Triathlon

So.

Last week was crazy busy. We had Vacation Bible School at our church (basically a 3 hour Bible “camp” for kids each day – there’s a Bible history lesson, and then stations for craft, snack, Scripture memorization, and outdoor game that kids rotate through) and hubby and I were both participants.

Compound that with me busily working on a quilt for a wedding gift (hubby’s cousin is getting married on Sunday), and that means no blogging.

But this week all I have to do is get ready for school. We’re starting on September 3rd.

School prep will probably make VBS seem like nothing.

But I digress.

Today’s post is all about Seahawk. He’s 9 and arguably the most athletic person in our family, although the rest of us are getting there. Last month there was a triathlon at one of the pools we frequent, and he really wanted to participate. He even set aside some allowance money for the entry fee ($15).

He wasn’t able to do that one.

When we got back from vacation, he had a terrible earache. When it didn’t go away once we back at our normal elevation (we live at about 200 feet, but had spent a week at 3000 feet), I took him to the doctor. 2 days before the triathlon, he was diagnosed with an ear infection – swimmer’s ear – and told by the doctor that he couldn’t swim until it was cleared up.

He was crushed.

But the doctor had good news, too. The YMCA 8 miles from home (of which she’s a member) was hosting its own triathlon in a few weeks – well after his ear would be healed. So we put that on our calendar in big letters.

Saturday was the big day. Starting at 10 a.m., participants did a 50-yard swim, a 2-mile bike ride, and a half-mile run.

Here he is waiting his turn to get in the pool for the swim. The triathlon was a “just for fun, can you finish it” thing, not a race.

In the pool.

Getting dressed after the swim in preparation for the bike portion.

Ready to ride!

Taking off for the 2-mile ride through the neighborhood surrounding the Y.

Back from the run!

This was a very positive experience for Seahawk. He loved every minute of it. Well, maybe not every minute. He didn’t like the run. But still. We will definitely be doing this again next year if we’re still living in the area (we don’t have immediate plans to move, but God might have just not told us yet). And next year, the whole family will participate because it’s a Family Triathlon. We just didn’t have good bikes and/or trailers for everyone this year.

We can’t wait!

–Wendy