This week I was showered with Twitter/Blogger love!
First, I got a set of ZippEarz headphones to try out:
A full review is to come, but the sound quality is great.
Then, PopChips responded to my frustration (made worse by all the #Fitbloggin PopChips lovin’ posts) at not being able to find PopChips anywhere by delivering this sample basket to my office!
I shared the love with some friends at work, and instantly created new PopChips fans .
But social media isn’t a one-way street of companies giving samples and coupons to “fans” and bloggers. Sometime you have an opportunity to give back via social media, and not just by writing a totally honest, unbiased, rave review.
I am running the Zooma Annapolis Half Marathon next weekend, and had “liked” their Facebook page after I signed up. It’s been fun to see their posts as the race day approaches–today they even shared the 10-day weather forecast (low 68F/high 78F).
On Friday, they used their Facebook page to ask for help:
We’re looking for 10 volunteers to help the ZOOMA staff in our Falls Church office at 6pm on Friday (5/27). We’ll be stuffing ZOOMA Annapolis goodie bags and eating pizza and candy – woohoo! Comment below if you can make it and we’ll send details. Kids of helping age are welcome!
I didn’t have any family plans , so I decided to go help out. I managed to finish my work by 5:30, and got to Zooma not too long after 6:00. As I was looking for their office, I knew I had found the right place when I saw the stacks of Luna Bar cartons nearly blocking the entrance! (They had just received 500 lbs of Luna Bars for the bags!)
There were about five of us during the two hours I was there, and we stuffed many, many bags with goodies. I won’t reveal the contents, but here’s a sneak peak at the bag:
Between this and the hydration project, I am becoming quite skilled at volunteer bag-stuffing.
I enjoy this type of activity because it’s easy to talk to the other volunteers as you are working. While we probably won’t become friends, it’s nice to meet other people and learn a bit about them. There’s just something invigorating about working-side-by-side with others towards a common goal.
And, I will never pick up another race bag without remembering that someone volunteered their own time to assemble my goodies. 🙂
Have you ever volunteered for a race?
What’s the best thing you’ve every gotten in a race bag?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
I got some ZippEarz too. Although I rarely run with music, I'm looking forward to trying them out. The initial test of trying them on seemed good enough for me.
Yes, I have volunteered a few times when I was injured or pregnant. It definitely felt great to be there supporting the race and cheering the racers on. It is actually inspiring to me to be on the other side watching people accomplish something amazing and be able to help support their efforts. I love getting the miniature Luna bars or other protein bars to toss in my bag for snacks. I also love getting energy gels or shot blocks to add to my free stash of long run or bike energy supply.
I'm obsessed with pop chips. We can't even buy them because we devour whole bags on them like a breath of air!
They are gooood. I definitely will stick with the single serving bags!
I volunteered for the Parkway Classic in Alexandria, VA and it was an incredibly rewarding experience. I've run my share of races and I've always appreciated the volunteers but now I'll be especially thankful for them. It also gave me perspective about how to better use the water stations when I run. I know everyone says to go to the end but I never really have. I'll definitely be doing that going forward.
I also got a great t-shirt out of the morning!
Oh, Jared! The GW Parkway Classic is my favorite race!
I was injured two years in a row and volunteered on race day, handing out numbers at the 10M start (although they may not do that anymore). The first year I met a guy who collected all the sweatshirts people threw aside during the first mile and helped him with that. The next year he wasn't there so I did it myself, and then washed them at home and dropped them off at a donation site. It was amazing how many people got rid of really nice tops!
I volunteer for most of my husbands races every year. Its what inspired me to want to run. These people are so nice (runners) and treated me so kindly. I enjoy volunteering, but sometimes I don't, shhhhh…don't tell hubby. 😉
LOL, Sheri, I won't tell. [?]
I've not heard of PopChips. I'll keep my eye out & see if they've made their way to Madison yet.
And I sadly haven't volunteered for a race, I suck. I need to. I will.
I wrote about ZippEarz on my blog a while ago, not because I've tried them because I had just heard about them and thought they seemed like an innovative item. Hope you enjoy them!
And that's awesome that you spent the time volunteering for the race. I think everybody should volunteer to work at a race at some point, it helps bring about a new perspective as you run a race, remembering all the people that had to come together to make it work!
That's neat, Jill. The sound quality difference is immediately noticable – and they did stay in during my sweaty run!
It is amazing to think how many volunteers it takes to put on a race. I probably should volunteer more than I do . . . .