Future of the Sport

-
I decided a fun, low stress way to spend my Saturday would be to help with the Kids Triathlon Frank was hosting. He had about 65 kids between 6-12 for a short, no pressure race. I helped a little with body marking in the morning and those kids were hillarious. It's really cute when a little girl is proud she gets a 7 written on her leg this year. "I'm a big girl now!!" After that, I was timing - I had a stop watch with me. Like I said - no pressure, no stress race. The race briefing was adorable - Frank went through the distances for the long and short race, then quizzed the kids on helmets, chinstraps, bib numbers, ect. After that, it was time for the big kids to start the longer race. I don't remember the distances for the two races, but it wasn't far. Enough to be a good challenge for the kids. High tech start - Frank yelled go and everyone started swimming. Ten minutes later, the little kids started. One swam with a kick board! After that, it was time for the bikes. Everything from little Specialized and Trek road bikes to tiny bikes with tassels on the handlebars to BMX bikes. A few parents rode the course with their kids - seeing the big bikes was funny next to all the little tiny kids bikes. After the bike, the kids set out for the run. Some had number belt, some had bibs pinned to their shirts, all looked like they were having a blast. And that's how it should be at that age - keep it fun!

Frank did a little awards ceremony after the race - recognizing the overall boy and girl in each race and then the top three in each age group. Everyone else recived very nice finishers medals. I know - one of the kids gave me his! I was happy I decided to volunteer with the race instead of just sitting around the hotel room. Seeing all those kids out swimming, biking, running and having a great time doing it was a good reminder in why we all particpate in triathlons.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A long way on foot - Sheep Mountain Endurance Run

-
Image
Fifty miles is a long way - regardless of how you travel. As I was training and preparing for Sheep Mountain Endurance Run, I knew that it would be a long day - I knew that there would be ups and downs, that the plan would have to be fluid and goals adjusted mid-race. That is the nature of endurance sports and the people who achieve are the ones who can go with the flow and find the ability to turn things around if they do go south. Obviously, for my first 50, I was hoping for nothing but smooth sailing - with no dark spots, no demons and smiling the whole way. A girl can always hope, right? Runners assembled for the start Photo - Human Potential Running The sun was just starting to brighten the clouds as we walked to the starting line with nearly 100 other runners. The race director went through a few things, noting that there had already been some DNS's due to the elevation and to be smart. Smart... Most people would say smart would mean not doing something like a 50 mile ...
the full story...

Mortality

-
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention to arrive safely in a pretty and well preserved body; but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a ride!'” - Hunter S. Thompson It seems such a trite quote, but true at the same time. Life is about the journey - the adventures along the way, the failures and successes. A life well lived is a person with stories to tell, taking the chances along the way that will provide fulfillment. You don't realize how close we are teatering to the edge until something happens that affirms our mortality.  In eleven years of practicing physical therapy in a nursing home setting, I've had my share of experiences with death. Never close though - far enough removed to be touched by the passing but not affected. Sometimes it's expected and everyone says "it's for the best. They are happier now." Other times, it's not and we are all shocked...
the full story...

Regaining my mojo

-
Image
I'll be honest. The two months between the middle of July and middle of September just about crushed me. Tired all the time, unable to muster more then a slug pace for most rides, and shuffling my way through my runs. It was the worst two month I've had - made worse by my continuing to try to push through the fatigue. So after Vapor I made sure that I would listen to my body and not pressure myself into training until I felt ready. No matter how long it would take, I would take the recovery I needed. Two weeks of minimal activity - short swims that were mostly just paddling around, very short runs where I didn't look at my watch at all and the easiest of rides imaginable. After those two weeks, I was still tired, but feeling better. Getting more like myself again, with a little more energy. That meant I needed at least another week of easy recovery! It was not the time to succumb to FOMO and start up with the big rides and hard runs again. So I behaved even more, knowing ev...
the full story...

Friends with the Monsters..

-
And the voices inside of my head.  As Saturday approaches, the voices - the demons - have begun talking to me. Sometimes a whisper, sometimes a scream. 54 miles. It's the distance from Colorado Springs to Lake Pueblo State Park. Or the top of Wilkerson Pass... A long bloody way to cover on two wheels, let along two feet! Yet that is my goal. Traverse the trails and roads west and east of Fairplay, covering more then the distance of two marathons. Theoretically, it should be nothing. After all, I've run back to back marathons many times - once getting both under 3:10. Fifty two miles, in just shy of 24 hours at a pace much faster then I'm planning. But in this ventures, I had time to recover between races and took the recovery seriously. Here, nothing but continuous forward movement. One step in front of the other, no breaks between efforts and the the clock doesn't stop ticking.  As Saturday approaches, those voices are getting louder. Ever doubting, ever questioning - ...
the full story...