I volunteered to work the Indy 500 Mini-Marthon (13 miles or so) as a radio operator for the second year. Mike Palmer N9FEB organizes the communications, using 94 radio operators all along the race route and other strategic places such as local hospitals. I'm not sure how the 500 Festival people ever got along without us! The race took place yesterday in absolutely drop-dead gorgeous weather--not a cloud in the sky, cool and sparkly in the early morning.
My assignment is right at the entrance to the Speedway track on 16th Street at the tunnel. At that location, I am only a spotter. (Other locations at mile markers and "pits" are responsible for starting the race clocks, maintaining flags that indicate the status of the race and conditions, summoning medical attention for the injured, etc.) I parked right across the street at 6:30 AM and took my place among other volunteers and "yellow shirts" (who are the tracks' Safety Patrol people). There were also people from a hired security company, police, National Guard--you name it--all there to help the race run safely. Also present, plopped right in the middle of the street, were the Gordon Pipers. I was treated to bagpipe music for the entire race to the track! A shiny, huge, red racing semi was parked across 16th Street so the runners would have to turn into the track...and then it was time to begin.
The wheelchair racers are started first, then the regular runners, minutes later. The entrance to the track is near the 6th mile marker--almost halfway. Last year, because the day was warmer and more humid, the runners were stressed by the time they reached the track. This year, they looked considerably better. And here is what I saw:
*Typically, the race is quiet. Runners are conserving their breath so they aren't talking. All you can hear is the padding of their feet on the pavement...UNTIL they get to the track entrance. Then there are whoops and hollers and cheers that go up as they enter the tunnel. Several slow down a little to take a "Hail Mary" camera shot of the entrance on the fly; others stop and ask bystanders to take pictures of them at the entrance before returning to the race course. Many check their watches. Some fling unnecessary clothing (t-shirts) and water cups/bottles to the curb. Many have earphones in their ears, attached to radios strapped to theirarms. Most are running; some are jogging; the tail-enders are walking--but all 35,000 of them are having a good time!
*One runner was pushing a wheel chair with a woman (daughter? wife?) in it.
*One runner had his blind partner holding onto his arm. Another was "tied" to another with a scarf.
*One participant was a fireman who walked the whole course in full fire call-out gear, including breathing mask (raising money for Muscular Distrophy). We tracked him carefully.
*One tall, muscular woman tripped and fell right in front of me. She hit the ground on her side, rolled back to her feet without a scratch, and continued running without hesitation. She virtually just bounced!
*The radio calls for medical assistance were few and far between. There were the usual blisters and chafes and a couple had some respiratory distress, but the race was MUCH safer this year than last.
When the track entrance was closed, I was free to go home. I was back at my home-on-a-slab by 10:45...in time to do the SATERN nets on HF. (Band conditions were so bad that I couldn't hear the nets, anyway!)
The Mini is an event I will volunteer for another year. It's fun!
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