Ironman Sherpa Advice
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jnrice posted 6 weeks ago.
That's a good one... if Stuart has a favorite "fight" song it would be awesome for him to hear it blasted out of a car on the side of the road at mile 90 on the bike. Although, the coolest thing ever is just friendly faces. If you have a half dozen people going down to cheer you can cover a lot of the course if you split up. Just make sure there is a cheering mob at the finish line.
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Anton posted 6 weeks ago.
Get them involved...get them to volunteer. It will fill the long period of time between "sightings,"
and they'll come to understand just how special it is. Don't worry ...Your volunteer team captain will let you all go in time to see Stuart finish. They'll come away with a cool t-shirt and memories that they made... My aid station at IMLP this year was chock full of folks who had family members racing.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com
4914
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beads1985 posted 6 weeks ago.
Anton wrote:
Get them involved...get them to volunteer. It will fill the long period of time between "sightings,"
and they'll come to understand just how special it is. Don't worry ...Your volunteer team captain will let you all go in time to see Stuart finish. They'll come away with a cool t-shirt and memories that they made... My aid station at IMLP this year was chock full of folks who had family members racing.
Volunteering is a great idea. as Anton said they are pretty flexible to let you see the finish. My wife volunteered at Chessieman( A much smaller IM distance race) last year and she was able to hand me my bag coming into T1 from the swim, and see me off on the way out. She then went over to the bike/run aide station and helped out there for hours. She got lots of schwag, met some nice people, got to see me a bunch of time and was there at the finish for me. It kept me motivated all day.
I am looking to volunteer at an event soon.
Nothing to it, but to do it
4483
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1635 days
kylie posted 6 weeks ago.
I've enjoyed volunteering during the wait too. The signs are great, but really for your husband just your faces will have magical powers. I remember how at my first IM almost my entire family, and a group of my closest friends, were all there for me. They showed up throughout the day, and each time I saw the group there was a new face!
The harder part will be keeping the rest of the group interested. From the feedback of my family (including little newphews) really the only tough part was for the 1 and 2 year olds. The family got so inspired by each person coming by, they cheered, and watched, and were just amazed and impressed. Some have since started running, in part because of how cool it was.
Signs ahead of time will be good, and you can always write with chalk on the course.
But I think once cheering it will start to make sense to them... at least that was what my family found :)
1821
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1080 days
tri-ac posted 6 weeks ago.
not to be a party pooper, but...family members that do not participate in endurance events may cringe at "working" during the event
tamara, you know your family best.
i like the ideas you've come up with. my wife made t-shirts for my first HIM and chalked signs on the road, etc
you may want to target some restaurant/retail/leisure areas near the course so that folks can go find a spot to go away to for an hour or two (make sure they know the expected splits for when they should be on-course yelling and screaming and offering hugs and encouragement)
Adam
Tri-ac
1008
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1194 days
PJT posted 6 weeks ago.
Check the expo day before to see if they have a Ford Inspiration Station like in Madison. This is a big electronic sign board on the run where you type in a message to your athlete and he can read it when he runs by (it is chip activated).
If you're driving, you may want to throw a shelter, cooler, and grill in your car and do a roadside cookout during the bike.
Pack cowbells, tamborines, etc.
1190
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TriSooner posted 6 weeks ago.
Tamara wrote:
. . . anything in particular that your friends and family did to make race week and race day special for you or give you a reason to smile at any point before/during/after the race?
I've always wanted to see someone re-enact El Diablo from the Tour de France on an IM climb:
518
Member
1314 days
Tamara posted 4 weeks ago.
thanks for some of these great ideas! I'm working on an Ironman iPod mix that I can have blaring at some point for him along the route. My mom, in addition to volunteering during the week, now wants to get involved on race day, too. Others in the family haven't jumped at the chance, but I've promised them a good lunch at the condo for those that don't want to chase all over the bike course! Roadside signs and chalk are also in the works now.
I also came up with this idea that I wanted to share -- yesterday I emailed a ton of family/friends/his boss/his coach and asked them to send me an email or note to Stuart wishing him well or expressing support, and I'll give him a few every day next week in the lead-up to the race so that he has that extra bit of positive energy flowing from everyone who isn't there that day. Folks are really getting into it, by last night I've already gotten 6 messages back and promises of more to come, including some that almost make me cry! My stepson lives in California and can't make it for the race, and so he's promised to definitely send something for his dad.
"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." ~George Sheehan
1790
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1530 days
PrinceofClydes posted 4 weeks ago.
Go shopping. Relax. Because I'll be gone for 14.5 hours, barring disaster. Have a late brunch. Go on a picnic. Check out the local wineries or amusement park. Tube down the canal (at IMC) maybe check athlete tracker once in a while, then put in a 30 second appearance on Main Street by the Mohawk (where I;ll be traveling slowest on the in-town part of the bike) then have dinner, take in another movie and show up at the finish line at 9:30pm when I'll be finishing so you can help me carry my soggy clothes and stuff back to the car.
Love ya' :)
PoC
really, I do.
"Pain doesn't last, chicks dig scars, glory is forever!"
- Shane Falco.
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beads1985 posted 4 weeks ago.
PrinceofClydes wrote:
Go shopping. Relax. Because I'll be gone for 14.5 hours, barring disaster. Have a late brunch. Go on a picnic. Check out the local wineries or amusement park. Tube down the canal (at IMC) maybe check athlete tracker once in a while, then put in a 30 second appearance on Main Street by the Mohawk (where I;ll be traveling slowest on the in-town part of the bike) then have dinner, take in another movie and show up at the finish line at 9:30pm when I'll be finishing so you can help me carry my soggy clothes and stuff back to the car.Love ya' :)
PoC
really, I do.
Too funny!! ;-)
I'll save this note as a template for my wife at my next IM
Nothing to it, but to do it
We're headed to Florida in a few weeks for my husband's first Ironman. We'll be joined by my parents, his brother & sister in law, & possibly our 2 college-age nephews, all of whom are very supportive but not athletes (except for 1 nephew) so they don't totally "get it". I'm trying to think of various ways to both keep him psyched up and also get them excited about standing around outside for 10 or 12 hours on Saturday waiting for him to bike/run by. So I'm looking for some creative ways to get everyone excited and into the Ironman mood.
I’ve ordered customized m&m’s in orange and blue that say Go Stuart! and Ironman Florida. We’ll have some in the condo and I’ll throw some in his special needs bag. I’ve heard you can make posters that they’ll display along the bike course. Has anyone else put up signs on a random stretch of road somewhere on the bike course to cheer on their athlete? What else can I do?
Ironman athletes, anything in particular that your friends and family did to make race week and race day special for you or give you a reason to smile at any point before/during/after the race? Spectators – any advice regarding stuff you’ve done for your IM athletes to maybe surprise them or let them know that you’re there for them 1000%?
"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." ~George Sheehan