Where Should I Volunteer at an IM?

HI,

Last year my family and I volunteered at IMLP. We were at the half way point on the run and it was an amazing experience. To see all the athletes out there and provide them with what they need to keep them going makes you really part of the race. My kids ( age 12,10,5) had the time of their lives.

We will once again be at IMLP as a family working the run and this year I hope to sign up for 07 the day after the race. You will have a great time no matter what you chose to do.

ALso, working the finish line can be an intense experience. I did manage to do that last year as well from 9-12pm really a wild time.

Good luck and have fun,

Seth

What are your other choices besides the family finish/kids pen?

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I volunteered at the Cross Plaines bike aid station (miles 40 and 80 something on the loop) during IM Wisconsin this year and loved it. But be warned bike aid stations are hard work. You spend most of the day running with water bottles/fruit/goo.

Despite the exhausting workout, volunteering at IM WI was one of the most rewarding and inspirational things I had ever done.

Good question. I was thinking of volunteering at IMLP next year as well...and hopefully signing up for 2007...and I was wondering the same thing. Also, can anyone tell me the best way to volunteer? Last time I saw the website I don't think it was ready to accept volunteers. Does this change as the race gets closer?

Do volunteers have any special privelages when trying to get in the race for the following year? I will volunteer either way, just curious.

I plan on going to IM LP in 2006 to be a jock strap.  I'd like to volunteer.  I was thinking about body marking, that way I'd be done so I could spectate during the race.

For those of you inquiring about IMLP keep checking the website under the volunteer section. In the near future it will be updated. You will need to fill out the apllication. Part of the application provides you the ability to request certain jobs. It is my understanding that Body Marking, Wet suit stripper, and finish line catcher go fast.

Also, more important, if you plan on staying around the event you better make reservations now! Most places in LP are already booked and many require a four night minimum. Traveling around on race day is not easy so try and stay as close as possible.

As far as freebies..to quote Mastercard..Spending a day helping other achieve their Ironman dreams..Priceless. Actually, you do get a free shirt.

If there is going to be a large contingent of us we should plan a dinner or something. Alas, we have the whole winter to plan that trip. If you have any questions please feel free to PM me will try my best to answer what I can.

Seth

I was a body-marker at IMAZ. Really liked this job! (o; But it was great talking/chatting with the athletes before they took the plunge.

Drawbacks... verrrrryy early check-in time!
Benefits... freed me up to go watch everything else, including the final two hours of the race. I didn't do it, but I could easily have done another volunteer position later in the day. Just didn't think of it at the time.

Dana

If you're an upbeat, chatty person, do the body-marking. There will be lots of nervous atthletes who will really appreciate your positive attitude. Besides, as one woman once said to me as I was body-marking her, "This is the most fun you can have without being slapped, huh?"

If you like to see emotion up-close and personal, choose to be a "catcher" at the finish line. Enough said.

If you thrive in chaos and/or feel that you can be a "voice of reason" in a hectic environment, then work the change tents at T1. When the largest bulk of age groupers finish the swim, the tents are teeming with people trying to get their bearings and establish some order to their lives. You will help them get thier swim gear into their swim-to-bike bag and help organize the stuff they need for the ride itself.

If you are looking for a good workout, choose to be a bike retriever/returner - the people responsible for running through the bike pit and fetching the bikes for the athletes as they emege from the change tents. And many hours later, you'll be there to teturn their bikes to the racks after they finish their rides.

If you don't mind having very watery urine spalshed on you, be a wetsuit stripper. As this is a 2.4 mile swim, many people will pee in their wetsuits, and often this is done more than once....and often it will happen for the last time close to the finish so that they might be able to make it through the 112 miles of the bike without having to stop to pee!

On behalf of all iron-distance competitors, I thank you sincerely for whatever assistance you provide at IMAZ. People like you make the race mcuh more pleasurable - and possible! - for all of us competitors.

BODYMARKING

Body Marking and Finish Line weren't even on their list of choices...not sure why?

Well, thats what I was going to say but on well. I think it might be most rewarding to work the changing tent. Some people really come in there in pain, need help and just want a breather and talk to someone and hear kind words. Participants usually just fly through water stops.

Here are my thoughts.  I felt bad not volunteering this weekend but I feel like being the Jock Strap for Haley and Brett was much more important.  I had more to do than I thought I would.  If I had been body-marking I would not have been able to help them lug all their stuff around, take their warm ups bags back to the car, be the picture taker, etc,etc.  I will be body marking at IMFL in 2 weeks but I will be the jock-strap first.  There will be plenty of body markers. One thing I realized yesterday - taking care of yourself after the race BY YOURSELF is not really an option.  You need help.  I need a jock strap!!

at the risk of bear squashing me, i will word myself carefully. (or anyone else trolling for a loose wording). WHat would a person acting as a "jockstrap" to for an ironman competiter? (still too open, i rewrote it like 10 times... oh well let the squashing begin.)

Jock strap is just a dorky saying for someone who is supporting the athlete (athletic support, get it?).  Carrying bags, cheering, dealing with gear after the race, just doing what they can to help that person have a good race.

Okay, i get it now.

This is true. I couldn't manage (exhaustion and pain) to walk to the bathroom. The curb in the parking lot was much closer... So carrying my finish bags or gear was out of the question.

I worked security at IMAZ last year and had a chance to spend time in several different areas. I would say that the finish line catchers have the best job. Its great seeing people coming down the stretch. Working kids pen and family finish will have you right in the same finishing area (the kid "pen" was literally right next to the finish line). The good news is you can probably do multiple tasks. Run special needs for a couple of hours early, family finish line later.I'll be racing IMAZ this year (my 1st full IM). See you at the finish line! Thanks in advance for volunteering.Dan

I volunteered at IMLP as a body marker and thought it was great.  Not everyone wants to chat in the morning, but you can get a lot of motivational info from those who do.  For example I marked a family of Father, daughter (22) and son (19).  Also a guy doing his 15th IM, also got to BM a couple of the pros.  Later in the day, I noticed that they needed someone in the change tend in T2 so I did that as well.  What a frenzy!  It felt really good to be able to help those people with some kind, positive words before their marathon.   Especially the BOPers.  The finish line drama you can get just by watching at the finish line, but the behind the scenes stuff, and the personal time you only really  get with the two positions I mentioned.