Cotswold Outdoor lend a hand at this years Tri-Anglia Norwich Triathlon.

It takes many things to make a great race. The right training, preparation and everything to come together at the right time. 

There is though, a significant detail that is essential, yet often overlooked. Did you notice the person stood at the car park, registration, transition or even out on the course? They should be easy to notice, they are often (as H&S dictates) wearing a florescent tabard. For they are one of the tens, maybe hundreds of race volunteers & marshals that it takes to make a safe and successful race.

It was with this in mind that I decided that I would volunteer for the Tri-Anglia Norwich Triathlon. I wasn't doing it for the glory, adoration or money. Maybe a little...

Tri-Anglia run two separate races over different distances. If you want to race, the options are:

Sprint Distance
Swim - 750m
Bike - 20km
Run - 5km

Olympic Distance
Swim - 1.5km
Bike - 39km
Run - 10km

As was the case with many of the people involved, my day started before the event, although compared to some I was late to the party.

I left work on Saturday and made my way over to Whitlingham Country Park. Many had been there all day setting up the registration tent, transition area and the hundreds of other things that would take too much space to list. Upon my arrival I soon found Kerry (Race Director) and was dispatched with an armful of posts, signs & zip-ties to ensure that the runners knew where they were going and the other users of the Whitlingham Parks where aware of the runners / cyclists that would be abundant come Sunday. Thankfully by 9pm they were all in place, all we could hope was that they would still be there come morning.

Sunday morning dawned, as suspected the sky was leaden with the promise of rain. Unperturbed I threw three apples, some Nuun into my CamelBak Mule bladder along with my Arc’Teryx Beta AR jacket and hoped I hadn’t forgotten anything. I threw my leg over my bike and ten minutes later was there, raring to go.

My first task of the day was to finish numbering the transition slots. Every competitor has a set place to leave their wetsuit after the swim, rack their bike after the cycle and pick up their shoes ready for the run. By the time I finished people had already started to drift in and were meticulously arranging things to ensure everything was to hand in the heat of the race. It was then onto checking everyone who entered had a number on their bike, helmet and hand. Before I knew it transition was closed ready for the start of the race.

Fortunately, I was a marshal in the bike course which meant I had the luxury of watching the start of the swim before rushing off to my post.

I (and two others) was stationed at the junction of major on the course that dictated that all competitors stop and put a foot down, failure to do so results in a two minute penalty being applied to your final time. As you can imagine, it can result in places being won or lost.

We found out the day before that the road had been resurface a few days before, on this occasion it wasn’t a full resurface rather a dressing of tar and chipping applied on top of the existing layer. This leads to an abundance of loose stones left behind. To their credit the council had sent sweeper lorries to minimise the excess, however the general traffic had caused more to come adrift. First job was to sweep the junction to try and diminish the chances of it causing an accident.

First through was Oliver Milk (eventual winner), led by one of the race directors on motorbike. One by one the frequency of riders increased to a continuous stream, as we were at the top of a long hill we tried to greet each one with some encouragement, a cheer or clap. The only thing we didn’t have were any spares to satisfy the few people that suffered mechanical failures. Maybe a business opportunity for next year!

Just then my mobile started to ring. It was a quick call to let us know that Oliver was making great time and would be approaching us to finish the loop and rejoin the road going in the other direction.

We managed to get through our own “rush hour” without any incidents, accidents and awarding a single time penalty.

Each race distance has a marshal that rides after the last competitor the ensure that no one is left out on the course. Once the tail end rider for the Sprint race passed we knew we were approaching the end of our duties and it was only a matter of time before the van arrived to collect us and the signs so they can be reused next year.

Once back at the finish I had time to watch the run finish and catch up with a few club members and marshals. Although the main events were over, there was still the children's fun run, hog roast and medal presentation to go.

Would I do it again? Without a doubt! It was a great opportunity to meet fellow club members, racers and I even bumped into a few customers! You also get to play a vital part in the race.

The only thing I wished I had was some DEET - the local insect populous seemed to find me irresistible in my yellow waistcoat.

Roo @ Cotswold, Norwich.