I encourage you to volunteer for races. I make it a point to volunteer at least once a year, as I benefit from volunteers' work at the other events I enter.

I'm a natural-born marshall, specialized in keeping cars away from the runners (or cyclists) and course security generally, but that's not given to everyone. I would not recommend it if you're even just a bit sheepish (I've had to be polite but very firm with more than one displeased driver over the course of my marshalling "career").

One fool-proof area is chip removal and many other post-race positions (food, space blankets, stuff like that). You can't really go wrong!

But you should be great at the water stations, too. Just remember that it's useless to completely fill the cups. Halfway is just fine.

Enjoy! and thank you for your time.