“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.”
-Simon Sinek
The Georgia Jewel exists because of volunteers.
Every mile, every aid station, every finish-line moment is made possible by people who choose to give their time, energy, and care to support runners moving through a long and demanding day. This race isn't built by spectators. It's built by participants of a different kind...those who show up before dawn, stay through the heat and dark, and make the trail feel human.
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Volunteering at the Georgia Jewel isn't about standing on the sidelines. It's about becoming part of the race itself.
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Our volunteers serve in many roles: guiding runners through remote sections of trail, managing aid stations, prepping food, tracking progress, and offering the kind of encouragement that only comes from someone who understands effort. Many of our aid station captains are ultrarunners themselves. They know what the course asks of people, and they care deeply about helping others meet that challenge.
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We believe great races are built on trust.
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Runners trust our volunteers to help them make good decisions when fatigue sets in. Volunteers trust runners to respect the trail and each other. And we trust our volunteers with responsibility, not just tasks. You'll be given meaningful work, clear direction, and the freedom to care for runners in the way that feels natural to you.
Whether this is your first time volunteering or your tenth year returning, you're part of something shared. Long hours at an aid station become conversations. Simple acts like refilling bottles, offering soup, helping someone sit down, become moments runners remember long after the race is over.
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We work hard to take care of the people who take care of our runners. Volunteers get fed, hugged, and fully supported by our race team. More importantly, they're welcomed into a community that values reliability, kindness, and presence. Many of our volunteers return year after year, not because it's easy, but because it feels meaningful.
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If you're curious about ultrarunning, this is one of the best ways to see it up close.
If you're already part of the running community, volunteering is a way to give back to the trails and people who have given you so much.
And if you simply enjoy helping others through hard things, you'll fit right in.
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The Georgia Jewel is a long day for runners.
It's a long day for volunteers, too.
And it's one we're proud to share.
Join us on the trail. We'd be honored to have you.
Our Crew
The magic of the ultra-running community has always been our ability to unite and inspire one another to do extraordinary things. In 2016, when we took over the Jewel, we knew nothing about race directing except that we wanted a weekend inviting others to experience something we loved with people we love. And fortunately for us, that's what it's become. Below are just a few faces we're honored to call friends.
