Last Sunday afternoon I spent six hours helping out with a local Triathlon, the Ironman Tulsa. The racers swam over two miles in open water on a lake, over a hundred miles on a bicycle, and then finished up with a 26 mile run. Makes me tired just thinking about it.
The organizers had a bunch of aid stations all along the length of the course. I was at an aid station on the marathon run segment. The racers ran two loops on the Tulsa Riverparks Trail System so I saw everybody potentially four times.
I handed out gatorade. Gatorade is not too popular with athletes. It’s just colored sugar water. So I didn’t have a whole lot of takers. Water was the most popular drink. Pepsi for some reason was popular. Cups of ice were very popular.
The most asked about beverage was chicken broth. It was brewed up in the late afternoon and the back of pack runners were going for it.
So it was interesting. You see a lot of very tired people. The people at the front of the race were pretty bouncy for just getting off a hundred mile bicycle ride.
Here is the lead man of the race.
And the lead woman. Both these are just cruising along like they are jogging around the block.
Anyway a great time was had by all!!
I’m linking with Skywatch Friday, come check it out.
It’s amazing how athletic some of us are! I’m not sure I would have been that “bouncy” when I was younger!
…I could never do this!
I never liked bouncing during a jog – I like fast walking.
You’re a good guy to volunteer your time. I would have drown during the two mile swim and my race would have been over. It’s very impressive how the human body can do all that.
Beautiful blue sky day for it! I would enjoy volunteering, but would never understand how or why people could do this.
Interesting about Gatorade. I didn’t realize it had much sugar. Also interesting about chicken broth. So cool that you donate your time like this!
Great that you volunteer! Looks like a good day.
Have to be super healthy with strong stamina to participate in this Ironman Triathlon. Great you were helping out at one of the aids stations. The hot and humid weather is enough to make me tired. Have a wonderful weekend.
Great tree.
The lead woman does look like it came easy to her but maybe it was due to years of healthy living. Honestly, folks like you who volunteer are the backbone of their communities.
I tip my hat to you. When one volunteers for what ever is a good man in my books.
That is a marathon in and of itself: volunteering!
wow! that’s a lot of activity! chapeau to the participants.
Me alegro que hayas ayudado. Te mando un beso.
Ugh, Gatorade! It has a greasy texture.
Been a long time since I’ve been in a running race, I’ve never heard of chicken broth being requested by runners but I could understand water or gatorade.
I know our community doesn’t have a marathon. But we have a few runs.
Coffee is on and stay safe
It was so good of you to volunteer at the Triathalon! I am always amazed by the strength and agility of the participants in these events. I was never a strong athlete when I was young, and now gardening brings me stiff knees and back…lol!
It was so nice of you to volunteer at the Triathalon.
My son used to do Tri’s. Once when I ran a half marathon, they ran out of water at the aid stations. (I guess you can tell where I was in the pack.) But, hey – I finished!
I’m not sure I would last all day as a volunteer.