With the Ironman quickly approaching June 8, thousands of volunteers are preparing Provo for the event.
"This will be a fun opportunity for Provo," Ethan Featherstone, 23, from Sandy, Utah majoring in horticulture, said.
Approximately 3,000 people are expected to volunteer for Ironman Utah.
Featherstone is one of the many BYU students volunteering to assist in the Ironman.
He will direct one of the 26 aid stations on the bicycle course near Springville. It is his first time volunteering and he will be in charge of 60 volunteers.
"Working with the people is the greatest thing," Featherstone said.
Featherstone first heard about Ironman Utah through an e-mail list for triathletes.
He competed in a triathlon in Salt Lake, but he said he was not ready to compete in the Ironman.
"I saw the swimming portion of the Ironman at Alcatraz and thought it was an abominable feat," he said. "I dream of competing in an Ironman."
Camille Woodland, 23, from Taylorsville, Utah, an alumnus in history does not share Featherstone's dream of being an Ironman.
"It's out of my league," she said. "I think it is a crazy thing."
Woodland is another Cougar volunteer for the Ironman.
She will be stationed in the women's changing tent at the BYU track.
"I like to run races and when I go to one, I see the helpers and think that would be fun," Woodland said.
She ran the Canyonlands Half Marathon in Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
She said she is excited about her first time volunteering at a race.
"The best part is when you are running and people are cheering you on," she said.
Cory Kovac, 25, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, graduate of fitness and wellness management is also excited about volunteering in Ironman Utah.
He will be working as an Emergency Medical Technician.
"Since I love to do EMT stuff, I thought it would be a great opportunity," Kovac said.
He first heard of the Ironman EMT volunteer program through BYU Emergency Medical Services, where he works.
"EMT is useful in any situation," he said. "It is exciting to finally get to use your skills to save people's lives."
Kovac will work with a pediatric unit from Utah Valley Regional Center with 20 or 30 nurses, doctors and other EMTs.
He will be stationed at the last part of the bike course and beginning of the marathon.
"The biggest thing to worry about is dehydration, muscle cramps and bike accidents," he said.
The high altitude and dry desert heat are other factors that competitors should also be aware of, Kovac said.
"If they are serious enough, they will come early enough for acclimatization or the night before so the altitude will not affect them much," he said.
People from other states volunteered to be EMTs. Kovac said the medical volunteer positions filled up the quickest.
"I found in the medical field, that if people have the opportunity to volunteer, they jump on it," he said.
Copyright Brigham Young University 4 Jun 2002
