I just volunteered at IMLP to gain entry for '09. It was a great experience. I was scheduled to work 5PM-9PM on the run course, but due to the torrential downpour, I made my way over to my tent at 1:30PM and stayed until just after 7 in the pouring rain. Again, a great experience, and if you've ever done a 70.0/IM/or Marathon, you'll now see how hard everyone works to aid you during your race! good luck!

I'm interested in the responses too. Just last week I signed up to help at the Tempe Ironman this November. I'll either be a finish line catcher, a bike pointer, or a run pointer. I tried to volunteer for the women's changing tent, but that was a "no go." :)

Thanks for volunteering! Volunteers at IM events are so awesome!!

I volunteered once at a non-Mdot iron-distance event. I was a pointer at the run course in different spots. My shift was supposed to be from noon to 6pm but because it was a non-MDot event they didn't have many volunteers lined up so I ended up staying until the course closed at 11pm. Volunteering was so much fun, almost as much fun as racing and the time went by so fast!

The best part was seeing the last 3 finishers coming in to their last run turn around (the course had a weird shape and at that point they only had 1 mile to go). I was the only volunteer there, we all high fived and I cheered them on until they couldn't hear me anymore. All night we were monitoring these 3 guys because we were afraid they wouldn't make the cut off but they made up a few minutes on every lap of the run and ended up finishing with 11 minutes to spare. It was so emotional and super motivating.

I was a bike handler at IMAZ this past spring. I really enjoyed it. Yes make sure to wear gloves at AZ they had boxes of gloves. I broke about ten gloves mostly by them catching on the nose of the seat. Just try not to think about it too much. I might try to be a bike handler again in november.

I volunteered at IMWI in 2007 and at IM CdA this year. I did sunscreen at both which is fun because you get to see the pros come screaming through (they do NOT stop for sun screen) and if your friends are racing you see them, too.

I also was a catcher from 9 to midnight at CdA. That was fun, too. The people I caught had been out there 14 - 16 hours and they were very proud of their accomplishments.

I think the whole 'show up and register' thing is about to come to an end due to Lake Placid selling out on-site but I can't find where I read that. I don't think the will kill it this year but it is becoming a problem as it leaves people who can't attend a race unable to get in to one.

All of these stories get me excited to head down to IMAZ and volunteer/sign up this November. I haven't signed up to volunteer yet b/c I'm waiting to see if my wife's going to be able to come or not. I not only want to volunteer to ensure I get in for next years race but also to give back like everyone else has mentioned, a right of passage I guess. The volunteers in Boise definitely seemed like they were having way more fun than I was on the run course, so I'm excited to see the event from the other side of the fence.

The trailer with all the gear for Exceeding Expectations was stolen. It was in the local paper and on Ironman.com. Amazing volunteer work for some very great kids. They do a local event Tinsel Tri in Hemet annually. Kids are very nice on the course! They will rally and continue to great work for the area..

I volunteered at IM FL 07. I handed out T1 bags at the end of the swim. I got to watch all the athletes come through no their way out to the bike. I then went to Waffle House and ate breakfast. After the pros came back on their bikes, I went into the changing tents and helped athletes change from bike to run until the run cut off. The athletes were so appreciative. It was fun, and I really enjoyed helping so many peeps achieve their goals that day. I got to see some chica cross the line with like 10 seconds left before the bike cut off. By that time, the pros had already finished, so I went to the finish line to share in some of the electricity generated by top age group finishers. What a blast. More cowbell please!!!!!

Sunday, I woke up at 4:30 AM and went for a twenty mile run. I went home, at breakfast and showered, then hit the registration tent for IM FL 08. The special volunteer line was gone, so they took me right away. I was in and out in ten minutes. Smoothest IM registration eva! Now, with little over three months until IM FL 08, I'm asking, "What have I done?" LOL!!!