Our little Triathlete

Today Eli participated in and completed the Finley Frenzy Kids Triathlon at our Y. We are so proud of him! It was his first triathlon and now we can call him a little triathlete!! But let me go back....since Eli has been doing well in swim class (and he can already bike and run like a champ) we talked about him doing a triathlon. He has seen me do several along with watching them on tv so he knew what it was about. He was up for the fun!! You had to be 7 years old to sign up for this one and thankfully, he turned 7 just four days away - making him the youngest participant!!

Saturday, we went to packet pickup and got his race numbers and his race t-shirt.

I Can, I Will, I Tri. LOVE IT!!!

Sunday morning.....Race morning. I think Tim and I were more nervous for Eli than he was. It's hilarious how kids don't think much about anything (well most of them). Our boys just go do what they love to do and think is fun. We try to focus on them doing their best and what they accomplish, not necessarily winning. There will be plenty of time in the future when they put pressure on themselves to try to win.

Eli set his bike up in his transition spot and put a towel out and shoes to go from swim to bike.

Soon-to-be Triathlete!

Body Marking

He's got his timing band on his ankle

and his number marked on his arms and legs. It was super cool how they treated all the kids just like adults get treated in triathlons. They are little athletes!!

It was hilarious when Eli and some buddies started playing soccer in the parking lot. We joked that we went to a triathlon and a soccer game broke out. Just think....as adults, we'd be worried about standing around too much or walking too much or wearing our legs out but the kids, none of that. They just wanted to play!

All legit now!

A little tiny-frog hunting before the race.

Eli's buddy Gus from school

We had our signs ready to go!

Cole hanging in the tree before the start

Such a cutie!

On the pool deck....getting ready for business.

Let's do this Mom!

As the youngest participant, Eli started last. Like absolute last.

Making sure he's got it all down.

Almost his turn...

Waiting for the word go....

And....

he's off.

Eli was a little fish during the swim.

It was only 75 yards - 3 laps but he passed 13 people!!

He passed enough that he caught up to his buddy AJ and exited the pool at the same time.

They look like little twins.

Then it was to T1 - Transition 1 - to start the bike.

Eli quickly got his shirt, socks, shoes and helmet on.

Then he was OFF!

He's a crazy biker anyway but he was super motivated to chase people. He can be very competitive when he wants to be. The bike was 2 laps, I'm not sure how long each lap was.