Triathlon My Love...

I mentioned in my last post that my kids and I actually had the pleasure of volunteering at a triathlon last weekend.  I have raced in dozens of triathlons and road races and have always wanted to give some time back.  Hickory Grove is one of those courses I love to hate.  The water quality historically is a crap shoot (although better now that the race is early) and the huge hill out of the lake to transition makes the quads burn.  The bike course is a super technical hilly three laps plus an out and back route.  The run course, especially on a really hot muggy morning covers all types of terrains (gravel, hills, uneven meadow and asphault).  Needless to say I stopped doing this race a few years ago, but the same folks who host this race also host my favorite race Bluff Creek which I will be doing in August.

Joe had been hemming and hawing about doing the Hickory Grove duathlon (run, bike, run).  I told him the kids and I were already planning to go as volunteers, so I got him set up with a teammate of mine who is an animal on the bike so he could do the run.  Post race he confirmed I am indeed not crazy as the run course was uugh!  Besides working the water stop and cheering Joe on we also got to encourage others on the course, cheer on my Kyle's Bike triathlon teammates and enjoy a beautiful day on the edge of a lovely meadow.  Yes I race for the scenery as well as the exercise and challenge.

Now for a little about my triathlon team....  I am the old lady on the team at 40 this year.  Bob the uber cyclist is the next oldest. Christian the trumpet player is next in line.  We have a few race years under our belt to go along with our ages.  Laura is the other lady triathlete and Army lady.  Then we have the newbies Scott and Andy who are probably more hard core than the rest of us and I love their excitement for the sport.  Andy at 26 just rocked his first Ironman and I cant say enough about what a great guy he is and his preparation and enthusiasm for doing this distance (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run).  You can check out his race report at http://www.discounttrisupply.com/blog/ I once thought I would do one as well, but at this point I think that is a long shot.  I would like to try for another 1/2 once I have a better handle on my MS.

Above: Andy, Christian, Kyle, Laura, Bob, Shawn, Scott

Above: Bob, Laura, Christian, Shawn, Scott and Andy

Pictures from our team kickoff party.  We got together in May to kick off the 2014 team and that is where the photos above were taken.  Last week we also held a transition clinic at Kyle's Bikes down in Ankeny.  It was a solid turnout and fun to meet a few folks new to the sport.  I will be posting my transition trips and tricks for the team blog and here later this week.  Stay tuned for race reports this summer as our team progresses through the season.