Iron Kid

Today Ava race her first full, complete, for real triathlon. You might recall last year she was slated to race this event, then it got rained out, rescheduled on a cold day and turned into a duathlon. This year our only weather problem was blazing hot temperatures.

Since Ava is a nine year old it means this year she aged into the Intermediate division.  Intermediates do a 150 meter swim, 4 mile bike, 1 mile run.  We knew this jump in distance would present a challenge for Ava, but she was determined to do it. For the past several weeks Ava has been taking a triathlon class at the YMCA on Sunday nights.  And her anxiety about swimming in water over her head climbed and climbed.  She and I practiced quite a bit down a Lake Ahquahbi and got her to a place of comfort, but not real proficiency in covering the distance. At packet pick up we were thrilled to learn that the swim was almost entirely in water where she could touch.  It was probably over her head for 20 feet or so. 

Race day dawned early and Ava was so excited.  We went to set up her transition area and get body marked....

Striking a pose on the beach, waiting for her age group to start.....  You'll note all her crazy hair would simply not fit under that swim cap.  We left her pony out and she felt a lot better.

Ava made fast work of finding a friend on the beach - here she is with Elana.  She ended up doing most of the race with Elana, they helped each other in transition, chatted away on the bike, and crossed the finish line together.

Unlike last year, when most of the kids who did this event appeared to be in it for the fun of it, this year the  race was dominated by very serious families.  Triathlon teams, with professional coaches, had traveled from Texas and Kansas to compete. Two-thirds of the kids out there had nicer bikes than mine.  Most were wearing try-suits.  Maybe it was the age group jump?

At the start they lined the kids up by age, then by gender.  The 9 year old girls were at the very end.  Only two kids went in the water behind Ava, but she was the last 9 year old on dry land. She got through the swim and hustled up the beach to her bike, where she picked up considerable time. By the end of the run she had passed a handful of kids and finished with a beaming smile.

IronKid finisher!!

With our dear friend Annie, who came to cheer her on!

Official IronKid!

I couldn't be more proud of how hard Ava worked at this race and the spirit she brought to the whole thing.  When she was scared of swimming in water over her head I gave her the chance to not do the event, but she would hear none of it.  Instead she asked me to practice with her.... At each point I saw her during the race she had a wide, happy smile.  She's awesome.