Paying It Forward: Volunteers make the wheels go round for HHH
Paying It Forward: Volunteers make the wheels go round for HHH
Grateful. For family, for friends, our country and the volunteers from those who defend and enable our "pursuit of happiness;" military, first responders, volunteers - all one community for HHH.
I got home Saturday after a week of family visits. Sunday, I checked in with my network. Grateful to have my network of family and friends. Growing with new acquaintance, shrinking in the face of time.
I’m wishing those in my network are similarly blessed and learned (again) some are not.
Reflecting on Independence Day, I’m grateful so many enlist out of care for our country. During fireworks in my son’s neighborhood, his father-in-law read from the Declaration of Independence to the delight of the crowd. Chants of “USA, USA!” filed the air as our holiday was shared with unity in the “the pursuit of happiness.” Note, “pursuit” isn’t entitlement.
No organizations develop leaders as well as the US Armed Forces. An all-volunteer force since 1973 (Vietnam). Officers take care of those in their charge. Teams of individuals, unified in mission, doing their best. Folks will stay or leave based on their alignment with the team, environment and impact.
David Coleman, gravel road director, shared a Hotter ‘n Hell Hundred overview at Monday’s Southwest Rotary meeting.
As way to celebrate the Wichita Falls centennial in 1982, Roby Christie, of the Wichita Falls Bicycle Club, proposed a bicycle ride – 100 miles in 100-degree heat, coining the name: Hotter’N Hell Hundred
This year is the 42nd annual event, starting Thursday August 22 and running through Sunday August 25. USA Today’s Reader’s Choice, rated the event the 2024 #1 best road cycling event.
Dreams happen at HHH. Sports Illustrated, on Jun 20, 2016 reported, “CamelBak started life in 1989, with EMT Michael Eidson repurposing an IV bag to carry extra water on the 100-mile HHH.”
Last year, 8,643 riders registered for Hotter ‘n Hell Hundred weekend and 3,500 to 4,000 Volunteers participated. Volunteers included 700 medical providers; the most common health issue is insufficient hydration by participants.
Just want to watch, this year’s spectator opportunities; more info www.hh100.org
Consumer Show / Finish Line Village - MPEC Exhibit Hall
USAC Mountain Bike Races – Friday 7:00AM – Ag Barn
USAC Crit Races – Friday 5:30PM > 7:00PM – 8th & Travis
HHH Spaghetti Dinner – Friday 5:00 > 8:30PM - Exhibit Hall
HHH Endurance Ride Start – Saturday 7:00AM – 104 Scott Ave
USAC Crit Races – Saturday 3:30PM > 8:00PM – 8th & Travis
Hotter’N Ale 0.5K – Saturday 4:00 > 10:00PM – 7th & Ohio
Grava del Fuego – Saturday 7:00PM > 1:00AM -7th & Indiana
USAC Crit Races - Sunday 7:00AM > 2:00 PM – 8th & Ohio
Wee-Chi-Tah Trail Runs – Sunday 7:00AM – AG Barn
Interested in Volunteering? https://www.hh100.org/volunteer Currently over 300 open volunteer spots in various positions Thursday Aug 22 through Sunday August 25! Inside and outside: The HHH Store, packet pickup, late registration, coke trailer, dirt events & more.
You can serve by providing a “Host Home” https://www.hh100.org/host-homes Host Families make it possible for more riders to participate. Many hosts repeated host the same riders annually.
Varied course and distance races: 10K to 100-mile road routes; 12 mile off-road routes; 27 mile to 60 mile Gravel routes. After David Coleman shared the evening start time for the gravel ride, Southwest Rotarian Jean Hall noted “the gravel ride is the only ride that gets cooler the longer you ride.”
Volunteers are key to making the wheels go round for the HHH by hosting visitors to our community who are riding in competition in the pursuit of happiness, as well as many other roles in the events.
Published Wichita Falls Times Record News, Trends Section, Sunday July 14, 2024. Thanks to Editor Trish Choate for editing my writing into what is presented here.
Jack Browne is a community volunteer and former technology sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing?