JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As athletes continued racing Saturday in Jacksonville’s first IRONMAN triathlon, volunteers from across the region stepped in to keep the inaugural event running — directing traffic, shuttling spectators, and helping finishers in the final stretch.
Organizers registered nearly 2,000 athletes for the long-distance triathlon, which includes a swim, bike ride and run, all to be completed within a 17-hour time limit.
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Volunteers filled a wide range of roles, from transportation and food service to greeting guests and assisting athletes to and from the finish line.
“A lot of people showed out and we’re taking them back and forth, so it’s been a good interaction for everybody,” said Jelani Osborne, a volunteer with EZ Event Ride, describing shuttle operations moving people around downtown.
Others said they volunteered to support friends and family competing in the race.
“One of my dearest friends, Amy Hill, is competing in the IRONMAN, so we came down to support her,” said Laurel Brown, who traveled from South Carolina.
Brown said her volunteer duties put her right at the finish area, helping athletes as they completed the grueling final miles.
“So we help take their chip off,” Brown said. “There is a chip on their left leg that has been tracking them the whole day. We take that off and give them their medal and their swag and tell them well done and make sure they can walk in a straight line.”
Some volunteers said they’ve competed in IRONMAN events themselves and wanted to give back.
“I’ve done one IRONMAN and four half marathons, so this was special because you want to pay it forward,” said Carlos Irene, who volunteered alongside Martha Irene. “And I couldn’t do this unfortunately, so I decided to volunteer.”
The triathlon brought significant road closures and heavier traffic downtown, but volunteers and law enforcement helped manage congestion near the course and key intersections.
Osborne called the traffic challenges “growing pains” for a first-time event, adding he expects “a lot of lessons learned” that could make the race even smoother in future years.
IRONMAN’s schedule included an early morning swim start at Metropolitan Park, with the finish line area operating downtown through the evening as athletes continued to cross.