I left rainy and windy Portland early Friday morning and arrived in Phoenix to warm sun, clear skies, and a light breeze. The rest of the day was filled with a short run/walk to shake off the sleepiness, dinner with some old friends of Jon, and then too late of a night with too many Jubelales around the patio table. 7:30am came early that next morning.
Saturday we were scheduled to be at the volunteer meeting at 9am and then mill around the race expo afterwards. We got to watch the athletes coming in and out of the water for the Gatorade Practice Swim in Tempe Town Lake, nervous men and women checking their bikes into transition, and supportive family members trying to hide their own nervousness as they helped shephard their sons/daughters/significant others from place to place.
- What is up with the compression socks? Do they really make a difference? I think I will get a pair to see what the fuss is about. At least then everyone will think that I'm "in the know".
- Wearing an IMAZ visor, tri top, tri shorts, and socks looks silly. Wearing it all the day before the race is certainly no exception.
- Triathletes, on average, are very wealthy.
- Riding your bike while carrying your 2 gear bags, cup of coffee, and toting your dog on a leash will not end well.
- Race wheels sure are pretty.
- Ironman boys are pretty too. And not always in a good way.
- There are literally thousands of supportive friends and family members. It's incredible how they put up with us.
- Cervelo city!
- If you're breaking into a dead sweat and wheezing, just by wheeling your bike into check-in, perhaps you may want to rethink doing the race?
Race Day:
We were up at 3:45am, out the door at 4am, and into transition at 4:30am. My first volunteer assignment of the day was bodymarking, and we had to be there prior to the competitors entering transition at 5am. Being in transition in the dark, with carbon and metal shimmering in the gleam of the spotlights, totally silent, is an amazing experience. Then the music started (U2 I think..."It's a Beautiful Day"...) and one-by-one, they started shuffling in . Wiping the sleep from their eyes (those that managed to get any sleep), trying to down the last of their high-calorie breakfast, and quadruple checking their bikes before heading to us to get inked.
Onto volunteer assignment #3: run special needs. I worked the megaphone for awhile, asking athletes to raise their hand if they were on loop 2 and wanted their bag. As time went on, some couldn't muster the strength to lift their arm. They would instead lift their gaze, make eye contact with me, and slightly nod their head. I cried for the third time that day. Later on I helped retrieve bags and did more clapping and cheering.
Four hours after my head hit the pillow, the alarm sounded. My normal routine would be to hit snooze and roll back over, but I was...EXCITED!!! Time to sign-up for 2009!!! We arrived to only about 25 other people in line. Huh? I thought this was a big deal? I've read of sign-up lines stretching hundreds deep. But, within 30 minutes, the line was far into the distance and we were glad for the early arrival. We huddled under our mylar blankets (there was a leftover box from the night before) and anxiously waited for registration to open at 6:30am. Finally! FINALLY! We were ushered into to the tent to a volunteer, forked over our credit cards, and got the magic slip of paper with the confirmation number for 2009!
5 comments:
I wetsuit stripped, so I got to see them in between your assignments. Yes, it was really hard to see some people shivering and in so much pain that early in the day.
You must've been just ahead of me in the sign-up line because when I walked out of the registration tent, you were standing there taking that photo with your confirmation sheets!
It's going to be a big year!
The volunteers in the changing tents are the best! Sounds like you had a busy day. Just did IMFL and it was the greatest day. Cheers to awesome volunteers and all the volunteers I could only grunt at:)
Hey girl! I can't believe we're all signed up and ready to go!! What's your email address so I can send you the information to be a contributor on the IMAZ09 blog. :)
- Barbara
barbsmarathon@gmail.com
Wow! What a cold morning/swim! That is heartbreaking to read.
Thanks for volunteering! My husband volunteered for almost 17 hours at my race in IMFL. He had a great time and met so many people. We both have some crazy stories!
Best to you in your training, exciting year ahead.
Hi Sarah! I signed up as did my co-worker Brandy! I look forward to flowing your blog this year and racing with you in AZ!
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