I just spent an amazing weekend in Tempe, Arizona volunteering at the Ironman event.
My first "job" was at the swim exit and I got some great video using my GoPro on the steps leading out of the canal.My excitement started building as soon as I got into the area. Talking with a couple from Colorado, Scott and Kim just fanned the flames.
The athletes were inspiring to see up close. The most was a challenged athlete, without legs who made the swim cutoff. Damn!! The saddest part was in cheering a woman on, trying to "bring her in" faster only to have her reach the top of the stairs with a WTC official waiting to tell her she was 8 seconds too late...she didn't make it. All her training and preparation for the past year ended just 2:20:08 after the start cannon.
I spent the rest of the day hangin' with Brandon, Ron, Candice and Justin's parents. We also got to cheer for Justin in his first official Ironman event. He's done long distances before, now it's official. :-)
My next volunteer job was the finish one catch, which was also totally cool. We got to welcome the athletes aftere they crossed the finish line and help them through getting a warming blanket (Mylar foil), their medal, finisher's t-shirt and hat and medical if they needed it. How rewarding to see the looks on their faces everything from elation to exhaustion to relief.
To say the finish line was marginally controlled chaos is an understatement. Pandemonium with celebratory hugs, high-fives, fist bumps, pictures and tears just about sums it up. The "captain" of the "catchers," Claudia, was excellent. She was more of a coach than an boss and a wonderful communicator. She made the experience great!
The most inspiring event I have ever expienced came with less than 30 seconds to go in the race. The announcer found one last finisher just entering the chute. The elite first and second place women had been draping medals on the finishers for the past hour. When they heard the announcer they both ran out to get her. They escorted her in with just 7 seconds to go. She is an Ironman. I know of no other sport where interaction with the elites are like this. I even got a pic of the winners shoulder to shoulde with Ron.
It was all enough to solidfy my intention on registering for the 2013 event. We were in line for about 2.5 hours, the result being me, Ron, Brandon and Brad are all in. I can't believe it, I'm going to train for the next year with the goal of becoming an Ironman.
Hang on everybody, here we go...
