Volunteering

After Bryan's last triathlon we saw the volunteer coordinator for the triathlons asking for volunteers to help with the Utah Summer Games Triathlon. The swim was going to be held at Gunlock, the bike route went right past our house to the high school and the run was going to be on a biking path new our house so we decided to volunteer. We even signed the kids up to help. Ethan was a bit upset at us because we didn't ask him if he wanted to help but he lived.

We got the phone call on Friday afternoon telling us to show up at Gunlock Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. We told the kids and we all tried to go to bed early. At 4:30 a.m. our alarm went off and Bryan and I got up, got dressed, loaded a bag with snacks and water and then he woke the kids up at 4:45. We were out of the house about 5 a.m.

When we got to Gunlock it was breezy and cold!! We found the volunteer coordinator, got our bright green t-shirts, ate our donuts and then sat around for an hour until the athletes began to arrive. They were bussed up from Snow Canyon High School, where the run finished.

Bryan and Ethan were given the task of checking all the bike handles to make sure they were properly plugged on the end. If they weren't, they had to put a penny on the hole and tape it down. Courtney and I stood around watching them work. ;)

When it was time for the start we made our way down to the water to watch. The water was about 68 degrees, the same temperature as the water at Quail Creek when Bryan did his last tri. But with the wind it felt a lot colder to me! Some hardy...or dumb...people weren't wearing wet suits. One lady was in a bikini. Go figure.

Anyway, the swim began and we watched for a little while and then made our way to the beginning of the bike section, where the timing mats were located. Our job was to tell the people to "mount after the line!" No one really listened to us but I felt like we were actually doing something.

It all went pretty fast considering there were around 200 athletes. When the last woman and her son (who stuck with her to make sure she was okay) finally exited the water and began biking, we helped to take everything down. The kids did a great job!! They helped to dismantle barricades, pick up bags of clothes the athletes left behind, pick up trash and do anything else that was needed.

We were out of there at about 8:30! Not a bad way to spend the morning. Then we drove to Home Depot so the kids could build something (but it's a surprise for Bryan so I can't tell you what it is), we went to breakfast at Golden Corral, did some shopping and then went home to relax and take naps!

Ethan was so happy with how it went that he now wants to volunteer for every event in St. George. I guess he has forgiven us for signing him up to volunteer without asking first. And we now all have a cool, bright green t-shirt! SCORE!