Volunteering for IMAZ
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knight22 posted 27 weeks ago.
I have volunteered as a "finish line catcher" for IMLP. It was a pretty cool job and I had a good time. The job is pretty much exactly as it sounds. The athletes would cross the line and you would be right there with a towel and an arm to support them. I would ask them how they felt and I then would bring them to get their chip removed and ask them what size t-shirt they wanted. Then you help bring them to their photo and to either medical or food. I found it enjoyable and I got to meet a bunch of really cool people. There are different shifts which makes it easy to watch throughout the day and still volunteer. I would recommend that you at least be there for the last couple of hours. It is pretty much like a fun party with a bunch of people yelling and singing to bring the last finishers home!
Have fun and thanks for volunteering.
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watrbg2 posted 27 weeks ago.
Last year at IMWI I was a body marker (great job for a female, maybe not so much for a male). I worked in the T1 change room helping the athletes get their T1 bag and helping them put their swim stuff in the T1 bag (worth it to see the pros come through doing a 30 second transition, we were told to stay out of their way). Then I caught bikes at T2, I wasn't signed up for that spot but they needed help and I didn't have anything else to do. And finally, I was a finish line catcher, very cool job as knight22 said. It was a long day, I started at 5:30 a.m. and was done about 9:00 p,m, but it was a blast. Most of the racers were real nice and said thanks for helping. I've done IMs and volunteering gives you a whole new perspective on the race. I didn't realize the amount of work and time the volunteers put in. I talked to several volunteers who had volunteered at every IMWI and plan to continue volunteering as long as there is an IM in Madison.
Thanks for helping, we wouldn't be able to do an IM without your help!
'In a world that tries its hardest to separate us from what matters, the Ironman helps us to reconnect with the pulse of our lives." - Scott Tinley
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azstinger11 posted 27 weeks ago.
I have volunteered at IMAZ twice now both times it was fun. The first time we helped people navigate through the bike finishing area, and to stop pedestrians from wondering in front of said bicyclists. The second time my team did it we ran a aid station and that was a blast. Enjoy it your doing a great thing that I truly think all triathletes should do once a season to thank all those that helped them in their races that year.
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TriSooner posted 27 weeks ago.
MrUtley wrote:
racers probably peed in the wetsuits....
Sorry about that, mate. :) I also wouldn't want to be the person who takes the racer's bikes from them at T2. (See above). Given that you are a dude, you may not (pardon the assumption) enjoy as titilating a job as body marker. But other jobs I have not seen mentioned: You could volunteer to apply sunscreen. Again, this is mostly high-school girls (and I so enjoyed that!). Markers are usually women, AND they have to get there crack-o-dawn early. (I am starting to see a pattern here. Women volunteers at IM are pervs!) Anyway, you could volunteer for the change tent. But that seems gross to me. It would be like hanging out in a men's locker room all day. Catchers are probably highly coveted jobs. You might have to work up to that. I don't know. Oooooh! How about helping people out of the water at the end of the swim! That would be cool! You never know: Your little push at 2:19:59 might shove someone across the line in for the cut-off! There is always aid stations, I bet they need tons of volunteers for that. I'd volunteer for a run aid station, hopefull near the end of the run so you can see the IM in all of its gory glory.
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azstinger11 posted 27 weeks ago.
oh but I am....
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Raygir posted 27 weeks ago.
I volunteered at the big show in Kona in 06 as a catcher at the 8 to 10 hour mark, was very very cool, you basically escort the athlete to either the med tent or to finisher area, was very cool escorting all the big names - couldnt talk to Macca as he had a phone to his ear the whole time.. Michelle was the same with a phone and a swarm of people around her,my new bride/wife also volunteered for the same job ( new to the whole tri scene ) thought Chris Leito ? or was it Luke Bell? was very charming,, hmmm??
It was part of my honeymoon, got married on the beach in Kona 2 days before the race,, gotta run part of the course and stayed at the same hotel where NBC crew was covering the race and interviewing all the big names,,,, very very cool
Hello,
I am planning on going to Arizona this November to visit the folks and while I'm there I'd like to volunteer for IMAZ. I've done a number of tri's but never volunteered. I don't have a clue as to what "jobs" would be interesting and fun.
Does anyone have any experience in volunteering for Ironman competitions? I'd love to hear some pros and cons on particular "jobs". I read somewhere that pulling off wetsuits in T1 was gross because the racers probably peed in the wetsuits....yuck!!!!
Looking at the IMAZ volunteering websight and the "jobs" available is a little overwhelming. I had no idea there were so many positions to be filled.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks