This year I was back but this time as a volunteer, I wasn't sure what I would be doing but I wanted to give something back as a thank you to all that organised and volunteered last year.
I arrived at site around lunchtime on Saturday and was set to work giving out timing chips as competitors racked their bikes.
There were 3 of us there and we seemed to have a good system going, I would find the helmet chip sticker one of the ladies would find the ankle chip and we would both give them to the other lady who would attach the helmet chip and hand the ankle chip with strap to the athlete. Sorry I didn't get my colleagues names, I was a but late arriving and dived straight into dishing out chips.
Then the worst thing possible happened number 377 came in, I had found his helmet sticker but his ankle chip was not there. What would we do now someone had the wrong chip. Despite being horrified that she had given out the wrong chip the young lady had the presence of mind to realise that the wrong chip had been given to someone else with a 7 at the end of their number. Very quickly we had checked through the helmet stickers with the chips and realise that number 347 had the wrong chip. A phone call made and fortunately he was still on site and came back to swap his chip. Phew!!
As the athletes racked their bikes something seemed odd with the racks and they were bending more than expected. After transition was closed the race director, Phil, came in to see what could be done. The same number of bikes were on each rack and they were the same racks as last year so why were they bending. Quickly Phil saw the problem that some of the legs were in the wrong place.
An hour later we had managed to adjust the racks and all was good!
Now my shift had finished it was time to make my way back to Andy and Nicky's where I was staying for the weekend. Now where did I park? I had followed Andy and Nicky to the venue but they had left after Nicky had racked her bike and bags etc. Fortunately I did manage to retrace my steps to find my car.
Sunday morning arrived all too quickly and we were off to site about 4:15am!
On arrival I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be doing but was given a medium T-shirt and directed into transition chuffed that the shirt actually fitted!!
Once in place I was just doing what I could to help triathletes prepare for what they were about to take on, which for me was interesting having been through it the year before.
Then once they had all started it was down to the lake to see what else I could do and I was soon shoeless standing on the edge of the carpet on the exit to the lake ready to help any athlete exiting the lake on their way up to T1. It was here that the funniest moment of the weekend occurred with Andy King helping an athlete out and loosing balance completely and both of them ending up under the water, there is photo evidence somewhere but unfortunately I don't have access to the photos.
After everyone had
left the lake I had some time as the next job I had was to marshal at the Bike In, ensuring that all riders dismounted before the line, a few came in a bit quick and ended up on the floor, fortunately no one badly hurt.
We did have a few offers to take their bikes off them as they never wanted to ride them again and a few comments that were too rude to publish online!
As the last few riders came in I was then free to go and support Nicky as she started her final lap of the run which she did as lead woman, then it was quite a nervous wait for her to come round again hoping that she had maintained her lead.
Then Docker on the mic pipped up that she was indeed heading to the finish to cross the line as first woman a fantastic achievement and great to be able to watch.
The Lakesman is a fantastic event with the Race Directors putting their all in to organising the best event that they can for the athletes, this was only the 2nd year of the event and it was clear that they had listened to the feedback from the athletes that competed last year and make some changes to the event and that is all you can ask. No one is going to get everything right first time or even 2nd time but as long as you listen and act on the comments coming through that is what will make the event even better than it already is.
I feel like I have unfinished business with the Lakesman as I didn't have the best preparation last year, so I will be back next year to take on the Half!! Entries open Monday 26th June at The Lakesman go on you know you want to!!
Now all that is left for me to do is check their online shop to see if I can buy a new Hoodie having foolishly left mine lying around on Saturday evening! Doh!!
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