If you participate in running/cycling/triathlon events, then you should volunteer to help out at at least one. You'll get a whole new perspective.
Although I always try to remember to thank the volunteers, until I volunteered I never had a real appreciation of what a job it is that the volunteers take on.
I volunteered to help out at the CapTexasTri (Austin, TX) last weekend. Which meant that I had to be there at 5:00am on Memorial Day - before most of the athletes even got there.
It was raining. Hard. But there we were huddled in the volunteer tent waiting to find out what was going to happen. The water was puddling so that my feet were getting wet already, but I had my bright yellow dry volunteer t-shirt (the fact that I dropped mine in a puddle before I out it on was totally on me), but within an hour it was soaked through and through anyway.
At 5:45am they canceled the swim. Well, a lot of Triathletes weren't to keen on getting on their bikes in the pouring rain if they weren't even going to be able to swim.
Many of us volunteers went to the (obviously uncovered) transition area to help the athletes get their bikes (match athletes to bikes so no one would walk off with a $3500 bike that wasn't theirs). It was still raining, we were soaked and getting cold.
At 6:30am the entire event was canceled. Total bummer, but now we have about 1000 athletes who need to get their bikes out of what is turning into a very muddy field as it was still raining. The athletes were WONDERFUL considering how bummed I would be if my event was canceled. Many had to run back to their cars (parked blocks away) or their hotels without complaint to get their bib numbers so we could match them to the bikes. After another hour the field resemble the muddy rain scene from Woodstock.
If someone didn't have their number or if their bike was not numbered, we would have them describe their bike, then escort them to the bike and back to the exit. My wet feet were covered in mud that was making it's way but my calves as I sloshed though the mud.
Because the race canceled so early a lot of the sprinters, who started later then athe olympic athletes, has not yet arrived. Most of these folks understandable were in no rush to get their bikes out of the cold muddy wet transition area, so they slept in, had breakfast, took a shower. We volunteers waited in the rain for them to arrive.
Water, Water Everywhere, and Not a Drop to Drink
Because the event canceled none of the vendors were there, meaning no snackies or drinks for the volunteers. By 10:30 they were still working on getting us bottled water, but to their credit the whole situation was such a pooch-screw that no one was complaining about the lack of water in bottles.
But 10:30am (it was still freaking raining) most of the bikes were gone and we were able to close all but one exit to the transition area. Most of the volunteers were thanked and released and given a second dry t-shirt - oh, that t-shirt felt soooo good.
Although the event canceled due to the rain, the volunteers would have had to do this job at the end of the race if it weren't canceled whether it was raining, 35 degrees or 95 degrees. These are the same volunteers out on your bike/run route standing on the concrete possbily out in the middle of nowhere in whatever the weather is at you event, directing athletes, traffic and spectators. These are the volunteers wet and muddy/sandy helping you out of the water and your wetsuit. Working their triceps holding out cups of water as you fly by. These are the folks cheering you on, tell you "you look good!", "you're almost there!", "you're doing great!"
I never truly appreciated what the volunteers do and the fact that they are there long before the race and long after the race. Their payment in generally a t-shirt, a couple of bottles of water, and a Clif bar.
Would I do it again? You bet! I'd do it in appreciation to all the athletes competing who have volunteered at an event I participated in.
Next your competeing, if you have the extra breath in you, take the time to give a "Thanks Volunteers" shout out. It will be appreciated.
Although I always try to remember to thank the volunteers, until I volunteered I never had a real appreciation of what a job it is that the volunteers take on.
I volunteered to help out at the CapTexasTri (Austin, TX) last weekend. Which meant that I had to be there at 5:00am on Memorial Day - before most of the athletes even got there.
It was raining. Hard. But there we were huddled in the volunteer tent waiting to find out what was going to happen. The water was puddling so that my feet were getting wet already, but I had my bright yellow dry volunteer t-shirt (the fact that I dropped mine in a puddle before I out it on was totally on me), but within an hour it was soaked through and through anyway.
At 5:45am they canceled the swim. Well, a lot of Triathletes weren't to keen on getting on their bikes in the pouring rain if they weren't even going to be able to swim.
Many of us volunteers went to the (obviously uncovered) transition area to help the athletes get their bikes (match athletes to bikes so no one would walk off with a $3500 bike that wasn't theirs). It was still raining, we were soaked and getting cold.
At 6:30am the entire event was canceled. Total bummer, but now we have about 1000 athletes who need to get their bikes out of what is turning into a very muddy field as it was still raining. The athletes were WONDERFUL considering how bummed I would be if my event was canceled. Many had to run back to their cars (parked blocks away) or their hotels without complaint to get their bib numbers so we could match them to the bikes. After another hour the field resemble the muddy rain scene from Woodstock.
If someone didn't have their number or if their bike was not numbered, we would have them describe their bike, then escort them to the bike and back to the exit. My wet feet were covered in mud that was making it's way but my calves as I sloshed though the mud.
Because the race canceled so early a lot of the sprinters, who started later then athe olympic athletes, has not yet arrived. Most of these folks understandable were in no rush to get their bikes out of the cold muddy wet transition area, so they slept in, had breakfast, took a shower. We volunteers waited in the rain for them to arrive.
Water, Water Everywhere, and Not a Drop to Drink
Because the event canceled none of the vendors were there, meaning no snackies or drinks for the volunteers. By 10:30 they were still working on getting us bottled water, but to their credit the whole situation was such a pooch-screw that no one was complaining about the lack of water in bottles.
But 10:30am (it was still freaking raining) most of the bikes were gone and we were able to close all but one exit to the transition area. Most of the volunteers were thanked and released and given a second dry t-shirt - oh, that t-shirt felt soooo good.
Although the event canceled due to the rain, the volunteers would have had to do this job at the end of the race if it weren't canceled whether it was raining, 35 degrees or 95 degrees. These are the same volunteers out on your bike/run route standing on the concrete possbily out in the middle of nowhere in whatever the weather is at you event, directing athletes, traffic and spectators. These are the volunteers wet and muddy/sandy helping you out of the water and your wetsuit. Working their triceps holding out cups of water as you fly by. These are the folks cheering you on, tell you "you look good!", "you're almost there!", "you're doing great!"
I never truly appreciated what the volunteers do and the fact that they are there long before the race and long after the race. Their payment in generally a t-shirt, a couple of bottles of water, and a Clif bar.
Would I do it again? You bet! I'd do it in appreciation to all the athletes competing who have volunteered at an event I participated in.
Next your competeing, if you have the extra breath in you, take the time to give a "Thanks Volunteers" shout out. It will be appreciated.