Best area to volunteer at IM event.

I volunteered at IMFL in '06.

I'd skip the wetsuit stripping as you get other folks urine all over you. It is otherwise pretty cool..but plan on taking a shower afterwards and wear the rubber gloves they offer.

Transition is great. BTer Oliveview is a high ranking IMFL volunteer/leader..she might be able to give you some pointers. 

There are a lot of good jobs that fall under the tag of "Transition".  You can do morning or afternoon bike handling (handing bikes on the way out or taking bikes on the way in), work in the change tent (morning or afternoon), or do bag fetching (not sure of the true term).

Finish line catching is also a very popular choice as you get to experience the highs and lows of IM finishing up close. 

I would second the vote for Transition.  There really is a lot to do.  I have done a number of jobs at IMFL but I now stick with Transition.  I work Bike Check-In the day before the race and I am the volunteer Captain for Bodymarking and the Women's Change Tent.  I love working the change tent.  You really get a chance to make a difference for the athletes.  I will say that it is a really long day and you can do many things.  Just list your first choice and plan on doing that and write in the comments area that you want to do multiple things thru the day, if you want to.  The only jobs that fill up are Finish Line and Peelers.  Everything else, generally speaking, you will get your first choice.

Thank you for volunteering!!  Let me know if I can answer any more questions.

I had fun handing out water and gatorade on the run course. Allowed me to get upfront and cheer for some of the BT folks.

Also, because I could see the racer's names on their bibs, I could cheer for them

"looking good sally"

"Looking strong Bill"

"Keep it up Tammy"

"Nice buns Brian"  Nevermind, I would never say that

That's not what she meant. There will be lots of pee all over a lot of the bikes.

I volunteered at Steelhead (HIM) last year.  I worked bike checkin/transition Friday (race was Saturday).  Not bad, but it was a lot of gentle scolding (no, you can't enter transition without the race numbers on your bike and your wristband on your wrist... )  I got tapped to drive the guy videotaping the bike course for computrainer, so I got to drive a couple hundred yards in front of the lead cyclist. 

Regardless of the place, THANK YOU to everyone who volunteers to make the day a success.  (We're headed back to Steelhead to volunteer again this year. )

I was a volunteer at IM FL last year.  Even though you sign up online for volunteer jobs, very few of those jobs are gauranteed 100%.  I signed up online and went to the volunteer meeting- and that's kinda when you decide what you want to do.  At FL it's very disoraganized and you just fly by the seat of your pants to pull it all off.  But luckily it all falls into place and the athletes don't notice the lack of organization.

Last year I was in the women's changing for T1 with Sheri (oliveview).  That was a lot of work and by the end of the job I was all sweatty and tired- no kidding.  The cool thing about working the changing tent is that I intereacted with athletes on all levels- I helped pros, AG'ers trying to Kona qualify, and then the others who didn't care about their T1 times at all and took their sweet old time.  It was interesting to see how fast the pros transition and how little they put in their T1 bags.  And then I saw others who were trying to decide what to wear in T1 and brought like their entire closet and kitchen sink with them

I also was a volunteer on the run course and rode the bike in front of the 2nd place male pro the entire way.  That was awesome- seeing the pros rubberband, who falls back, who gains, etc.  I was right there in all the action!  I could hear the 2nd place male footsteps and breathing behind me the entire run course- that's how close I was. 

I'm not sure if I'll be back to volunteer at IM FL this year- I'm hoping to make the trip down there, because it is an awesome experience.

I think this year I'd like to be a finish line catcher for a little bit.  And of course help Sheri in the women's changing tent again!

(IM FL1.jpg)

(IM FL2.jpg)

Janelle--I give you all the credit for saving me so many times in the tent last year!!  You were awesome and I would love to have you back!!  I was so happy to get you on the bike for the run course...sadly, I was going to have Christine do that this year...

As far as the bike handling goes, there are usually lots of young teenage boys that do this.  My theory has been that they are fast and it hasn't occured to them to know what all is on the bike!! LOL

I've done it before and it is alot of fun, but I was VERY happy to run back to the room and take a shower.  Janelle is right is is very unorganized.  Just plan on being in transition and it always works out just fine!!

Being a male and assisting the women in transition.  Oh, wait - we can't do that.  Sorry.

I'm volunteering (for my 4th IM) in 3 different areas for IM Moo this year - registering, bike handling, finish line catcher.  I wanted to bodymark, but it was already full.  Bummer.

I can't wait!

I am volunteering IM Lake Placid this year (08).  I will be volunteering as life guard.  The thing about life guarding is you need training and certs. 

I hope to enjoy the rest of the day after the swim, but may volunteer for something else.

runnerx - 2008-07-14 9:41 AM

SuzanneS - 2008-07-14 8:29 AM

runnerx - 2008-07-14 7:31 AM

mixie - 2008-07-13 9:16 PM

I don't know if I'd want to get bikes on the way in.....think about it....

I'm signed up to be a bike handler in LP. I just got an email with some instructions and they stressed that safety of the volunteers is VERY important, so if anyone throws their bikes, we're supposed to let them drop to the ground.

That's not what she meant. There will be lots of pee all over a lot of the bikes.

Oh mannnn! I didn't think about that.

It is not that bad. I was at CDA in T2 catching bikes, you are wearing gloves, the racers are NOT going to throw their bike at you, they HAVE to slow right down not out of concern for the volunteers but more for themselves...they have been pedaling hard for hours now they have to dismount. There were 2 positions for bike part of T2, catchers and rackers (pretty self explanatory). THe most fun was catching people as they fell off their bikes and then trying to convince people that you were taking the bike to the racks...not them. Good luck, it will be a great day no matter what you sign up for!

I did the volunteer thing at IMCDA this year and it was a blast!  Bodymarking in the morning, you could just feel the excitement and it was fun adding artwork to the #'s if the athletes wanted, happy faces, lightning bolts.....

Then in the mens change tent for T1, it was a great experience and the athletes were very gracious and thankful for the help.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat but entered next year.....oops.