Volunteering is a rewarding way to be involved with Tri Roanoke Valley. Event personnel would like to encourage individuals, clubs, and civic groups to become volunteers. Volunteers are needed to make sure that we have a safe and spectator friendly event.

During this year’s event, volunteers will be needed in many areas. Tri Roanoke Valley would like to offer organizations, church groups and/or individuals the opportunity to raise money for their charity of choice or their group. Each volunteer can raise $10.00 for their charity or group. (For example: If the youth church group had 10 volunteers for the race, they could raise $100.00 for their charity or youth group.) Tri Roanoke Valley has the right to limit the number of volunteers from each group. A maximum number of 100 volunteers are needed for the event. If you are interested in helping out, download and complete the volunteer form.

Please bring your completed volunteer form with you to our volunteer meeting to be held on March 31, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the TJ Davis Recreation Center.

For more information please contact gary@triroanokevalley.com

SEE YOU ON RACE DAY!

Volunteer Job Descriptions:

Race Preparation

Volunteers are needed the day before the race to help with preparing for the event. On Friday afternoon, April 8th, volunteers will assist with setting up the packet pick-up, transition, and finish line areas.

Parking

Race day will bring a lot of traffic into the area. Assistance will be needed from volunteers to direct traffic to designated parking areas in order to keep the race course open and safe.

Packet Pick-Up and Body Marking

Volunteers will assist with handing out race packets to participants on Friday, April 8th, from 4 pm to 7 pm and on race morning, April 9th, from 6 am to 8 am. Additional volunteers will be needed race morning to hand out assigned racing chips for timing and to body mark participants. Body marking helps event personnel, event officials, and photographers identify the race participants during the race. Participants are marked with black magic markers. Volunteers write the participants race number on both arms and on both upper legs along with the participant's age on the back of their right calf.

Timing

Timing will be provided by the use of timing chips. Timing chutes are set up to direct each participant across the timing mats. Volunteers will help the timing team by directing participants across these mats. You will also help keep the timing areas clear of spectators and make sure all timing equipment is safe from spectators. Several volunteers will be needed at the finish line to assist with timing and to cut off the ankle bracelets holding the special timing chip. Timing chips are the property of our timing partners and the chip must be collected before a participant is allowed to leave the chip retrieval area.

Transition Area

The Transition area is where all participants keep their bike and additional gear required for their individual race. Bikes will be racked according to their assigned race number. Before the event, transition area volunteers are busy helping participants locate their designated bike rack area. Volunteers should expect to be asked many questions concerning race details. (Where is packet pick-up? Where do I pick up my chip? Where is body marking? Where can I find a bike mechanic? Where are the rest rooms?). Any volunteer not knowing the answer to these basic questions should ask event personnel prior to the race. Several transition volunteers will be asked to handle tire pumps for participants to use. You will not be asked to pump up tires. Volunteers will be at both the entrances and exits of the transition area directing race participants on which way to go. The transition area is for race participants only. Spectators will not be allowed to enter the transition area at any time before, during, or after the race.

Swim Course (pool)

Volunteers are needed in the swimming pool area and will be under the supervision of the designated swim coordinator. Race participants will be seeded according to their estimated swim times. You will be asked to help line up swimmers based on these times. You may be asked to direct participants along the designated route for entering and exiting the swim course. Any swimmer who is in danger or needs to exit the pool should be reported to the certified life guards. Our designated swim coordinator will be able to contact the EMS if necessary. Volunteers will assist in keeping the race course clear of spectators.

Bike Course

On the bike course, volunteers are needed to help give participants directions. You will be asked to position yourself at certain intersections along the bike course and guide bikers to turn or move forward. Police officers will be at all major intersections directing traffic. Personnel from the event will mark broken pavement with orange spray chalk. You will warn race participants of these areas as well as other potential road hazards such as railroad tracks. Each turn and intersection will be marked with directional signs and with spray chalk on the road surface. Volunteers will help direct participants in and out of the transition area keeping it clear of spectators.

Run Course

Volunteers will direct participants out of the transition area and along the designated run course while keeping the areas clear of spectators. Personnel from the event will mark each turn with brightly colored turn signs and orange spray chalk on the road surface. Volunteers will hand participants cups filled with water at designated water stations on the run course. You will be assigned to pick up cups around the water station during the event and to help with clean up after the race. Event personnel will be responsible for having this area clean and free of trash.

Finish Line/ Refreshments

Volunteers will assist in directing participants to the finish line as they end their race day. Racers will run through a finish line banner held by the volunteers. They will receive their race metal and need assistance with the chip removal. You will provide these services as well as help with serving refreshments that usually include beverages, fruits, and snacks to participants after the event.

Awards

At 12 noon on race day, awards will be given to the top competitors by volunteers as the race announcer calls out the participant name. After a day of racing, this is a fun and rewarding time for all.