BY SANDY EVANS HALL
I want to take this opportunity to thank the many people that helped make the IRONMAN event on Sept. 22 a success.
There are expected learning moments in a first-time event and we are quickly noting all the things we can improve upon before they are lost from our memories. Traffic concerns, communication of open roads and detours for spectators, guests, and employees that need to move around; parking signage and identification; more festivities for spectators; better wording on signage, these are some of the issues that we have heard.
On the positive side, I have been blown away with the comments from the athletes on how they were treated by volunteers and our community. In addition to the incredible beauty of the area, it was the warmth of the citizens and the helpfulness of the volunteers that they will long remember. Here are some examples:
• “After the swim, I was so cold that I couldn’t think of what to do. A volunteer dumped out my gear bag and began to dress me, asking what to put on next. After she had fully dressed me, she sent me out the door ready to hop on my bike — it was amazing!”
• “When I needed to get off my bike to use the porta-john, someone would always come up and ask if they could hold my bike for me. I have never had that happen in other IRONMAN events that I’ve participated in!”
• “Everywhere I was on the course there were people cheering, from the side of the road or their cars. It was such a great energy coming from the people in this community!”
• “I’ve competed in many first-time IRONMAN events and this was by far the smoothest. You guys really know how to put on a great race!”
I am so proud of every person in this region that made a positive impact on these athletes. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you to all the people that served in the medical tents, thank you to the fire district, sheriff and highway patrol departments that kept everyone safe, and a special thank you to Placer County, which strongly supported this event. Thank you to the Town of Truckee, which jumped in with both feet to provide traffic services and throw a party for the athletes riding through town, thank you to residents lining the roads to cheer on the athletes. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers that worked from dawn to midnight.
Oh, and thank you Mother Nature for the calm after the storm.
Please, if you have any issues that we need to improve upon, don’t hesitate to let me know so that we can make it even better next year.
~ Sandy Evans Hall, executive director, North Lake Tahoe Resort Association
