Ironman volunteers revving up for race day

From beginning to end, Ironman volunteers are leaving their mark on race day.

Marty Stewart of Coeur d’Alene will leave the first impression as captain of the body-marking crew. She will oversee 60 volunteers armed with markers at 4:30 a.m., ready to write race numbers on athletes’ arms, calves and sides.

She’s one of more than 2,700 volunteers who have signed up for the June 27 event, but as many as 400 more are needed to direct people and traffic away from the 26.2-mile run and the 112-mile bike course.

This is Stewart’s first year as a volunteer with Ironman, and she said she’s excited at the chance of an up-close look at the athletes. She’s eager to strike up a little conversation, too.

“I can see I’m going to be a motor mouth when I go out there to do this,” she said.

She’ll have to speak fast anyway, with 2,300 athletes to mark up before the race begins at 7 a.m. When she’s finished, she plans to help out in the women’s changing tent after the 2.4-mile swim and stick around as long as she can stay awake.

“Hopefully, the adrenalin from the athletes will just rub off on us,” said Stewart.

Amy Evans, team captain for the finish-line volunteers, said high emotions are contagious all the way up to the finish line.

From 3 p.m. to midnight, her returning crew of 25 volunteers will keep a tape up for every competitor’s photo finish. As the night goes on, the crowd begins to pound, stomp and cheer, she said.

“The later it gets, the more energetic it gets,” said Evans. “The crowd just comes alive.”

She said one of the best perks is learning from the athletes and their perseverance.

Additional volunteers are needed for water and aid stations scattered along the foot race and bike course, said Donna Wemple, volunteer coordinator for Ironman. She is working with 90 team captains covering everything from athlete registration to massage crews and wetsuit peelers during the 17-hour event. The open positions will be split into three- to four-hour shifts.

She said the remaining help needed for the event is comparable to this time last year. People can sign up until race day, and walk-ins are welcome as extra help. But with two weeks left before the race, she’s confident the slots will fill quickly.

“It’s getting down to race day,” she said.

A volunteers’ banquet will be held Tuesday following the event at the Third Street boat launch in Coeur d’Alene. It will include a barbecue, prizes and live entertainment. Volunteers must wear their T-shirts, which will be handed out before the race.