The Youth Jam is a lot of local businesses set up in booths along the Riverwalk with free music and art projects for kids. It's always fun, and this year they had free face painting!
The triathlon was a bit trickier, since I was single-parenting that weekend. Neither kid wanted to do it, but I had signed them up back in May and we're not quitters. I knew they'd enjoy it once they were there (based on our experience 2 years ago), but the 7:30am check-in time didn't help either. I had to wake both up at 6:50, drive the truck with their bikes and helmets in the back, and get bikes and shoes set up in the right place, and finally checked in on time. Phew!
Only then did I realize that I had forgotten their goggles and granola bar breakfast. Thank goodness for friends! We had offers of granola bars and goggles from multiple people. Then it was time to start! Hadley did the mini for 6 and unders. It was a 25 yard swim, once around the block for bike, and once around the parking lot for the run. She opted for a life jacket and no goggles; didn't even get her hair wet, but she made good time.
She got mad at me for drying her off hurriedly at her bike. (She didn't like that it was a race; I only got her to do it by convincing her it was just for fun, so my hurrying made her reiterate that she was just doing this for fun!) But she finally took off and then was mad that her shorts were already getting wet from her swimsuit underneath. Ah, the indignity!
But I saw her really trying during the run. I stole this pic from the photographer they had there of our high five at the finish line. She persisted!
Luckily, H finished her entire triathlon before O's 'super' group started going in for their swim. I was nervous that I wouldn't get to watch both compete! But no worries. We had never tested Owen to swim 50 yards, so he felt better with a life jacket. That was fine with me, and he still used good freestyle form with side breathing. His competitive side came out, and he finished the swim at the top of his heat, though he said his legs were already tired. Then he didn't even want to dry off completely or put on socks in his running shoes. "Mom! I've gotta go!" Twice around the block for his bike, and twice around the parking lot for the run. He chugged water at the water station during his run, but finished strong!
I was so proud of them both! Despite the early wake up, the lack of motivation to be there, and the borrowed equipment, they still decided to try their best! I was surprised when the results came out later. Hadley came in 8th out of 47 in the mini, even though she wasn't hurrying! And Owen came in 1st out of 66 competitors in the super division! My little triathletes! (The results are listed by division/gender, then age, then time.)
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