Yesterday I volunteered to help at the Ironman Muncie 70.3 race. While I enjoy the excitement of racing, it is equally as enjoyable to work on the other side every now and again! I find giving back to this sport that I love really gives me back so much more in the way of inspiration and confirmation of what a great group of people comprises the triathlon community.
My trip down started on Friday evening with a pre-race dinner with athlete, Amanda, who was racing the next day. She was going to race with a friend but unfortunately her friend got injured in another race so she was solo. We had met through the Swim Bike Fuel group created by Meredith Atwood and Meredith Vieceli. It was a great time and I loved making a new friend and having another person to cheer for at the race.

Race morning was early just like I was racing. I was working in transition which is basically base camp for the athletes during the race. I had to be there at 4:45 before the athletes started to arrive at 5:00. My jobs shifted throughout the day from body marking to cleaning trash up out of the aisles, to guarding areas, to holding bikes for athletes coming in from the course while they went potty, to placing items at transition spots, to removing stickers from racks & breaking down transition bike racks. I’m sure I’m leaving something out but it was a full day that ended for me close to 5:00PM. I made a fabulous new friend, Christy, who I worked with and hung out with the whole day! We had a great time together and she is such a fantastic lady! 

It was also exciting to be cheering on my friends that were racing Muncie. I really had a great view being in transition so I got to see most everyone as they headed out on each leg. My friends, Kirsten & Kim, were both doing their first 70.3 so super exciting!! 

Kirsten especially has been such a great friend and mentor to me in this sport. I was so happy to be there to see her achieve this goal!!!! She is all kinds of awesome & AMAZEBALLS!!!! Her husband Dave was also racing but I never saw him till the end of the race…he is that quick & sly to get past me! LOL! And I saw Brett Ward heading out on the bike looking strong! But the flip side is meeting new people and being their cheerleader for the day. I had a blast being of support then hearing about people that had great race days and some even PR’ed! I took a picture of a couple who both did the race together for their first time. And most memorable to me was the athlete that did not make the swim cut off. I was also tasked with getting together his belongings. This by the way is my worst fear in doing a half iron distance. It broke my heart! They ultimately allowed him to bike the course & run but he would not have a finish time or get a medal as his timing chip had been taken after the swim. He had the best attitude about it and a smile on his face! I would be devastated I think! I saw him come in from the bike so I went and checked on him and he still had a smile on his face and then he was off to run. “It will be my training bike and run,” he said as he ran off. What a great attitude! 

So all this detail to convey that there is so much inspiration and appreciation when you give of your time by volunteering! I cannot tell you how many people thanked me for being out there to help!!!! I was so happy to be there and happy to help the athletes have the best race day possible! It is such a wonderful feeling to know that you in some small way helped make someone else’s day better. I am thankful to all the athletes for the hard work and training they did to make this race look so fun. I totally fed off their energy and excitement. Not going to lie, the seed is planted in my mind that perhaps Muncie would be a doable 70.3. And then there is this: 

So maybe I should be thinking about getting to the pool more often and on the bike more too, right?! But seriously, get out there and volunteer either by yourself or with your family. It really will fill your heart with joy and inspiration. Next thing you know you will be signing up with me to do IM Muncie 70.3!!!! Dream big, race happy! #inspiration #goals #triathlon #blingjunkie