SOREN'S FIRST TRIATHLON!!

There is nothing like looking at the world through a child's eyes.  It's inspiring to see my kid follow in my footsteps and get excited about something like Triathlon.  That being said, I want to come right out and say that I'm not one of "those Moms" who push their kids into an activity in order to fulfill a lost dream of her own through the lives of her offspring.  Quite the contrary.  I'm introducing my son to things I enjoy, but it's up to him to decide whether or not he likes it.

We're going into the way back machine, here.  Last year during my Boulder Tri Series training, Soren pipes up and said he wanted to do a race someday.  I knew at 5 years old and not riding a bike independently, he wouldn't be ready for another year or so.  I also wanted to be sure he kept that idea in his own head, without much prompting from me.  Through the year and coming into this summer, he still expressed interest in a race event.  So I felt he was ready for the Stapleton Kids Triathlon.  This small, fun kids event is a 25 meter swim, a 1 mile bike, and a 1/2 mile run through the neighborhood.

The best part about this from a parenting and triathlete's perspective, is that for Soren there was no training plan necessary.  I didn't have to get all OCD on drawing up a training plan (although I tried).  Because he is so active, it wasn't that hard to direct that energy into swimming, biking and running.  All I did for a few weeks was ask him every day if he wanted to swim, bike or run.  Pretty easy, actually, once I let go of the "work" in workout.

Given the fact that I knew he wanted to do a race, I still understood he wouldn't be able to just show up and feel good about it.  I signed him up for Swim Team and had him in lessons all summer.    He was easily handling one length.  Like me, I think he felt that was the easy part.

The bike was a bit harder.  We didn't take the training wheels off the bike until the last day of the school year.  He is apprehensive and nervous on the bike.  Again, like me, he's not so much a fan.  We worked for weeks on his independent riding, and finally got to a point where he could start himself and ride a couple of miles independently.  At first, I would run behind him.  Then he got so fast (or I got slower...always a possibility) I had to get on my cruiser bike to keep up with him.  Of the three sports, he's made the most progress on the bike, and I couldn't be more proud that he overcame his fear of riding.  We even rode the bike course a couple of days before the race.  Hard to suppress the OCD part.

Running for a 6 year old boy.  Um, do we really need to discuss how easy that is?  He runs everywhere!  The only thing we really did to help him with his running is that since he runs like a 6 year old (limbs flopping everywhere, landing flat-footed), I showed him some tips on how to run easy and strong.  Every time we would run somewhere (the park, the pool, etc), I would show him how to keep his arms in, run up on his toes and run easy instead of sprint.  He got the hang of it, and loved to go out running.

Stapleton Kids Tri!

Packet Pick-up: This was just plain funny.  It was all just as official as any race in which I have participated!  Bib numbers sponsored by Road ID, official race t-shirts, and even timing chips!  I even had swag bag envy!  Most of the time, my race swag bag is filled with useless deals, like 20% off for dinner at a major chain restaurant, and the coupon expires by noon that day.  Or a free podiatry appointment.  Soren's bag had a coupon for free ice cream at Cold Stone, two bike lights, a Free Kids Pizza at Mici's and two bottles of sunscreen...among many other things! I was really jealous.

Transition...before the race

Okay, say this with me: "This is Not an Ironman."  He doesn't need to be concerned about nutrition, how he will manage T1 efficiency, or how to carry a water bottle on the run.  Funny part is that he was so excited about my new Ultimate Direction water bottle, he wanted to use it during the race even though I explained to him he didn't need it.  Every time I started problem solving for a big race I had to remind myself, "okay, he's only going to be out there for 20 minutes. This is not a big deal."

So when race day came, all I cared about was that he didn't give up.  If he doggy-paddled across the pool, stopped on the bike every 30 seconds and walked the rest of the course, I didn't care as long as he tried his best and had a good time.  In the days leading up to the race, he started getting really excited.  He would say things like, "I can't wait for my race!"  He'd ask me, "Will I get a medal?"  So cute!  I made sure he knew that no matter what happened on race day, I am already proud of him.

Body Marking

When we got to the morning of the race, there were already kids competing.  The 9-13 age group went first, so we got to see part of how the race worked.  We were let into transition complete with body marking (what I consider a futile attempt at placing identification on the skin of the athlete that rubs off with sunscreen).  We (Nils, Stephanie, myself and Soren) got all set up in transition.  Soren had oodles of nervous energy, bouncing around like a kangaroo.  However, when it came time to do the athlete's briefing, he sat very quiet, very focused.  I could tell he was getting nervous.

Focused on the briefing

Last minute pointers from mom

Soren at right

Determined

The 6-8 year olds moved into the pool area, while I remained in transition to help Soren with his move from the swim to the bike.  It was my own personal nightmare coming true.  I was trapped in the transition area, and I wasn't allowed to leave!  I've had this dream before, and I didn't like it!  Whew, okay.  Actually, I sat in wait for Soren to wander out of the pool and make his way toward me and his bike.  What surprised me was how fast he came shooting into T1!  I thought for sure the nerves would make him reluctant, but his adrenaline was definitely pumping!  I helped him get his shoes on and he grabbed his bike and took off like a rocket.

T1 support crew

We're gonna need a bigger bike.

We didn't see him much on the bike, because he was moving so fast!  Well, as fast as he could for a kid whose bike is two sizes too small for him.  We saw him come around the corner working so hard, telling him we'd see him at the finish.  I ran as fast as I could...actually almost missed him come out of T2...to see him flying like a bullet out of the run chute.

Dancing man

Running man

I watched him throughout the run, dancing, high-fiveing complete strangers and generally kicking serious butt.  They even had a water station, where he stopped to grab a drink while walking.  A couple of times, he would dramatically put his hands on his knees and pant a couple of times before standing back up and running again.

Finally a Water break!

See?  He's floating.

Looking like a runner!

FINISH LINE!!

Just as an aside: Here's what bugs me about his run pictures compared to mine.  In every picture ever taken of me during a race, it looks like I have both feet firmly planted on the ground and that I'm barely moving.  In Soren's pictures, he looks like he's levitating!


Now onto the finish: He flew up the hill and around the final corner to his first triathlon Finish.  We couldn't be more proud.  He worked so hard and had so much fun, and that's all I cared about.  He's already asked me to sign him up for next year.

His first medal!

 So here's the question.  How did he do?  He finished.  He did his best, and he never quit, and he had fun.  And isn't that what this is all about?   I'm not one of those parents that put undue pressure on my kid to be the best of all.  I just want him to do his best.  I wasn't standing at the finish line with a stop watch waiting to berate him for not being better (yes, there were those parents there).  This is a neighborhood kids event, not the World Championships in Kona.  I was screaming my head off.  I let the cowbell off it's leash!  I was jumping and running and cheering for my precious little boy who has now tasted this kind of accomplishment.  And you know what?  If he never does it again, that is okay.  He will find something he loves.  Maybe it's triathlon, or hockey, or sailing, or something that neither his Dad nor I know the first thing about.  But it will be his thing, because he wants it badly enough.

Because it's all about who's waiting at the finish.

Man it's hot today!