form.
What if I apply and then can't come?
It happens — just let us know as soon as you do. No penalty, no hard feelings: we'll reorganise.
What should I bring?
Comfortable shoes, a windproof jacket and, for night shifts, a head torch and something warm. We provide the rest.
Are you in?
Fill in the form below: it takes five minutes and commits you to nothing. We call you within a week and we talk it through together before anything is decided.
Got a question before you apply? Message us on WhatsApp at +39 040 411341 or ask our assistant at the bottom right.