Do you have any fun comments you've heard or said that you can share?
This is my 5th year of doing tris. And yes, I know good volunteers are critical. Hang with me till I get to my point, please.
Last weekend, for the first time ever (perhaps my 25th-30th tri of various distances, all short), I had some really negative volunteer comments. Exiting the rocky swim exit, I actually had a vol yell to me that this was a race and to get on in. I was negotiating submerged rocks. The same race I had a vol at the bike dismount yell to hurry up because there were others behind me. Mind you, this was a fairly steep short uphill to the dismount line (Culpeper Sprint tri in VA). I felt I needed to stay clipped in to make it to the dismount line so it wasn't like I hadn't thought about it.
I kinda wanted to say that the people behind me needed to deal with me, but I understood that he didn't understand and just went with it. I really take pride in being a polite and supportive competitor. I don't get paid for this so it makes my day that much more fun to take in the positive energy and roll with it.
Cue to today. I was a vol at a supersprint and worked the mount/dismount line for the first time ever. Surprisingly, there were a few race wheels/aero helmet guys at this "beginner's race" but that is a separate thread. But I tried to say something really positive to every single athlete. It was my first time as a volunteer. I said things like: Great swim, go kill the bike; You look really fast, see you soon; Style points for dismount, and You look like a runner, you're in there etc., well, you get the picture. This was a beginner sprint.
What are some great volunteer lines you've heard or said? By the end, I wished I had some fun new lines to throw out there. These beginners were awesome. They were me five years ago. Underprepared and overanxious. Thanks.
This is my 5th year of doing tris. And yes, I know good volunteers are critical. Hang with me till I get to my point, please.
Last weekend, for the first time ever (perhaps my 25th-30th tri of various distances, all short), I had some really negative volunteer comments. Exiting the rocky swim exit, I actually had a vol yell to me that this was a race and to get on in. I was negotiating submerged rocks. The same race I had a vol at the bike dismount yell to hurry up because there were others behind me. Mind you, this was a fairly steep short uphill to the dismount line (Culpeper Sprint tri in VA). I felt I needed to stay clipped in to make it to the dismount line so it wasn't like I hadn't thought about it.
I kinda wanted to say that the people behind me needed to deal with me, but I understood that he didn't understand and just went with it. I really take pride in being a polite and supportive competitor. I don't get paid for this so it makes my day that much more fun to take in the positive energy and roll with it.
Cue to today. I was a vol at a supersprint and worked the mount/dismount line for the first time ever. Surprisingly, there were a few race wheels/aero helmet guys at this "beginner's race" but that is a separate thread. But I tried to say something really positive to every single athlete. It was my first time as a volunteer. I said things like: Great swim, go kill the bike; You look really fast, see you soon; Style points for dismount, and You look like a runner, you're in there etc., well, you get the picture. This was a beginner sprint.
What are some great volunteer lines you've heard or said? By the end, I wished I had some fun new lines to throw out there. These beginners were awesome. They were me five years ago. Underprepared and overanxious. Thanks.