swim-bike-run, run-bike-run

Well it's been an eventful few days here and we are learning (again) the necessity of flexibility and resilience.  Right this very minute I'm grateful to be home.  Grateful that we managed to get through a bit of school this morning.  Grateful that both little boys fell asleep during reading time and are catching up on some missed sleep.  Grateful that Anna is playing cards with the big kids.  Grateful for a husband who sails through high pressure situations with grace and calm.  Grateful that we serve a good good father who is wholly trustworthy.

So, on to other topics.  About two weeks ago I heard that a foreign friend here in town was hosting a kids triathlon/duathlon.  Basically his company is partnering with a race management company in the States and hoping to start doing event management here in our city.  They were wanting a small event and a chance to test out some of their equipment.  What we got was SO COOL!

Only 13 kids (ages 6-10) signed up for the duathlon and 8 kids (ages 9-11) for the triathlon.  In other words our three big kids made up 1/7th of the competitive field :)

But, because this friend is launching a race management company the event was so "professional".  The kids got bibs, and timing chips for their ankles!  It was definitely cool.

The field was 100% expat home schoolers.  These are familiar faces and we are getting to know some of these families better as we participate in more events like this.

Lydia and Isaac both did a 1km run - 2km bike - 0.5km run.  They stayed together for the run and entered the transition area together.  Helmet on, push your bike over the timing mat, and then ride like the wind!  

Here's where Isaac's competitive bones came to life.  He went after it!

As Matt and I talked through the race later that night we both realized Lydia was the true success story of the day!  She's not a natural athlete and doesn't really like to run, but she did awesome!  [Here she is leaving the transition area headed out for her last run.]

Isaac crossing the finish line - 3rd in his age group (out of 8 competitors!)

The timing (Monday morning in late August) could not have been trickier for Matt.  He went to work hours before the rest of us rolled over just so he could be here to cheer for the kids!

After the duathlon kids finished it was on to the TRI.  I didn't even know if Julianna would want to attempt the triathlon (75m swim, 3km bike, 1.5km run) but from the moment I mentioned it she was ALL IN.  Even when it looked like she would not only be the youngest participant but also the only girl, she never wavered in her desire to race.

Such fun for her that her good buddy Hailey decided to join the fun.  Hailey's father and Matt spend a lot of time together.

There's some triathlon blood running deep in this little lady's veins!  Her Granddaddy, her great uncle, her Daddy, and a pile of other relatives have all competed in triathlons.

Her transition times might need a bit of work!  But goodness gracious, she got out of the pool, got those shoes on.....

pulled on a tank top (with her bib number) and snapped her helmet before heading out on her bike ride!

By the time she got to the run it was clear she would be the only girl (out of three who started) to finish the race.  In the middle of the run Anna and Lydia joined her and she later said that they kept her going when she wanted to quit.

And she crossed that finish line!  29 minutes of racing!

I love this picture because you can see her weary body, wrapped tight in the arms of her Daddy!

This was such a great morning!  Julianna's already talking about next year (and she's scheming to ride a geared bike!) and I think Lydia and Isaac would do it again in a heartbeat.  Much fun for all of us.