Re: FS Sunday, August 26th

I spent the morning volunteering at the Ironman Special Needs/bike station. The athletes get to pack a bag that they can pick up at mile 70 during the bike ride. Approx 3000 athletes. There were a couple of spotters to yell out numbers, then we had to grab bags (lined up by number) and hold it out for the athlete. Some (the pros) come flying by and grab the bag out of your hand and keep on going. My very first handoff was a bust - I was holding it out like I was told, and the guy tried to grab and go, but sent the bag flying instead. I quickly figured out that if they looked like they were going to grab and go, I needed to collapse the bag and hold it from the very top somewhat loosely instead of holding it by both top corners stretched flat so they could see the number. Others stop, chat, go use the porta-potty, etc. There was a group of about 15 that actually went and sat down under some trees and took a 10-15 minute lunch break. Some of the athletes would ask for help with their bottles or food, getting stuff open with sunscreen sweaty hands is challenging!

edit to add, it was very warm today.. I left at 2:30, end of my shift, and as I was leaving two guys came in and when they stopped to get their bag, just fell over. Paramedics came to check on them, and while the EMT's were there another guy decided he needed assistance. Probably heat exhaustion/dehydration. Hopefully they all finish safely!

All the stuff they leave gets thrown away. We were told we could take any of the left over gear as we left, but it just felt wrong to be going through discarded bags and taking stuff with me while so many were still coming through the station. I did grab a few small items I could pocket as I saw them go to the trash - I got 5 CO2 cartridges (about $2 each), a CO2 dispenser ($20), one tube ($7), one half tube of NUNN ($3), and two well used tires that would run over $50 new. When I got them home I realized they were much more used than I initially thought, so I'll just keep them around for emergency spares which was probably the same thing the athlete had in mind. So nothing too exciting to take home with me. I think if I do it next year I'll stay a few hours longer and help with the clean-up, then I would feel better about taking stuff! There were a ton of water bottles being tossed, snacks like energy bars and gels, etc. Not that I use much of that stuff anyway.

Relaxing at home for the afternoon, and just got a call that for the next 4 hours I'm on standby to go to Germany. Guess I better do some cleaning so if I have to go the place doesn't look so trashed for the pet-sitter.