My daughter Megan did her first solo mini triathlon this weekend. Way to go! She is an excellent swimmer, and since she has been home, she has been doing a lot of running with us, but the bike for her is more unchartered territory. I got her bike ready (previously Molly’s), and she got in a few rides prior to this weekend. She was nervous, but very excited to “Tri” this on her own. She has done this one before on a team, and of course, she was the swimmer. It was really a perfect day for a triathlon. Sarah and I were spectators for this one. It was the first one we have not done in many years. Sarah is planning on doing a Half Marathon next weekend, and for me, well, my recovery is still taking time, and I do not do as well in the heat yet. So, hopefully, we will both be back at it again next year too!
With everything going on with COVID, they had individual starts for everybody, 10 seconds apart. Here Megan is getting ready to jump in the water. I have to admit, I can tell she is my kid. There are many similarities with her and I, but there are also some differences as well.
This is one of Megan swimming. And, wait a minute, she is actually swimming! This is for sure where she and I differ. She does not have to do the Reiffenberger Stroke…which means you stand up and run like h@#$! I am terrible at swimming, and have to say, I really don’t like it. Give me the bike and/or running any day. She is the total opposite!
Here Megan is at the first transition, going from swimming, and getting ready to get on her bike. But, she had to fix her hair first! Now, I have to admit, that is not something I have had to do, or worry about, for a long time! She is going to have to work on this as you can lose a lot of time in these transition zones. She will get it!
Here she is coming in to finish the bike section. 14 miles around Lake Kampeska. Everything went well for her! I fixed a tire for her earlier in the week, so I too was very relieved to have her come in and we did not have to worry about a flat tire during the race!
Here she is stopping to get off the bike to again enter the transition zone to take off running. This is definitely one similarity, and I think it is safe to say it is similar for everybody doing the triathlon. As you get off the bike to get ready to run, you look at all of the trees around you and realize your legs are now about as flexible as those trees! It is such a hard feeling to describe until you actually experience. It takes the first mile of the run, at least, to try and get loosened up to feel more comfortable running. The run in this race is a 5k, or 3.1 miles.
She is coming around the corner to the finish line of the run. She is about to finish her first “Tri”!
She can definitely see the finish line here! From this side view of her running, if it weren’t for the pony tail, this could be me! She definitely has my running form as well. I will make her a true runner yet. I wanted to do something this day since I could not do the whole race. I ran the run portion of this with her, waiting for her right around the corner at the start, and letting her finish it on her own. When you are tired, and it is getting hot, any kind of encouragement is appreciated. It was great for me to be able to run with her, and “Tri” pushing her. I kept pointing out the person ahead of us, and would tell her that was the next goal. She would pass them, and we just looked at the one ahead of us again! She did great!
Last year I did the triathlon as one of 3 on the team, and my portion was the run. Here Sarah is helping me down the final stretch, pushing me, and encouraging me to keep going. This was only 4 months after I had been sick, so I think this was because she wanted to keep an eye on me than anything else, but don’t tell her that I already knew that was what she was doing! The point is, we can all use some help at times. We do not have to always do things by ourselves. Those accomplishments when we do complete them on our own are definitely more meaningful, right Megan?
This was a shirt Megan bought for me for Father’s Day a couple of years ago. It says: I’m a Runner Dad…I’m like a normal Dad, only much cooler! Right on Megan. I am proud of you this weekend. This “Tri” took work, and you did it! We can all take a lesson from this. Once we put our mind to it, we can “Tri” anything, and accomplish anything! Hopefully next year Meg we will all be doing this triathlon! And for everybody else, shoot for the stars. You have no idea what you are capable of achieving until you “Tri”! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Day on New Exercise Streak: 469
