It takes a lot of effort and planning for an event like Ironman Lake Placid to go off without a hitch. One often overlooked detail is the setup and maintenance of the aid stations.

When my daughter Sam and I volunteered at Aid Station 6, we got a great look at it. Things need to go right – there are a lot of moving parts and details that cannot be overlooked. Luckily, we had the most incredible Aid Station Captain – Rhiannon Berry.

A former participant in the race, she was well aware of the importance of the last run-station on River Road. This station opened up for business in the morning, and stayed open through the late hours of the night. It staffed tens of volunteers in multiple shifts. Not only did Rhiannon lead the functioning of the station, but she did it with energy and flair… for HOURS on end.

She made sure everyone from the fastest pros to the 17-hour “full-experience” age groupers made it through her station safely. She even drew some smiles out of some of them.

The day was very exhausting. But we hope she comes back next year. I think she was born for this. Sam and I are already planning our return to River Road in 2022.

Looking to improve with a triathlon or running coach? Reach out to Coach Scott at [email protected] and set up a free consultation.

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