WANT TO VOLUNTEER ON RACE DAY?
Just tell us who you are, and if there's some volunteer role you've got your eye on, or if perhaps you possess some special talent (i.e. handing out drinks, setting up a buffet line, pulling cold people out of the water, etc.). And if you'd like to help out in some other manner, let us know. There's simply no way we can pull this off without you.
Here are a few of your options to help out at the Winter Challenge!
All volunteers will receive a Winter Challenge T-shirt, a free ticket for the post-race meal and will be eligible for drawings to take a crack at the prize table!
Here are a few areas where we can always use a little help:
1) Aid station – Run Course:
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: Hand out drinks and gels to runners around mile 3.5.
When does it start: Should be in place a few minutes after race start, ~10:15
Description: This is the first aid station participants will hit out on the course, and out in the woods. Offers a great chance to see runners right in the middle of the race. Plenty of room out there for a group if there are a few who want to do this together.
Time commitment: Generally a 1.5-2 hour commitment.
2) Aid station – Transition Area
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: Hand out drinks and gels to runners, kayakers, and bikers as they enter/exit transition area.
When does it start: Needs to be in place a few minutes after race start
Description: This is an important aid station, especially during the run leg. Right in the middle of transition, and allows you to help out while sticking close to race HQ and transition.
Time commitment: If there are multiple people who would like to help out on this one, it can easily be tackled in shifts. Generally a 1.5-2 hour commitment.
3) Aid station – Bike Course– set up in advance – get them there roughly 1:45 after start of race
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: Hand out drinks and gels to participants coming up one of the most difficult parts of the bike course.
When does it start: Needs to be in place roughly 1.5-2 hours after race start
Description: This is a prime spot, since it's right in the middle of some beautiful woods, and at the top of a ridge that participants have just exhausted themselves coming up. Bring an easy chair and just plan to chill out and enjoy mother nature.
Time commitment: If there are multiple people who would like to help out on this one, it can easily be tackled in shifts. Generally a 2-2.5 hour commitment.
4) Road support/watcher
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: Keep a sharp eye on Highway 39 to be sure participants are aware of oncoming traffic, and to let approaching cars know we got some serious business going on!
When does it start: Needs to be in place roughly 1.5 hours after race start.
Description: This is a critical station, since it involves participant safety. We like to have the local Sheriff's department onhand for added support, but their availability is always subject to other priorities. This is also a good vantage point to cheer on participants coming through on the run and on the bike.
Time commitment: Generally a 2-3 hour commitment.
5) Kayak launch
Volunteers needed: 2-3
What do you do: Assist those participants coming off the run in finding and launching their kayaks.
When does it start: Needs to be in place roughly 35-40 minutes after race start.
Description: This one is important, since there are a lot of boats in a very tight space. Always best if we have at least one person in waders in the water to help steady boats going out and coming back in.
Time commitment: Generally a 1-1.5 hour commitment.
6) Kayak – water support
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: Hang out in a boat or on a waverunner and help out any kayakers who find themselves in trouble... and enjoy the scenery!!
When does it start: Needs to be in place roughly 45 minutes after race start.
Description: For this one, it's BYOWV (bring your own water vessel). We've usually got family to handle this one, but if anyone wants to step up, be sure to let us know. Generally, no one needs help out on the water, but for safety sake, this one is pretty important.
Time commitment: Generally a 1-1.5 hour commitment.
7) Post-Race Meal Setup!
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: This one is always critical, since 1) delicious food presented in a neat and orderly manner is a major factor in the success of just about any party, and 2) spectators will get after that food as early as they can, and are known to leave some pretty serious chaos in their wake, if left unchecked. Ha! It's funny because it's true!
When does it start: Needs to start pulling things together roughly an hour after race start, let's say around 11am.
Description: Make sure all non-participants have a meal ticket. Keep the line neat, orderly, and full!
Time commitment: Generally 3 hours... but you're right there at HQ the whole time, so you really won't miss anything.
All volunteers will receive a Winter Challenge T-shirt, a free ticket for the post-race meal and will be eligible for drawings to take a crack at the prize table!
Here are a few areas where we can always use a little help:
1) Aid station – Run Course:
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: Hand out drinks and gels to runners around mile 3.5.
When does it start: Should be in place a few minutes after race start, ~10:15
Description: This is the first aid station participants will hit out on the course, and out in the woods. Offers a great chance to see runners right in the middle of the race. Plenty of room out there for a group if there are a few who want to do this together.
Time commitment: Generally a 1.5-2 hour commitment.
2) Aid station – Transition Area
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: Hand out drinks and gels to runners, kayakers, and bikers as they enter/exit transition area.
When does it start: Needs to be in place a few minutes after race start
Description: This is an important aid station, especially during the run leg. Right in the middle of transition, and allows you to help out while sticking close to race HQ and transition.
Time commitment: If there are multiple people who would like to help out on this one, it can easily be tackled in shifts. Generally a 1.5-2 hour commitment.
3) Aid station – Bike Course– set up in advance – get them there roughly 1:45 after start of race
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: Hand out drinks and gels to participants coming up one of the most difficult parts of the bike course.
When does it start: Needs to be in place roughly 1.5-2 hours after race start
Description: This is a prime spot, since it's right in the middle of some beautiful woods, and at the top of a ridge that participants have just exhausted themselves coming up. Bring an easy chair and just plan to chill out and enjoy mother nature.
Time commitment: If there are multiple people who would like to help out on this one, it can easily be tackled in shifts. Generally a 2-2.5 hour commitment.
4) Road support/watcher
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: Keep a sharp eye on Highway 39 to be sure participants are aware of oncoming traffic, and to let approaching cars know we got some serious business going on!
When does it start: Needs to be in place roughly 1.5 hours after race start.
Description: This is a critical station, since it involves participant safety. We like to have the local Sheriff's department onhand for added support, but their availability is always subject to other priorities. This is also a good vantage point to cheer on participants coming through on the run and on the bike.
Time commitment: Generally a 2-3 hour commitment.
5) Kayak launch
Volunteers needed: 2-3
What do you do: Assist those participants coming off the run in finding and launching their kayaks.
When does it start: Needs to be in place roughly 35-40 minutes after race start.
Description: This one is important, since there are a lot of boats in a very tight space. Always best if we have at least one person in waders in the water to help steady boats going out and coming back in.
Time commitment: Generally a 1-1.5 hour commitment.
6) Kayak – water support
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: Hang out in a boat or on a waverunner and help out any kayakers who find themselves in trouble... and enjoy the scenery!!
When does it start: Needs to be in place roughly 45 minutes after race start.
Description: For this one, it's BYOWV (bring your own water vessel). We've usually got family to handle this one, but if anyone wants to step up, be sure to let us know. Generally, no one needs help out on the water, but for safety sake, this one is pretty important.
Time commitment: Generally a 1-1.5 hour commitment.
7) Post-Race Meal Setup!
Volunteers needed: 1-2
What do you do: This one is always critical, since 1) delicious food presented in a neat and orderly manner is a major factor in the success of just about any party, and 2) spectators will get after that food as early as they can, and are known to leave some pretty serious chaos in their wake, if left unchecked. Ha! It's funny because it's true!
When does it start: Needs to start pulling things together roughly an hour after race start, let's say around 11am.
Description: Make sure all non-participants have a meal ticket. Keep the line neat, orderly, and full!
Time commitment: Generally 3 hours... but you're right there at HQ the whole time, so you really won't miss anything.
