{"id":34439,"date":"2017-07-18T19:19:48","date_gmt":"2017-07-18T23:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=34439"},"modified":"2017-07-18T19:33:25","modified_gmt":"2017-07-18T23:33:25","slug":"volunteers-are-what-make-events-like-ironman-70-3-muskoka-special","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/volunteers-are-what-make-events-like-ironman-70-3-muskoka-special\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteers are what make events like Ironman 70.3 Muskoka special"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dawn Huddlestone and Cheyenne Wood<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“We rely on them heavily,” says Stoehr. “We cover a lot of ground. I\u2019d 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.”<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s 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\u2019s because of the volunteers. There are people all over the world who come here and look at this place and say ‘you\u2019re all amazing’. That’s what keeps people coming back.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.”<\/p>\n\n\t\t