Nearly 3,000 athletes are coming from near and far to swim, bike and run in the Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley this July 2, and they need a lot of support from volunteers.
After all, they are going to swim 1.2 miles in Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir at Bald Eagle State Park, bike 56 scenic miles through the beautiful rolling hills of Centre and Clinton counties and run 13.1 miles through Penn State’s campus before hitting the finish line on the field of Beaver Stadium. I am tired just thinking about it, but it is amazing what these athletes are training to do.
The event is going to highlight one thing that all of us already know about this area: it is a hub of outdoor recreation and adventure. Having a well-known athletic endurance race such as Ironman come to town further puts this region on the map as a destination worth checking out.
Many of these athletes coming to town are going to stay in our hotels, eat meals in our restaurants and maybe stop for a celebratory after-race beer (don’t worry, they won’t be causing trouble—they will be too tired), bringing a huge boon to our local economy. When they head back home with their Ironman finisher medals, hopefully they’ll tell their friends what a great and welcoming destination this is (if they didn’t already know) and come back for some more adventures.
To help lead race efforts, the Ironman team tapped Josh Cone, a lifelong resident of Happy Valley, as race director. They made a good choice.
When Josh isn’t working at the State College YMCA, helping people get and stay healthy while also boosting the community, he is often out running, biking, or swimming throughout Centre County and just being an all-around good guy. I have been passed by him during a few races while he was pushing a person with disabilities around the course in a wheelchair, raising awareness and support at a very fast speed.
Josh has experience directing races, including triathlons, in Centre County, but he needs a lot of community support to help Ironman showcase Happy Valley this July. This is no one-man show. He is relying on more than 1,000 community members to volunteer and help make this great event happen.
He knows Happy Valley is up to the challenge. He has seen the people of this community come out to show their support before. From other races to big community events like the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and the Central PA 4th Fest (both also in July) people in this area know how to come together to get amazing things done. The Ironman will be no different.
All weekend long, crews are needed to help register runners, check gear, do crowd control, staff the finish line and more (wetsuit peeler sounds like an interesting job). It is a great opportunity to pick up some volunteer hours and for community groups to show support. Check all the options at ironman.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer. One thing is for sure: volunteers are bound to have fun and get an up-close view of some great athletes as they work to become Iron men and women.
As someone who has run a few races (never an Ironman, can’t even imagine trying to swim that far), I know what it means to have volunteers out there supporting you as you make your way to the finish line.
Aid station crews can help you refuel both your body and your mind. Transition areas during a triathlon can become very confusing without people directing you along the way. Things would be very hectic without a great pre-race crew making sure every participant has all the information they need. Lifeguards are needed to monitor swimmers. And nothing beats that feeling when a volunteer puts that medal around your neck at the finish line.
Folks are needed for many different positions and shifts all weekend. Crew leaders are needed to help manage the volunteers and make sure they are fed during the process. So, grab your friends or your sports teams and sign up. Nonprofits may be able to receive a charitable donation for participation in the event from the Ironman Foundation.
Having volunteered at a few race events in my day, I can say this for certain: it is the next best way to feel like a part of the event, other than competing. And, unlike the participants who have been training for months, all volunteers have to do is make a commitment to be there that day, willing to help. Let’s show them that Happy Valley is iron strong. T&G
Vincent Corso loves exploring the outdoors in central Pennsylvania and beyond.
