Chapter 45: Serving Others: IRONMAN Chattanooga Volunteer Edition

    Ironman Chattanooga week! Made a short (read: LONG) weekend to southern Tennessee to watch Chad do his thing and cross that finish line. Great dad-son trip as Rylan came with me and we were able to do some work on the volunteering side of the race. Had an absolute blast with our shifts and got a much-needed shot in the arm for my final weeks of motivation as I head into Florida. 

Weekly Stats: 

• Swim (2x)
• 2.13 miles (3,750 yards)
• 1:14:04
• Bike (2x)
• 34.50 miles
• 2:04:56
• Run (2x)
• 13.24 miles
• 2:14:01
• Yoga (1x)
• 31:00
• TOTALS:
• 7 Activities 
• 49.87 miles
• 6:04:02

Training Notes: 

   

    Since I made the trip to Chattanooga this weekend, I didn’t have my long bike ride. That will pick back up after this week’s training plan. I have a 5-1/2 hour and 6-hour ride left for my long bike sessions, and a couple more long runs on the schedule. I had a couple of good swims this week, but nothing out of the ordinary. On Tuesday, I swam with JJ Schuster at the Community Center, and I knew we was going to be racing Chattanooga on Sunday. Don’t know him very well, but was excited to see him race that course, and be able to cheer him on and maybe see him at the swim or at the finish line. JJ ran the marathon in a "Greatest American Hero" costume, complete with the blond wig.  Great job, JJ.  See you at the pool....

    

    Thursday I had a long brick session with a 60-minute bike and then a 90-minute run immediately after. I got home from work and jumped on the indoor trainer for my bike portion, then headed out to Coffee Creek Trail by Heritage Park for the run. Considering I worked a full day, then biked, I was happy with my run. I averaged a 10:10 pace with a 140 HR. I know that is good training as by the time I get onto the run course in Florida, I’ll already be into the race for about 8 or so hours. I felt strong at the end of the run and could have gone longer if it was on the calendar. Of course, I’ll be on the bike for another 5 hours, then have a good 3+ more hours on the run, so it’s really not apples to apples but it’s still encouraging. 

    Nothing else that was unique this week, but basically had Saturday, Sunday and Monday as “rest” days. The weekly stats seem low, although I got plenty of exercise on Sunday in Chattanooga. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 24,000 steps, but most importantly, the mental exercise and boost I got from the race.

Ironman Chattanooga Volunteer Recap: 

    This sport of triathlon is a very self-serving and selfish due to the amount of time, commitment, and the need to prioritize the training. I’ve mentioned this in the past, and how I do my best to balance my personal life, work life and triathlon life. On a daily basis there are not many ways to give back and to serve others. I can do that through encouragement, connection, and sometimes working out with others like Chad. But this weekend, I had the honor of being able to serve others in this sport as I headed to Chattanooga for the Ironman race. Rylan and I were registered to volunteer at the swim exit first thing in the morning assisting the swimmers out of the Tennessee River after a 2.4-mile swim so they could then head towards their bikes. We also had signed up for an afternoon/early evening shift at the finish line to hand out medals, hats, waters, and whatever else the competitors needed as they finished 140.6 miles of self propulsion.

    On Saturday I was able to meet a fellow Everyday Ironman Podcast guest, Amy Purvis.  Unfortunately, she didn't have the race she probably wanted, but it was great meeting her (the volunteer shirt gets you into everywhere, including transition!)

    

    We got to the venue around 6AM—missed Chad as he had just jumped on the shuttle bus to the swim start 2+ miles upriver—and reported to the river front. From about 8:30 to about 10:30, we grabbed outstretched hands, pulled on arms and elbows, lifted folks with jelly legs, and unzipped wetsuits and swimskins. Over 1500 swimmers came through our 3 little rows of steps out of the water. Many would not have been able to get out of the water on their own due to high first step, cramping of calves and hamstrings, and just fatigue after over an hour of constant swimming. Once he come to the swim exit, Rylan was able to help Chad up onto the stairs and I gave him a quick two-fist bro hug as he had just conquered his biggest fear of Ironman. His swim was done, and now he could head out on the bike. Once the last swimmer came out of the water, our first shift of serving these athletes came to an end. 

    We had about 4 hours before our finish line shift, so Rylan and I grabbed some volunteer food, visited the Medal of Honor museum, and then showed up a little before 2:30 to start helping at the finish line. Opening boxes, sorting shirt sizes, laying out medals and filling the tubs with bottles of water got us ready for the first professional athletes to cross the finish line. Not saying they were fast, but the winner of the race did the whole race in the time that many took on the bike alone (about 7-1/2 hours!!). What was pretty cool was getting to help even these guys and ladies who do this for a living (or partially). I was personally able to walk several of the pros to chairs to rest their legs, grab them extra waters, or run to get some Coke for them. And every one of them were grateful to some random dude in a hot-pink volunteer shirt (yeah, THAT had to be the color?)

    As the age groupers started trickling in, our job sped up. Hang medals on their neck, hand them an open water bottle, remove their timing chip from their left ankle, finishers’ hat and shirt, and then direct them to the area where they could reunite with family and/or friends. Many needed to get to the medical tent, so often we were walking them to the red-shirted medical staff. Rylan ended up handing out many medals (he was able to medal the 4th place pro male—the top three of men and women are done by Ironman staff), and I was more of a runner at the back end of the finish area. Directing, encouraging, and assisting in any other way they might need. I made a point to make a walk through right outside of the finish line area and on multiple occasions got more water, or even uber-delivered food from the athlete tent to those who were trying to recover. Handing out the medals was cool, but being able to talk to these finishers who are just like me was awesome. Every. Last. One. Thanked us as they went through. Even if they were hurting. Even when they were delirious after 12, 13, 14,15 hours on the course. Rylan and I did a 2:30-7:30 shift, grabbed dinner then came back from 9:00-12:15AM. So overall, we were able to serve and I was able to give back to these athletes for a good 8-1/2 hours.  Roughly 20,000 steps, sore feet, blurry eyes by the end, but it was an awesome experience. 

        

    I do have to brag on Chad. I was able to see him come out of the water, then got over to him as he was getting off his bike (I grabbed an orange shirt to do “crowd control”) and then saw him as he started his run. He had a great swim, but his bike was tough. Hot, no cloud cover, and big headwinds slowed him down, but he got it done. Then it was just a cool down marathon to finish his (first) Ironman journey. As he got close, I had his medal in my hand. I was going to be able to drape that Ironman bling on his neck, and I’m glad I made the trip. And then BOOM! He was done. Easy-peasy. Longer than he was expecting but he powered through and got it done! Chad Koerner, You are an IRONMAN! 

    Sunday was a huge boost in my motivation. I could see myself crossing that line in less than 5 weeks, talked to so many people that are doing Florida as well, made some new friends that I’ll make contact with at my race, and learned so much about the will of the body to push itself beyond what you think it will do. I’m going into my last 3 weeks of big training and 2 weeks of tapering with renewed motivation, energy, and excitement. Not everyone who toed the start line on the swim finished the race. I’m praying for health and safety for me as I hit my course. Let’s do this…. 

Daily Life: 

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone--especially to those in the family of faith.     

Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT)

As I did all of the above in Chattanooga on Sunday, I thought a lot about how I can serve those around me on a daily basis. It’s not just serving as the safety team lead on Sunday mornings, or helping with children’s events or special concerts or whatever else might be going on. Sure, those are great, but how do I serve others daily? How do I serve Julie? Rylan? Ethan and Matthew since they’re no longer in the house regularly? Friends? I don’t have a hard answer for that. I think for me it comes to what circumstances come my way that allow me to serve. There will be big moments, and there will be small things. Washing the dishes at home. Or moving furniture for several hours for someone who’s moving. Grabbing a drink for a friend. Or a shoulder massage for Julie (I don’t do that enough). Galatians says to do good to everyone “whenever we have the opportunity”. 

     I pray that the opportunities continue to present themselves to me. I get fed when I can help others out even in simple ways (they may be simple to me, but huge to them), or I can assist others in a way that they couldn’t do on their own. Just like the swim exit with an age-grouper who didn’t think they could finish the swim, or helping a pro triathlete by the arm to a chair because he gave everything he had in the race, that’s my jam. And I thank God for those chances. And I pray I don't get tired of serving others and doing good. Chattanooga definitely refreshed that feeling too! 

Final Thoughts: 

    

    One other thing that filled me up this weekend was staying with Lonni and Melodia (and Wil) on Saturday. Lonni is one of our college friends who we can just catch right up after years. Thanks for the hospitality, outstanding Puerto Rican homemade food, and laughter. And of course the beds so we could try and grab a few hours before heading to the race early Sunday morning! Love you guys….Let’s not let 4 (or 15) years go by again! 

    

    Less than five weeks to go to Florida. Watching some of those athletes cross the finish line, I doubted myself a little if I could actually do this crazy thing. But at the same time, watching those athletes cross the finish line, I know I can. It’s going to hard, it’s going to be miserable at times, but I can do it. And that booster shot of motivation is huge. I’m going to ride that wave through October. Julie and will be on the road 4 weeks from today. Zoinks! But I can’t wait. It’s going to be an epic end to this crazy journey. And I am excited about this.  I think.

    Thanks as always for following along. I am looking forward to looking back at these blogs in a few months to see where my head and body was for a full year. I truly couldn’t have done it as well without knowing you all were in my corner. If you even need anything, let me know. But wait until after November 4th. I’m kind of busy til then! Just kidding.  Kind of.

Show Up, Keep Fit, Stay THE Course, 

and Keep Moving Forward

CPC 

Olathe, KS

9/30/25

31 days, 20 hours, 10 minutes until Ironman Florida