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IM Volunteer
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 2013-11-23 1:32 PM |
Regular  585   Pueblo, Colorado |  Subject: IM VolunteerGreetings, I am hoping to volunteer at Ironman Boulder this summer with a tentative plan to register for 2015. To date I've only volunteered in a local sprint triathlon where I pretty much did everything from body marking to cutting orange slices before the race. I'm interested to hear what type of IM volunteer activities folks here would recommend and why? Please share any experience/ advice you might have for a "newbie" volunteer. Thanks! |
| 2013-11-23 2:09 PM in reply to: tedjohn |
Champion 10550 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer Originally posted by tedjohn Greetings, I am hoping to volunteer at Ironman Boulder this summer with a tentative plan to register for 2015. To date I've only volunteered in a local sprint triathlon where I pretty much did everything from body marking to cutting orange slices before the race. I'm interested to hear what type of IM volunteer activities folks here would recommend and why? Please share any experience/ advice you might have for a "newbie" volunteer. Thanks! Hi there, and THANK YOU for wanting to volunteer!! The volunteers at the races really make a huge difference, and IM distance is no different. There should be a way to sign up to volunteer through the IM Boulder web page, but it might still be too early for that link to be up yet. When it is, you'll find so many different ways to volunteer that you'll have to choose what you want to do. Everything from pre-race registrations to body marking to wetsuit stripping to being a course marshal for the bike or run to aid station or special needs or finish line catcher. Volunteer positions for things like finish line catching seem to fill up faster than others, so if that's what you want to do - be sure to get signed up for volunteering early. I've been a wetsuit stripper at IM Canada which was a TON of fun and you get to be done relatively early in the race so you can volunteer somewhere else or enjoy the race day... though also be prepared to be WET. I've also been a course marshal during the run at IMWI which was a bit more challenging as it was at the ONLY crosswalk for pedestrians to cross the road before the finish line and it could be difficult to keep the spectators from just crossing the road whenever they wanted. Next year for IMWI I'm hoping to help out either as a finish line catcher, or at run special needs. Whatever you choose to do, it will be a great day!! |
| 2013-11-23 3:30 PM in reply to: tedjohn |
Champion 19812  MA | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer Finish line catcher is one of the most exciting. T1 and/or T2 change tent, is very helpful and makes a big difference in helping athletes for me most rewarding. You will see many naked athletes in the change tent. Wetsuit stripper is fun but you will be getting urine all over you
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| 2013-11-23 3:34 PM in reply to: tedjohn |
| 116 | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer If you have medical experience highly recommend being a medical volunteer. You will carry credentials that will get you ANYWHERE you want to go. You are right there with the photographers at the swim start. You can mingle with the pros (they are honestly cool folks). Security just nods and smiles as you walk past the red tape. And caring for those in the med tent is another world of experience as well. |
| 2013-11-23 4:15 PM in reply to: tedjohn |
| 59 | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer Originally posted by tedjohn Greetings, I am hoping to volunteer at Ironman Boulder this summer with a tentative plan to register for 2015. To date I've only volunteered in a local sprint triathlon where I pretty much did everything from body marking to cutting orange slices before the race. I'm interested to hear what type of IM volunteer activities folks here would recommend and why? Please share any experience/ advice you might have for a "newbie" volunteer. Thanks!
At IM WI I did registration and I was at the last aid station on the capitol square from 9p - midnight. And IM AZ I did wetsuit stripping and I did bike check out. All of them are rewarding for different reasons. Wet suit stripped is an action packed blast and I got a bunch of high fives and even a few hugs from grateful athletes. The aid station on the run at IM WI was inspiring ... seeing people who have been out there for 15, 16 hours who are still moving towards the finish can pull at the heart strings. It's also fun to be there and cheer them on and keep them going. Registration was it's own fun too because you got to chat with the athletes for a minute or two while you get them checked in and going. It's fun to see the range of the old hands to the first timers with wide eyed expressions. It's rewarding for the ones that look like they are in a panic, just to talk to them for a minute and help calm them and get them going. Bike check out was interesting too (bike porn! Any way you cut it, each time I've volunteered I've thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would do it over again! And to those athletes that say thank you ... it means a lot to hear that! We're here for you, but it makes us volunteers feel good! I make it a point to do that when I race! |
and also you get to congratulate a lot of people on their finishes and just see the smiles.| 2013-11-23 5:20 PM in reply to: tedjohn |
| 94 | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer I always wondered about volunteers at WTC events. I've volunteered at for profit races when they give you a free ticket for another race. And I've volunteered at non-profit races just to help the cause. But at IM events I don't think the volunteers get anything and the company just makes more money? Am I missing something? |
| 2013-11-23 7:03 PM in reply to: Quigley |
| 59 | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer Originally posted by Quigley I always wondered about volunteers at WTC events. I've volunteered at for profit races when they give you a free ticket for another race. And I've volunteered at non-profit races just to help the cause. But at IM events I don't think the volunteers get anything and the company just makes more money? Am I missing something? All depends on your perspective I guess. I just enjoy the experience and I enjoy the energy of Ironman. <shrug> But that's me. The one thing I did get out of volunteering at Arizona was being able to get into next years race.
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| 2013-11-23 7:48 PM in reply to: moverby20 |
Veteran 209 Windermere, FL | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer It's funny that I came across this post today. I was just chatting about volunteering at IMFL 2014 today. I can't wait to volunteer. I remember so many of the people that got me through IMFL 2012. I just need to figure out what I want to do. I would love to help check athletes in, especially since I've done the race, maybe I can put a first timer at ease. I also remember the people in the change tents being amazing. I'm not sure that I want to stare at a bunch of naked women, but I know my volunteers really helped me out. As the race gets closer I'll figure it out, but thanks so much to everyone who volunteers! |
| 2013-11-28 10:15 PM in reply to: tedjohn |
Elite 3060 N Carolina | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer I think bike catcher would be cool. I would like to be in the "thick of things" and want an action packed experience. |
| 2013-11-28 10:51 PM in reply to: tedjohn |
Extreme Veteran 1704 Penticton, BC | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer My wife and I volunteered heavily for Challenge Penticton and IMCanada before that. I've worked in registration, bike lot, finish-line catcher and Aid Station. All of them were fun but I think I mostly preferred working in the bike lot on race day up to the cut-off time then going over to the finish line and working as a catcher right up to midnight. You can't really go wrong wherever you decide to work. I also enjoyed working in the bike lot on Saturday helping the athletes place their bikes and calming the newbies. This was fun because you get to really interact with the athletes. The whole experience was a lot of fun. |
| 2013-11-28 10:57 PM in reply to: japarker24 |
New user 1351 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer I've done water stations and kayak support at 2 different Ironmans. The aid station is cool, especially in the later hours because everyone gets so supportive of all the athletes trudging their way down the course. I've even had ladies pull the elastic of their sports bra out and say "Don't be shy, just throw some ice down there..." Kayaking was cool because you're right in there on the action. I actually drove 6 hours to get to Ironman Texas last year so i could volunteer as a kayak guard. You get to stay with the slower folks who need support right up until the end and it makes you feel like their guardian angel every time they stop and hang on to your kayak. I think one of the more coveted spots, which fills up quick, is a finisher catcher. Those are the people in the magical place of euphoria, and its full of so many smiles. Those are the people that give and receive the best hugs of their lives. I know I've hugged every person who helped me hobble through the finish area of an Ironman |
| 2013-11-29 11:39 AM in reply to: trijamie |
Veteran 148 | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer I’ve had the privilege to volunteer at St. A's for the past 3 years. I work with the St. Pete Mad Dogs tri club as they are the hometown club for home stay athletes. I pick them up from the airport with gear and get them to their hosts who have graciously opened up their homes to the pro’s and elite amateurs. Most of them are barely getting by and getting a free ride and place to stay really helps them out. I have shuttled the eventual winners and I can assure you they are so thankful for my volunteering duties. |
| 2013-11-29 2:04 PM in reply to: sczarnecki |
Master 2500 Crab Cake City | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer I volunteered this year at IMMT and it was a great experience. I worked from 2pm-8:30pm at the Athlete Food Tent so my job was to help prepare, organize and serve food to the athletes. I also cleaned up the tables and took out the trash. I did not realize how much food goes into an event like this but it was a cool experience to see the professionals come in for food and talk to the AG as well. I don't know how IM Boulder will be set up but at IMMT, the food tent is directly behind the finish line so I got to see and hear people finish and then walked right over to the finish area when my shift was over. I would email the RD and see how long of a shift you need in order to sign up the next day as a volunteer. I know for me, they said you needed to work atleast a 4 hour shift to be able to sign up the next day but others have said they did not have such a requirement at other IMs. |
| 2013-11-30 9:05 AM in reply to: dmbfan4life20 |
Champion 7704 Williamston, Michigan | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer I have handed out bags in T1, helped in the changing tent. and worked the medical tent (I am a sports doc) I also got to ride a bike in front of the 2nd place female pro during the run. That was VERY cool. If you are in the medical field volunteer in the med tent because they always need help. Finish line I think would be very fun. |
| 2013-11-30 11:32 AM in reply to: tedjohn |
New user 1351 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer The volunteer coordinator that I reported to at IMLP said that if you're a coordinator, which is a step up from just a regular volunteer, you can sign up for the following year regardless of whether or not it sells out. In fact, he said that he could even sign up the day before the race and they'd let him in. Seems like a nice perk, and he said they're always needing more volunteer coordinators |
| 2013-11-30 4:17 PM in reply to: trijamie |
Member 205 | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer I have kayaked water safety and helped with an aid station on the IMKY run. Watching thousands of swimmers in the Ohio River was a pretty one-of-a-kind experience. The aid station was hectic, but a pretty good place to see the first few runners come through. |
| 2013-11-30 4:25 PM in reply to: tedjohn |
| 80 naperville, Illinois | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer I have volunteered at five different IMs. The best experience in terms of being busy and feeling useful was the transition area putting the bags back with the bikes post race. they don't do this at all IMs, but the ones where they do, it was enjoyable and I worked my tail off so felt like I contributed. I have worked the finish line as a catcher at Lake Placid and that is also fun and exciting -- even if the volunteer coordinator swore at people a few times. -- yeah, swore at them for not standing in the right spot at the finish line, but it was still fun despite mr French I also did an aid station. that was great to be out there for the later people who really need the extra cheering, and earlier in the day, it gets pretty hairy, but time flew. I have also been a runner for the medical tent. DON'T DO THAT. lots of egos giving you orders and when you listen to one, the other yells at you - i.e. if someone is just cramping, take them straight to massage, we don't want to see them. then the next time they get po'ed because someone says I am just cramping and they want them at medical first. then you get yelled at for escorting someone to medical that the guy at the finish line told you needs to go to medical. -- and this went on repeatedly for several hours. this was the most horrid experience volunteering anywhere. I quit helping and went to go volunteer out on the course instead. now THAT was fun to help the people out there on their own struggling to make the cut off time - fun, fun, fun and super rewarding. |
| 2013-11-30 4:36 PM in reply to: Quigley |
| 80 naperville, Illinois | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer Originally posted by Quigley I always wondered about volunteers at WTC events. I've volunteered at for profit races when they give you a free ticket for another race. And I've volunteered at non-profit races just to help the cause. But at IM events I don't think the volunteers get anything and the company just makes more money? Am I missing something? bah ha haaaaaa that made me laugh, but come on mannnn, you do it because you feel all tingly inside for helping out - those that truly volunteer ONLY because they get pre-reg for next year's race are few and far between, and I've volunteered next to them. they stand around for about 20 minutes, take pictures to post on FB, and disappear -- so even they get something out of it, they get to pretend to the FB world that they gave their time |
| 2013-11-30 4:40 PM in reply to: 0 |
| 80 naperville, Illinois | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer Originally posted by Dan Estrada If you have medical experience highly recommend being a medical volunteer. You will carry credentials that will get you ANYWHERE you want to go. You are right there with the photographers at the swim start. You can mingle with the pros (they are honestly cool folks). Security just nods and smiles as you walk past the red tape. And caring for those in the med tent is another world of experience as well. and this is exactly why volunteering as a runner for the medical people scks - their priority is NOT volunteering and they have no problem treating other volunteers like their servants on the food chain of being the boss. -- and the real treat is when you get caught in the middle of two of them fighting over which one is the boss of you - this time I want you to get their name and number before you enter the tent, next athlete- how dare you think you are qualified to ask someone their name, etc. etc. never, never again. clearly I'm still suffering PTSD. btw - you get to interact with the pros in the bike transition area too as most come back to pick up their own bikes post race. Edited by Raansnel 2013-11-30 5:00 PM |
| 2013-11-30 8:05 PM in reply to: Raansnel |
Champion 7704 Williamston, Michigan | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer Originally posted by Raansnel Originally posted by Dan Estrada If you have medical experience highly recommend being a medical volunteer. You will carry credentials that will get you ANYWHERE you want to go. You are right there with the photographers at the swim start. You can mingle with the pros (they are honestly cool folks). Security just nods and smiles as you walk past the red tape. And caring for those in the med tent is another world of experience as well. and this is exactly why volunteering as a runner for the medical people scks - their priority is NOT volunteering and they have no problem treating other volunteers like their servants on the food chain of being the boss. -- and the real treat is when you get caught in the middle of two of them fighting over which one is the boss of you - this time I want you to get their name and number before you enter the tent, next athlete- how dare you think you are qualified to ask someone their name, etc. etc. never, never again. clearly I'm still suffering PTSD. btw - you get to interact with the pros in the bike transition area too as most come back to pick up their own bikes post race. I have volunteered at IMWI as a doc which was HIGHLY organized and as the only doctor in the medical tent at IMFL in 2007 from 4pm-midnight I beg to differ with you. I did not yell at one single person despite the fact that they had NO PLAN before I arrived and a psychiatric nurse (god bless her) in charge of the tent. I am a sports doc and I know how to do this. After 30 minutes of chaos where the top age groupers are coming off the course thinking they are all that and a bag of chips and think they will recover faster with 500 cc of saline IV (NOT TRUE) We had a team meeting and formulated a plan. I had 50 -100 sick people to take care of at any one time. I am sorry for your experience but that is not true at all races. My fiancé is a surgeon and has organized the finish line medical at IMFL for several years when I have raced so for the others out there don't let one persons experience make you think every medical tent is a mess and grossly unorganized. |
| 2013-12-01 10:18 AM in reply to: tedjohn |
| 116 | Subject: RE: IM Volunteer Wow, to the medical runner volunteer - I apologize for the rude people you had to deal with. I've been a medical volunteer at the Oceanside 70.3 Ironman the past 3 years and have never experienced snobbery. For the the docs, nurses, respiratory therapists, and EMT's in the med tent: we all just put on our red t-shirts and are like one body taking care of sick or injured athletes. These folks are often atheltes themselves and are stoked to be a part of the event. It's sort of like when volunteering for an asthma camp, everyone is there for the kids and there is no stuffiness. Everyone on a first name basis, relaxed and low key. I'm a triathlete, and also a fan of the sport. So when (before the event - no injuries) I can position myself without interfering to see the athletes race I'll take advantage of that. I'm real sensitive to athetes who have their game face on. I will not bug them. That's not why I'm there. |
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