Volunteers are what make events like Ironman 70.3 Muskoka special

By Dawn Huddlestone and Cheyenne Wood

How many volunteers does it take to run a half-Ironman? There’s no punchline, only a simple answer: lots. Almost 800, in fact. And every one of them is appreciated, says Ironman 70.3 Muskoka race director Nick Stoehr.

“We rely on them heavily,” says Stoehr. “We cover a lot of ground. I’d love to personally thank all of the volunteers and locals in Huntsville and also Dwight, Dorset, and Baysville. Every athlete I’ve talked to had a great experience.”

They volunteer for a variety of reasons: to show off what a great community Huntsville is, because a family member or friend is racing, because they see the value in events like these and want to help make them happen.

One of the event’s dedicated volunteers who helps to ensure the athletes have a great experience is Dorothy Richardson (pictured at far right in the feature image above), co-captain of the finish line crew.

“It’s really volunteers that pull these kinds of events off,” says Richardson. “Huntsville does a really good job of putting on a good show on the world stage. That’s because of the volunteers. There are people all over the world who come here and look at this place and say ‘you’re all amazing’. That’s what keeps people coming back.”

Richardson’s role involves both helping to set up the finish line – including organizing the medals, t-shirts and hats given to every athlete, putting water and Gatorade on ice, assessing the flow of the area to ensure athlete safety, and coordinating with the finish line medical team – and organizing the finish line volunteers, as well as helping athletes as they finish the race.

She loves the finish line, especially for the athletes who come in near the end of the race who are achieving a goal they’ve worked hard at, and she does it as a way to give back to the sporting community. “As an athlete myself, I know how much of a value volunteers are to helping people accomplish those dreams,” says Richardson. “It’s my opportunity to give back. People volunteered so I could do the things I wanted to do. I can give back and be there for these people.”

Dr. Rich Trenholm is no stranger to local triathlons, organizing a number of events himself and volunteering at others. He’s part of the medical team, which recruits volunteers from around Muskoka and beyond to help across the course and at the finish line when athletes have mishaps or push themselves too hard. He gives all of the volunteers high praise, saying they did a fantastic job to make the athletes feel welcome.

Nancy Loucks has volunteered for four Ironman events, working in all areas but her favourite is the bike transition area. “I love it because all of the athletes appreciate the volunteers, but without the athletes, we wouldn’t be here,” she says. “I go out of my way to help the athletes because they are nervous and they are grateful for it. I know who they are from the start to finish and some remember me from my previous years as a volunteer. The entire event has a great family atmosphere for all racers and volunteers.”

First-time Ironman volunteer captain, Victoria Reynolds, is an avid volunteer for a variety of other races. As a road pointer, helping to keep the racers headed in the right direction on Brunel Road, she offered words of encouragement to keep them motivated: “welcome back”, “you’ve got this”, “last push”, “keep going”, “bring it home”, “have a great race”.

The volunteers even help the volunteers. Colleen Valliere and Barbara Bloomfield are Volunteer Captains for feeding the volunteers. These ladies say that it is very important to help make the volunteers happy as it helps the event run smoothly. It also keeps the volunteers coming back year after year.

“These events couldn’t happen without people stepping up to help out,” says Richardson, citing other world-class events that Huntsville has hosted like the National Women’s U18 Hockey Championships. She encourages everyone to get involved in any way possible. “You can do anything, just help out.”

Watch for another story on Doppler soon about Ironman 70.3 Muskoka: its impact and its future in Huntsville.

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