The Try in Triathlon

Emma and Hannah:  coincidentally dressed identically.

At the beginning of summer, Emma and her friend Hannah struck a deal.  If Hannah would be in swim team, Emma would do the triathlon with Hannah.

Saturday was the triathlon.

Braeden and Emma both participated.  They didn't exactly prepare for it, besides swim team, but they're young.

They swam:

Biked:

And ran:

Braeden's age group went first.  As is often the case with us and our first-born, we didn't really know what we were doing.  We didn't help him transition from pool to bike to running like the other parents.  As is often the case with us and our first-born, he survived our mistakes and inexperience.

Since we learned our lesson (+ Jill caught us up to the speed), we were there ready when Emma got out of the pool.  Adam dried her hair a little and I put her socks on her wet feet (tricky!).  We slipped her shoes on and a t-shirt over her swim suit and strapped her bicycle helmet on and she was off!  Emma said it felt like we were her pit crew and that seems a little appropriate.  Sometimes parenting feels like being a member of a pit crew.

When I took Emma's helmet from her and she started the run, she told me she was going to die.  I told her she wouldn't.

And she didn't!

Emma didn't place high enough for a ribbon but they gave her a sticker with her time and place.  She (naturally) put it on her forehead.  I blame myself.  I used to stick banana stickers on her when she was a toddler.

I was exceptionally proud of my children and their great effort.  It is thrilling to do really hard things.  It is thrilling to watch people you love do really hard things and triumph.

The athletes we rooted for:  Gavin, Calvin, Hannah and Emma....Braeden had taken off on a bike ride.

Afterward we went to a celebratory lunch at The Blazing Onion.  We had a lot to celebrate:  a glorious sunny day, great friends, sturdy healthy children, and the new Coca-Cola machine at The Blazing Onion that is fan-cy.