WAYNE'S WORDS
JUNE 13, 2005
TOPIC: HALFMAX TRIATHLON

I was able to be at the Halfmax Event at Innsbrook. I helped out Saturday with registration and Sunday with traffic and crowd control.
As usual, it was hot and humid, lots of people, lots of good times, lots of good food and drink.
I did hear/see that there weren't enough volunteers this year. I know where I was, that spot where the bikers are coming in, the runners going out and the fans walking across the road. We could have used a few more people to help out.
All and all in was a typical Livesay Event, well organized, well thought out, challenging with a great turnout.
After most of the bikers were in, I took it upon myself to go relax under the tent and meet and greet other volunteers and racers.
I did meet Anna Kuhl, who works for the Missouri Lion's Eye Research Foundation. I helped her put together the plaques. Working at an Ultramax Event might look like a lot of fun, traveling around, being outside, hanging out with triathletes, having a picnic, drinking some beer, but putting on a race like this involves a lot of people doing a lot of work and with a lot of luck the whole thing goes off, usually without a hitch.
The reason nobody really notices all the work everyone does, is because everything runs smoothly. Being "behind the scenes" for a few hours, though, I can tell you, people are working the asses off to give you, the racers, an event where your main concern is how fast can you go.

I also had the opportunity to sit down with Nate Kortuem after the race, mainly because Sarah Haskins came over for a chat.
My perception of a pro triathlete, before I met Nate, was probably someone who is a bit arrogant, kinda of an asshole and wouldn't give someone like me the time and temperature. I was totally impressed with Nate as simply being a nice guy, very interested in me and what I do, with lots of stories about racing and training. Never mind that he's training at the Olympic Training Centers in Colorado and California, or the fact that he's one of the top prospects for the 2008 Olympics.
We hooked up again last Friday Evening at Chevy's for a send off for Sarah and Nate for their ITU race in Puerto Rico on Sunday. I was able to sit down and talk with Nate and Sarah.
Again, I was just totally impressed. Their humbleness about who they are and what they are doing is sometimes overwhelming. We talked about training and nutrition and just normal everyday stuff.
The point being, as I ALWAYS write about, whether it's a bunch of buddies on a road trip to Florida or two potential Olympic Athletes, people that do triathlons are grounded, normal, everyday people who just happen to have extraordinary speed, endurance, intelligence and self-motivation.

AND, you all need to volunteer for just one race this year, because without Anna and me, all you tri-studs wouldn't have gotten your plaques.

AFTERTHOUGHT: How come one of the richest areas of West Co. has the worst road to bike on? Clayton Rd. from 270 to Spoede is full of holes and gravel and all kinds of bad stuff.

Train Smart, Live Right.
Later,
Wayne
whuckshold@yahoo.com