Chicago Kids Triathlon

Way back in February, Isaac watched this clip about a young boy who ran a triathlon while pulling another young man, who was disabled, behind him in a cart.  He watched it again, and then again.  Isaac was inspired.  He wanted to know if he could run a triathlon.  I responded that in a few years, when he was a little bit older, we could find a triathlon for him, and that I would be happy to train and do it with him.  This was not enough for Isaac.  He insisted that I check to see if Chicago had a triathlon for children his age.  When we found out there was, he immediately went to work on Avery to see if she would participate with him.  (Isaac is pretty pursuasive in his never-give-up-until-they-give-in sort of way).  After showing her the clip, she agreed, and I signed them both up to participate in the Chicago Kids Triathlon, which would be held the end of August. 



Our favorite bike trail, just a mile from our house, through the forest preserve. 
Grandma Hema was such a good sport, and trained with us every day!



All summer long, we trained.  Even in the scorching, record-setting Chicago heat.  Even when Avery had a super-glued toe from Mom dropping a glass bowl on it and we had a late-night ER visit.  Even when we couldn't use the van because Mom exploded a huge flourescent kitchen lightbulb inside and had to spend days cleaning it out.  Even when Brady crashed EVERY bike ride because "I'm okay Mom, just daydreaming."  Even in the midst of cleaning out our very stinky-flooded-with-16-inches-of-poop-water basement.   Training for their triathlon was the one constant thing this summer. It drove us out of the house and gave us, especially me, a deadline to live by, when it would have been much easier to just coop ourselves up, hold our breath, and try to endure it all with our Dad gone for three months.  And I know Isaac was, indeed, inspired to do it. 

The kids playing in Lake Michigan before the race



 

  

They look so official!



The race was split up in age groups, so Isaac left first, swimming in Lake Michigan, then biking in Foster Beach park, then finishing up with his run.  By the time Avery was done with her swim, and in transition to her bike, Isaac had already finished, and we missed him coming across the finish line.



Avery smiled the entire race!



They were excited and nervous the morning of the race, but they both raced so hard, and finished smiling.  I am so proud of Isaac and Avery!  They were Champions in the truest sense of the word.