Ironman Western Australia Volunteer report-part 1

[LittleBlackDuck]

It was lovely to meet you too CC and spend some time with you…. you’ll have to improve on your bocce though before you come down again for the Half Ironman in May .

I’ve just returned from the vollies party and Jason Shortis (the winner in 8:03:57 )gave a great speech, a very heartfelt thank you to the people of Busselton and to all vollies (you would have loved it CC). He said that even though Busso doesn’t have the same crowds as other Ironman events, the people of Busso are the warmest and most welcome. Awwww. Imke Schiersch from Spain also gave a moving speech, she said that most people would probably think she was lying, that she is just saying what locals want to hear, but she too spoke of her love of Busso people and the vollies, and even apologised that some athletes might appear unfriendly. What a lovely woman .

Anyways, I volunteered at T1, got out of bed at 4:10am for a 4:45am start, which was really 3:10am thanks to losing an hour overnight because of daylight savings. I don’t mind the early morning starts, I love working in transition.

Before the start of the race the athletes dropped off their fuel and fluids for their bike and run legs, we marked the bags and off they went to their destinations. Two requests from guys for some kind of tape for nipple chafe had us scrambling around for something suitable…. packing tape had to do. One guy had totally misplaced his swim bag with his wetsuit and cap and was madly panicing, someone found it though. Another guy lost his swim cap 5 mins before the start but managed to find an official who had some spares.

Plenty of dazed athletes coming out of the swim leg, it was our duty to direct them to their run bags and point them in the right transition areas (male or female areas). We were allowed to help athletes take off their wetsuits, put sunscreen on them, pack their bags, but not help them get dressed in any way. Scrutineers everywhere we were told. One athlete lost his timing chip somewhere in the transition area, all us vollies were head down looking for it.

Had a breakfast break inbetween the last swimmer and the first cyclist, where we then directed the cyclists to their run bags on completion of their bike leg. By then the second shift of vollies came on and my job as a volunteer was over. But not my job as spectator, and I’m a noisy one I can tell you !

I have the long list of athletes number and name in my hand, and on the run leg I pick out an athlete from afar, read their number, quickly look up their name on the list, and as they go past I say something like “Go Chiyoko!! Thank you for coming all the way from Japan!” THEY LOVE IT when you call out their names ! All of them smile to hear their name called out.

The very best part though is staying up to see the last of them come in late at night, they get the rowdiest of cheers and applause and I am in complete awe of these people who put their bodies through torture to complete an Ironman. It never fails to bring tears to my eyes. They are truly amazing.

That was the fourth time I’ve volunteered, twice at half ironman and twice at full ironman and I’m pretty sure that I’m now a IMWA Triathlon volunteer junkie . I just love doing it, love the atmosphere, love getting up close to the athletes, love being part of the community. If anyone is humming and haaing about being a volunteer, don’t hum and haa any longer…. sign up! It’s a wonderful experience, one that you’ll cherish forever. Ain’t it CC?