What a day! So, we woke up early for the tri and got some sweet spots in transitions. They started the youngest kids first and despite having to wear a life jacket for the swim, David (8) did a great job! He was probably the slowest swimmer, but he put his whole heart into it! Then he had a great transition into the bike and was 2nd out (behind his cousin who has taken tri classes all summer and has done 4 or 5). After seeing him off I watched Lauren start her swim. She is just a great swimmer! She got out and into the transition area in good time. My kids feeling good about wearing their Keen sandals to bike and run in was really to their favor in the transitions. David came in from the bike and headed out on the run VERY quickly, he was still in 2nd behind bye-wing's son. I ran (yes, ran!) over to the finish to watch David bring it home in the run. Watched Andrew finish strong, then saw David push through the .6 mile run to maintain his 2nd position! Since he started the swim last, I knew he would get 2nd despite the staggered start. While David finished, my husband started his 150M swim. I was SO excited that he was even willing to do this and humor me :) As I headed back from the finish Craig was just getting out of the pool. I harassed him a bit about walking, but the swim wore him out. At least he was still moving and not ready to quit...yet :) I watched Craig fly off on the bike, Lauren come in and then she took off like a shot on the run! I wanted to run with her, but decided that was bad form and to just sit back and yell and cheer for the family. Went to the finish to watch Lauren finish the 1.3ish mile run while Craig finished the bike and started the run. When I saw him he was walking. I said "c'mon give me a little run for the camera!"...but, he was tired. I again, was just happy he was still going and trying! Lauren finished strong and ran the whole time. Her card said she finished 2nd overall and 1st in her AG with 4 threats. So, we had to wait and see if anyone would beat her time. It took the next girl more than elapsed swim start times to come in, so I felt confident that she would maintain that 1st...but she was nervous! A little bit after Lauren finished, bye-wing came sprinting into the finish! I think she had the 2nd place overall time - after her daughter :) 1st in her AG though!! Her first first place finish! Woot woot!! Then Craig came into the finish and ran probably the last tenth of a mile after walking the rest. He gave it an awesome strong finish! I was so proud of my sexy, amazing husband that hadn't trained at all or ever even dreamed of doing a tri finishing in great style. When we got his card and it said 1st in his AG I was even more proud!! His first words to me were: "I'm NEVER doing this again!" I don't know...maybe next year he will come back with some training and defend his title :) We stuck around for the great awards ceremony where we cleaned house! Our family took SO many 1st place medals they ran out!! Craig was the last AG they gave awards to, so he got cheated out of his 1st place medal. They said they would have it for him when we go to pick up t-shirts next week though. So, the finishing run down: Bye-wing- 1st AG; B-w's daughter - 1st AG; B-w's son - 1st AG; Craig - 1st AG; Lauren - 1st AG; David - 2nd AG; B-w's friend's son also took 1st AG! Seriously...we cleaned them OUT! Not a single person in our family walked away NOT being a winner :) We're just awesome sauce like that. Distances: 7-9yr olds: 50M swim, 2.3mile bike, .6 run (this was David and his cousin's distance); All others did: 150M swim, 4.6 mile bike, 1 mile run. I think the run was longer than that. My daughter's time was 13:30ish on the run and she typically runs a 9mm in races, so I think it was closer to a 1.3 or 4ish. After we loaded up all the hardware, we took off to grab our 6 foot sandwich for the baptism lunch and get home to shower and get all dressed up for the special occasion. Had a wonderful afternoon with family and friends celebrating a special day! Then...I crashed. After cleaning up I went to bed. I got just over an hour nap...with interruptions about every 20 min. I didn't get to bed until 1AM from cleaning for the party (knowing there would be NO time before the party!) then got up at 6AM. Whew, I was tired! Then, I met a new friend that I'd found through Brent's connection to Di, Heather. She actually helped run the tri this morning, so we met there and then she wanted to do the ride with me and so she drove out to my house and we took off just after 5PM. We rode down to Redwood, up and over camp Williams, down 2100N in Lehi to meet Skip for a tour of Saratoga. We had 18 miles then, and added another 18 with Skip when got back to the park and ride. Heather and I decided to take the Frontage road (on the W side of I-15) home to 14600S and then West to 3200W, up to 12600S then the final climb home. It wasn't easy, but it was SO awesome! My new bike seat is A+! My butt was sore, but not done. I seriously could've gone a good 'nother 20 miles! No joke. I felt great. The pace was slower than my other 56 mile ride, but we had more climbing on this one...and more downhill. I seriously slogged through the last 15-20 miles of the ride last time, but this time I'd fueled and watered well and my butt wasn't killing me and my handlebars were adjusted properly. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! I now have confidence that I can make the IM work. 54 miles total with 2000ft of overall gain in 3:15 - so about 16.4mph Honestly, I think I could've pushed the pace home a little more. But, Heather is gaining her climbing legs back and it was getting dark as we were climbing home, so I didn't want to be alone and I stuck close to Heather. Safety in numbers! Afterward we chatted forever at my house. You know you've made a good new friend when you can chat away for hours like you've been friends for years. Good times! I am SO grateful for the company and new connections I made today. Lots of good athletes out there and I love networking with them all. She is training for her first marathon, so I'll get out with her on the road (running) soon :) Home and ready to shower and go to bed. After writing this novel. Again...all for me, you guys don't have to be subject to reading all my craziness. But, as always you're more than welcome to! Now...enjoy some pics from the Tri! My athletes ready to race!!
 Lauren taking off on the run!
Craig bringing it home!!
Winner cousins with their medals!
Winner winner! Craig borrowed the medal from Lauren for the pic...had to have proof!
My winners!!!
Tri family fun! All of us hanging out and having fun...almost :)
Someone was excited to be baptized! :) We clean up pretty well, huh?
| 
