SHAC TRI

Saturday was full of fun, once again.  It started out with the SHAC TRI.  Then David had a soccer game that Joel took him to, so no pictures, as I took Ben to his Rugby game, lots of pictures.  In the middle of all that Josh went on his Preference date/dance.  So this blog will be about the SHAC TRI.  The next will be about rugby and then a couple cute Preference pics at the end.

The triathlon always starts out with Joel, Konnor, Josh and George at 9am.  Konnor got in and out of the water first with George and Josh right behind him.   Joel's weak spot is his swimming.  It's Konnor's strength.  All three of them were off on the bikes long before Joel got out of the water.  This is a picture of Josh and George's bikes.

 Ready to go!

 Michelle Holbrook and her son Cameron.  I was so surprised to see her.  She was my YW leader all growing up.  She is one of the most influential people in my life.

 Josh getting pumped up.  He decided to sport his water polo speedo today.

 Southern Utah Water Polo = SUWP

 Here are a bunch of swimming pics.

 Konnor, first one out.  Then Josh, then George.

Then they were off to the bikes.  The course was changed to a 12 mile course that looped around the neighborhood 4 times instead of an out and back twice.  It was nice.  Josh has been training for the Ironman and has had a weightlifting class this semester in school and his thighs are twice as big as they ever have been so his bike is crazy fast this year.

 

 Michelle Holbrook!  I just love her!  She's amazing!

 The support group.

 Evan got tired.

 Josh was the first one off the bike and onto the run.  He was so happy, he was high five-ing strangers.

 He got some Powerade in him and took off.  Konnor came next with George right behind him.

 Then before we knew it Josh was on his way back. 

 He and Joel passed each other and high fived.

Joel got some Powerade in him and then he was off.

 As Josh came back up the hill.

 Konnor was just passing.  It was kind of chaotic with all of our runners passing each other in the out and back and then turn around and do it again run.  But I'm always glad that they just go right past us and we don't have to go anywhere.  The lazy get lazier.  Here is our good friend Pam Clarkson.  She was taking picture's of all the Southern Utah Tri Club Members.

 As George and Konnor ran off together I ran down to the finish line to catch Josh.

 Our friend Pat wanted to get in on the picture.

 Because it's spring and the shade tree of choice drops these crazy caterpillar like things Evan thought it would be great if he climbed up in the tree and shook all the caterpillars down on top of us. 

 Here is Em, blowing piles of caterpillars.

 Because George had to leave to get to work and Josh had to run off to his Preference day date Emily and Ben went up to accept their awards.  George took 3rd and Josh took 1st in their age group.

 

 Konnor took 1st in his age group beating Austin Emanuelle, who took 3rd.

Here is our good friend Ivan that played water polo with Sophie and Josh.  He is signed up to do the Ironman too.  It was great to see him. 

 Then the little kids Spring Tri was about ready to start.  We didn't have anyone doing the beginner triathlon because Emily and Shayne both used Sophie being gone as their excuse.  BUT, Mattycakes did it for the first time ever this year and she did NOT do the beginner kids.  She did the entire sprint with Evan and David.  Since she is an excellent swimmer now that she did swim team last year, she decided to try it out.  And, she did great!

Now on to the kids...
As they lined up Matty showed me one of her loose teeth and it was just hanging by a thread.  I told JoEllen and she hurried and yanked it out.  It was hilarious.  The kids were number 12, 13 and 14 in line so they were in the water pretty fast.  David was the third kid out of the water.   It was pretty good considering he hasn't been in the water for a long time.  Matty thought that they would have told her when to get out so she actually swam an extra 25 before JoEllen pulled her out at the other end and ran her around to the exit.  Poor kid.  She was TIRED!

 Matty was super excited and scared all at the same time.

 Matty and Evan in the same lane passing each other.  Matty did breast stroke the entire time and she did it perfectly!  Evan did some backstroke too.

David was out of there!

 He high fived a stranger on his way out.  I don't know what it is with my kids and giving away perfectly good high fives to complete strangers.  I guess they have no stranger danger when they are competing.

 Evan looked around for his dad to help him and after I took a couple picture's I realized that he wasn't there so I ran down to help him with his shirt because it was stuck to his wet back.  Then Kyle came running up.

I was standing in the wrong spot to get David running off.  But look at Evan AND Kyle's faces in the picture below.  It's awesome!  I call that picture...Pure Determination.

 

Meanwhile, JoEllen was walking Matty around from the other end of the pool to the outside.  She needed that time to breathe.

 Once she got to Kyle she was good to go.

 And she's off!

We got up to the top just in time to see Evan finishing the bike.  He slowed down long enough to tell me that David's chain kept falling off.  Evan is the most kindhearted kid I know.  And David...well, he's not.  David has been jinked on this course as far as chains falling off are concerned.  And every time Evan has waited for him.  If it was the other way around I highly doubt that David would wait for Evan.  He is just too competitive.  I hate it. 

 

 Evan waited at the bike transition for David and the they ran up the hill together and David just kept running.  I just don't know how to get it through his thick skull that they get the same prize.  What David should have done is ran WITH Evan the rest of the way.  Running isn't Evans strong point.  It is David's.  David is a speed demon and he took off and never looked back.  It's the poor sportsmanship thing that they just don't comprehend.  I don't know how to break the cycle. 

So, JoEllen and I were the last of the support group up on top waiting for Matty.  Everyone else had made their way to the finish line.   A couple minutes passed and we started to worry so I zoomed my camera in as far as it could go until I could see her coming and knew that she was alright.  She was doing just fine.  She was enjoying the scenery and was on a nice bike ride.  The bigger kids were going around her and she was coasting along.  It was great!

 As she passed, JoEllen told her to follow the kid in front of her and that Kyle would be waiting at the bottom for her and she did exactly what she was told and 5 minutes later she was running up the hill happy to see us.

 She powered up just like everyone else and went on her way.

Before we knew it she was back and headed down to the finish line.  Shayne was down there getting video of them crossing.  Matty is quite the little athlete.  It'll be fun to see what she does when she grows up.  I bet she doens't use Sophie being gone as an excuse.

This first picture is of David looking super disappointed that his chain fell off and that he could have done better.  He was mad and sad and should have just enjoyed the day and being with his cousins. Look at the smiles on Evan and Matty's faces.  The 2nd picture is of Evan flashing the camera with his medal.  I am glad that David didn't ruin the day for them.  But I know he could have made it better.