It's not only the competitors who are famous for their grit at the Waihi Nugget Multisport Festival – the volunteers, too, are hard as nails.

That's clear in the case of Glenn and Bev Rangiuia. For the past four years, this dedicated couple have quite happily stood for hours on end marshalling competitors on the route.

Tauranga's Dwarne Farley is a regular competitor in the race.

It doesn't sound like much fun - but it's a crucial task taken to with gusto by the enthusiastic couple.

A key event in New Zealand's multisport calendar, Waihi's Nugget Multisport Festival is in its fifth year.

With five event options, the festival has something for everyone, from the weekend warrior to serious competitive athletes.

The course, setting and achievability makes the festival one of the most participant-friendly events of its kind in the country – and it is thanks to volunteers like 68 year old Glenn and 63 year old Bev Rangiuia that each edition of the race is smoothly delivered.

T3 is spot X for the couple. That's the code for transition 3, where runners conclude the stunning coastal run leg and the start the mountain bike stage.

According to Glenn, the cliff-top spot is the best place to be in the world at 4.30am.

'That's when we arrive to start setting up,” he relates.

Back in 2011, recalls Glenn, the dawn chorus stopped them in their tracks and to top it off, he and Bev even had kaka flying overhead to welcome them.

Being a volunteer isn't all about sitting around listening to the birds though, because there's a lot to do.

The first support crews arrive at 5.30am to drop of the mountain bikes and then the timing company gets to work, and a drinks station has to be set up.

Support crews begin to arrive and need to park their cars in a confined space.

'With all the nervous energy and anticipation in the air, people do crazy things and sometimes we need to get a little firm and even grumpy,” laughs Glenn.

It's all in the spirit of the day and to ensure every participant has a great time.

But there is a crunch-time: 'All hell breaks loose when the first competitors arrive at about 9.30am. If we've done our jobs right, the competitors move through the transition area with ease and everyone is happy,” he notes.

With their experience and commitment, it's a fair bet that things do smoothly.

By 2.30pm, the tail end Charlie arrives and then it's time to pack up; from the first to the last, however, you'll find Bev and Glenn are busy keeping the road clear, handing out drinks and their particular specialty: bucketloads of encouragement.

It's all fun and games when the sun shines, continues Glenn, but when it rains the day can become an ordeal for all involved. Not that this puts off our intrepid couple; in 2013, it rained all day and Bev and Glenn were there right through it all, making sure the athletes and support crews got through safely.

Asked why they keep doing it, Glenn says it's all part of giving back to a sport he loves, and giving back to the community. 'We're stoked that the event is locally owned and run and profits go back in to the community,” he adds.

Event Director Mark Samson is full of praise for the Rangiuias.

'They are our biggest cheerleaders and feedback from our participants indicates our volunteers are what really make this event,” he says.

All proceeds from the Nugget Multisport Festival go to the Sport'n'Action Waihi Trust for its facilities redevelopment project. In 2014, Sport‘n'Action received $5,000 towards the Waihi Recreation and Community Centre project at Morgan Park.