I volunteered at my very first triathlon, the TexasMan Tri in Valley View, TX…and let me just say, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. As a total rookie to the triathlon world, I showed up bright and early (emphasis on early… it was still dark outside) thinking, “Okay, this should be cool.” Spoiler alert: It was way more than cool, it was insane in the best way possible!

First off, let’s talk about these athletes. They are next-level. Who wakes up before sunrise to voluntarily swim, bike, and run for hours? These people do. And they do it with a smile, a game plan, and what looks like 8,000 gels stuffed into their tri suits. The dedication is unreal. As someone who still considers making coffee in the morning a big accomplishment, I was both in awe and slightly concerned for their sanity. But seriously, they’re amazing.

Despite my rookie status, I instantly felt the energy. The atmosphere was electric. There were athletes of all shapes, sizes, and ages (from teenagers to grandparents) lining up to conquer this beast of a race. And let me tell you, each participant made this look so easy. But the best part? The community. People weren’t just there to race, they were there to support. Families and friends lined the course with signs, cowbells, and voices ready to cheer themselves hoarse. And not just for their athletes, either—everyone was cheering for everyone.

The next shocking part was transitioning between each event. I was shocked to see how fast other volunteers were ripping off someone’s wetsuit after they swam. Or when the athletes ran to their bikes and quickly got to the start line after just swimming. But the finish line was pure magic. The look on the athletes’ faces when they saw their cheering squad or finally crossed the line was a beautiful mix of pride, exhaustion, and “Where’s my pancake?”

What really stuck with me was how welcoming it all felt. There was so much support for first-time racers, and even for clueless volunteers like me. Everyone just wanted to see each other succeed. I came in thinking I was just helping out for a few hours—I left feeling inspired and incredibly grateful to be part of such a powerful, joyful event. It even made me want to train for one (Mind you, I’ve never run long distances, I doggy paddle in the pool, and haven’t rode a bike since middle school. Haha).

If you ever get the chance to volunteer at a triathlon, do it. You’ll laugh, you’ll cheer, you might even cry a little watching athletes achieve something so hard. Trust me, it’s worth the early alarm.