Thoughts on working with the Ironman crew on 70.3 World Championships

Triathlon Forum
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I have posted previously how I feel about taking ownership over areas that you volunteer during races. I take great pride in being a coordinator that helps athletes move safely through the course. I hold my own section of the course as my little fiefdom. I think this is how great races are made, people who care a lot about what they are doing.

I have to admit that I was hesitant when I found out that the Silverman RD had agreed to become the RD for the 70.3 World Championships last year. I’ve worked on Silverman since the beginning, and have always loved it.

So I went to the pre-race meet and greet with trepidation. I wasn’t sure what they were going to be like. During introductions, the Ironman people were very relaxed about who they were and what they did. The dude who was going to be my boss said it to me plain and simple.

Our job was to do exactly what we do during Silverman, and if there was any issue, they’d be there to support us. I was completely deflated. The last thing I expected was for them to be cool with us, and not to try to change everything we did three days before the race.

The only problem for me to face would be that I would have to communicate with them through two-way radios. I hate walkie-talkies, and can never get them to work. Grrrr… I should say that throughout the years of working on Silverman, I’ve always been given radios, and have never successfully used one.

Race morning came, and things went off perfectly. The WTC people were nothing like the way they were during the meet and greet. They were all business, and they were good. Real good. Everything worked great. I had the walkie-talkie, but did not need it. Volunteers showed up, were eager to learn about their jobs, and asked questions about the race that they might have been asked by athletes or spectators.

I would say that during every race that goes through an urban environment, there are always going to be a small group of people that yell at the volunteers because they want to go onto a closed street, or want to turn where the athletes are riding. The volunteers did a fantastic job of preventing this from happening.

At the end of the race, I gave my walkie talkie back to the Ironman people and that was it. Whew, another race where no one was injured on my section of the course. And a lot more respect for the Ironman people.

I am beginning to understand why they charge more for races. The infrastructure is almost completely self-contained. They have full-time crews travelling the country setting up and tearing down these races, in addition to the local Race Directors and volunteers.

You can hate on WTC all you want, but the individuals I dealt with were nothing but friendly and professional.

Jason

Edit: for spacing only

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Slightly confused when you say: “I was completely deflated” when the ironman crew first showed up and were actually down to earth and easy going.

I figured you would be pretty happy that they were like that? Did you want more structure from the start?

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FYI, I’ve volunteered at a number of Tris, including IMC. When you are in my little section, regardless of where it is and who you are it is really simple. Safety trumps everything and is first, then the athletes, then the volunteers, then families with kids or disabled, then others.

You go when I say go and you go where I point or go away. When I’m in T2 I’ll run with you and lead you to your spot, if I’m allowed I’ll rack your bike and bag your clothes, pick up your trash, spray you with sunscreen, ask how your ride was, remind you to take your helmet off and put your number on and tell you and point to the run exit and grab that discarded water bottle and return it to your bike. Oh and tell you how great a job you are doing regardless of whether you are setting a new course record or just made the bike cutoff by a couple of seconds. And there are a number of us all doing that at the same time.

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Can you share how much you got paid for the day? Thanks.

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FYI, I’ve volunteered at a number of Tris, including IMC. When you are in my little section, regardless of where it is and who you are it is really simple. Safety trumps everything and is first, then the athletes, then the volunteers, then families with kids or disabled, then others.

You go when I say go and you go where I point or go away. When I’m in T2 I’ll run with you and lead you to your spot, if I’m allowed I’ll rack your bike and bag your clothes, pick up your trash, spray you with sunscreen, ask how your ride was, remind you to take your helmet off and put your number on and tell you and point to the run exit and grab that discarded water bottle and return it to your bike. Oh and tell you how great a job you are doing regardless of whether you are setting a new course record or just made the bike cutoff by a couple of seconds. And there are a number of us all doing that at the same time.

This.

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Can you share how much you got paid for the day? Thanks.

He probably got paid the same amount as the people that volunteer at golf and tennis matches.

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I had an expectation of them behaving in an arrogant, condescending manner. I had my chest all puffed out with indignation, and was “deflated” by how cool they were. Okay, a poorly written sentence. :slight_smile:

Jason

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You make a good point. I was paid with a couple of shirts, and a cool looking staff credential. However, I am not a full-time Ironman employee.

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Thanks for volunteering not only on race day, but also for giving so much advice on this forum.

I thoroughly enjoyed the race. For an inaugural event with so many participants and spectators, and with all the logistical challenges of a point to point race, I thought it all was incredibly well run.

I only wish they would somehow figure how to route the run through a casino…that’d be cool :wink:

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Step 1: Hold Walkie up near mouth
Step 2: Listen briefly to ensure no one else is currently talking (as indicated by noise coming through the speaker)
Step 3: Press and hold button
Step 4: Talk
Step 5: Depress button when done talking

FWIW, I’ve always had a good experience at a WTC event. Thanks for being there for me/ us.

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Yes, but what about squelch???

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Yes, but what about squelch???

That would be Greg Squelch and there is nothing you can do about him,he sounds like that all the time…:wink:

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Right on.

Appreciate the clarification.

Jason

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Frank is one of the best RD’s in the business (as you know), so you should have expected a great race.

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M~

He works his arse off, that’s for sure. He’s also to the point with his area “captains” that they know what to do, how to do it, and are empowered to make critical decisions.

You just never know how an outside organization will interact with the existing staff. In this case, it was VERY smooth. Plus I finally got a captain’s shirt that wasn’t too small! :wink:

jason