Swim, bike, run...

A few years ago, maybe five or six, a friend at work convinced Nathan to do a triathlon. Ever since then the Hawthorne girls tag along and become cheerleaders two or three weekends out of the summer. Sometimes we make it a weekend getaway which is nice. We usually stay at a hotel close to where the triathlon will be held. We enjoy swimming in the pool and going out to eat.

Then there are the other times (which happen more times than naught) that we get up at the crack of dawn (before the sun is even thinking of rising) and drive to the event location. These triathlons are usually within an hour of our home and we just can't justify spending the money when we are close enough to drive that morning. So we wake up (more like drag ourselves out of bed) to make it in time for Nathan to pick up his "packet", set up in "transition" and go to "body marking". To those of you who are familiar with triathlons you know exactly what I just said. To those of you who are more like me five or six years ago it basically means that he gets his race number, puts all of his stuff in a roped off area that no one but athletes are allowed in and then has someone write on his arms and legs his age & race number. All the while his cheerleaders sleep in the van or truck until it starts at 7:00 a.m.

Today was one of those crack of dawn mornings. I wish I could say it was the "USUAL" crack of dawn morning, but this morning was different! Why was it different you might ask? Well, because today my little big girl, Taylor, competed in her very first Sprint Kids Triathlon. Her event consisted of a 25 yard swim, 1/2 mile bike, and 100 yard sprint.

Kaitlyn had a sleep over at Grandmama Hawthorne's house so we could focus all of our attention on our little athlete. The focus for the past several months has been that this was not a "RACE" and that Taylor just needed to focus on the task at hand and finish.

It was so precious! She was a bundle of emotions; anxious, nervous, excited and scared all in one. The wait was long between the two events. Nathan finished a little after 8:00 a.m. it only took him an hour and ten minutes (once again finishing first in the swim...man am I proud) and Taylor's event didn't start until 11:00 a.m.

All I can say is that she did AWESOME! I've been worried all year about the swim and she made it look like it was nothing.

Then it was time for transition and the bike ride. How would she do? Please let her get her shoes on without incident! Parents were allowed to run along with their children and she decided early that morning that her daddy was definitely going to help her.

They both took off. I kept looking for Nathan's white shirt and out of the corner of my eye I saw it...not his shirt, but her blue helmet. She was all alone. She had left him in the dust. I was bursting with pride. Then I realized that if Nathan wasn't with her she was going to go into transition alone. So I took off running to the transition area to help her (yeah I ran, high heel sandals and all...okay breathe it isn't that funny of an image).

By this time Nathan had caught up with us and it was time for her to do the 100 yard sprint. I wanted to be at the finish line when she crossed so I took off running again (yes that is twice in one day...can you believe it?). Surely the finish line had to be close after all it is only 100 yards and so I ran and then ran some more. "It must be around the corner in the next parking lot" I thought to myself. Nope, she had to run back along the bike path, down a hill, around a baseball field and then over home plate; 100 yards my foot. But in the end she did great and can you believe it she even wants to do another one?

I'm so proud of you my little one! Even when you are scared to death you are always willing to try new things. Never forget that you won't know whether or not you like something unless you try...always try! Mommy and Daddy will always be your cheerleaders as you chase after your dreams!