IMWI from a volunteer's eye

Thanks for sharing an amazing day you had in helping so many folks.

I think volunteering at an IM or any tri is a great way to give back to the sport and see things from a different perspective.

2010 hugh? 

Funny after going to my first IM, IMFL '06, I decided no way was I doing one atleast not now...the reality of how hard and long a day really set in, but things change I'm in for IMLP '08. 

You can volunteer for as  many or as few shifts as you want.  I decided to go crazy and do 5...man was I tired! 

Very cool write up.  Now, how do I get that gig of working in the women’s change room?

p.s.  Thanks for saying HI in the body marking area.

My perspective as being one of the participants (and a 3 year running volunteer):

1). It IS a great experience.
2). Getting to meet as many fellow BT'ers that I could, even if you didn't live in the Madison area, it is wonderful that you came here and helped. I couldn't have asked for better support!
3). The number of volunteers to participants ratio is astounding in the different areas - you have a fair number of body markers, but only a couple of persons "holding down the fort" at some important intersections on the running route, applying lotion, picking up the trash along the aid stations, getting gear bags, the kayak spotters, etc. ALL volunteers are crucial and needed, no matter what job they did! I made sure that I thanked everyone that I could!
4). There always seems to be one person or incident that provides a negative impact and it sticks in our minds. The person that made the claim about not having ice in the coke (or not enough) would have received an earful from me if he gave me a cup of coke with ice in it. Why? 2 reasons: A). tepid coke would be easier to drink for me, especially since it was getting cooler that late afternoon and night. B). ice in the drink is a safety concern - possible choking!
5). I overheard a woman (more than likely the head aid station person for that spot) yelling to her volunteers (it was around 8:00 p.m. or so) by the Kohl Center aid station (paraphrasing the best I can) - "I know that you may be tired, but these athletes are, too!" and then told them that they needed to keep going. I was smiling while coming up to that station and was thinking how great that she was a great motivator and very positive person. I made sure to thank them as I came by.
6). I'm not into child labor, but it was exceptionally cool to see some kids helping out. I "doubly" made sure that they got a special thanks with a smile and a possible high-five!
7). DEANNA - You wouldn't believe how great it was getting back on solid ground! The volunteers that helped me out of the water did it just right - not "pushy" or "pully", not holding on too tight, and not rushing. The 3 different kayak spotters that watched over my cramping dilemma and kept providing positive feedback, but didn't interfere with my forward progress. I felt sorry for the girl that had to be near me for almost 5 minutes of my screaming that I WASN'T going to let these cramps stop me early in the race.
8). It was very different being in the race of this caliber and being treated with such care! I felt pampered! I don't think that I will ever experience that again, but who knows what another 2 years will bring and how I feel.

I'm sorry that I missed Maggy along the way, and possibly some others. It sure was fantastic meeting the rest of you, though!!!

THANKS AGAIN FOR VOLUNTEERING,
and I'm glad you all had the time of your lives!!!!!!

BTW - I am already planning on doing the whole day, one way or another, for IM Moo '08.  I hoping to do as many different parts as I can, whether it's body marking, to peeler/stripper, then to an aid station or running marshall, then crossing my fingers as a catcher!

Have to agree, volunteering was a great time and I highly suggest it to anyone.  My biggest highlight besides seeing so many happy people was getting to be the pair that stripped oldest triathlete Frank Herrar.  Mostly volunteering provided a great glimpse at what next year will be.

I'm glad I volunteered, too -- Bike Handler in T1 gets to touch and oggle many gorgeous bikes!! 

I was impressed with both the organizers and the racers.  They all were there to do their best, and have fun while doing it.  It certainly gave me a new perspective on Ironman.  I know I don't have the itch to do an Ironman in the future, but I'm going to keep on cheering for those who do while I stay with half-Iron distances. 

More about this in my blog, if anyone's interested.

Cheers, -Sunny

He's one of our local triathletes! 

"Michael M (#1803, I believe). He wanted someone to stay with him. When the 2nd catcher left, he kept asking me if I had him. I promised I'd stay with him as long as he wanted. Took him to get signed up for a massage, get his gear bags, his bike and walked him to his hotel (the Hilton that was right across from the finish area). All the while he kept saying how nice it was that I stayed with him. I wouldn't have left for anything."

Wow!  That's going way above and beyond the call of duty.  I'm sure he really appreciated it as it would seem he had no one else there to help him, and he really needed some help.

You rock!  Thanks for giving your time!

-Steve 

I went up there on Sunday to watch the race and sign up Monday morning for next year.  Since I had time to kill I decided to volunteer and worked the aid station on the run course at the corner of Spring and Charter and it was the most rewarding tri-related-other-than-racing things I have ever done!  I had so much fun out there handing out water/gels/cups of ice and the athletes were all so appreciative.  If anyone ever gets the opportunity to volunteer at an IM event do it, it's amazing!

 My highlight had to be the guy who came through and grabbed an entire 2 litre bottle of flat coke and chugged it right out of the bottle.  I don't think I'd recommend doing that but it seemed to work for him.

Thanks for volunteering and supporting everyone MaggyRuth!

To all of you who were there, you really made the race.  MaggyRuth, in 2010 you will understand just how important you were!

Here's some volunteer mush for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7EjwlU5rms

I just verified last night while trying to get my DVD to work that has that clip on it that I am in the video!!

Starting with the fade-in shot at 13 seconds until fade-out shot at 17 seconds, I'm the the guy in the red and white standing on the left side of the screen.  The focus is on the volunteer in the blue shirt and white cap directing non-athletes to the right, then there's a guy with no shirt behind him and to his left staring out towards the camera, and then behind that guy and to the left is ME!!  That was right at the time I just saw my friend Trisha starting to enter the athlete's area.  I'm a celebrity!