Little-Big Adventure Race Report . . .

Last Saturday, Kelsey and her Daddy (racing as Team "TRIgirl and TRIgirl Daddy") competed in the Little-Big Adventure Race. The race is made up of teams of one parent & one child and the course consists of a 1/2 mile canoe, 3.5 mile mountain bike ride and 1.5 mile run. This was Kelsey's first "real" triathlon and she was NERVOUS!! She's done a little kids one before without a real transition, timing, etc. but this one had chip timing, a finisher's chute, transition area, packet pick-up . . . the whole deal! This was everything she has seen me and all the other pink chicks she looks up to do time and time again and she definitely had a case of pre-race nerves. Mommy, in her infinite wisdom, gave her a shot of her trusty Green Apple caffeinated gel right before the start of the race (she almost puked, by the way) and then she was ready!

The morning was beautiful and started out perfectly. We chilled out with Coach E and his son Henry (who were Team "Jumbo Shrimp") and I got a fly-by kiss and hello from the lovely and wonderful TRIgirl Twila who was out training for the Run Like a Girl race next weekend!!




When Kelsey and Derek started off in the canoe they looked great! Kelsey was serious and totally had her game face on!

Then, disaster struck! Despite Team TRIgirl's great start, when they were about 100 feet from the end of the canoe leg, they TIPPED their boat!!!! And, of course, being the ultra-stupid Mommy that I am, I had told Kelsey earlier that morning how lucky she was that she was canoeing instead of swimming because I always see snakes in that lake! I really wasn't trying to freak her out -- I totally assumed that since Derek used to be a whitewater rafting guide, that they would actually remain IN the canoe during the race!

Anyway, by the time they swam their boat to shore, dragged it out of the water, emptied and started on their way, Kelsey was crying and they were a few teams up from last place. Again, my "Super Mommy" skills kicked into high gear and while the other spectators were clapping and yelling sympathetic and encouraging words like "It's okay!" and "You're doing great!", I shouted out "Kelsey! You've got to suck it up!!! If you want this, then get it together and go get them on the bike! Now stop crying and PUSH THAT CANOE!!" Yeah, I can't wait for my "Mother of the Year" trophy!

Kelsey looked shaken going into the bike leg and I was worried about how she was going to holdl up mentally for the rest of the race. I found the perfect photo op spot, and I planned to get some great pics of team Jumbo Shrimp (who were a good 10 minutes ahead at the end of the canoe portion) before having to grab my signs for TRIgirl & her Daddy. Suddenly rounding the corner came Team Jumbo Shrimp looking strong and ready to tackle the run. Then imagine how impressed I was when right on their tail was Team TRIgirl & her Daddy!!!! She totally channeled the TRIgirl mojo and had passed almost everyone in her wave on the bike leg! GO itty-bitty TRIgirl!!!!

So all was left was the run. I knew that Kelsey had a chance of placing at her first race if she could keep it up for the run. But I also knew that she was so very tired and had already done such an amazing job on the bike. I was so amazingly proud of her that I was crying before she even took 10 feet in the run!!! I camped out at the finish line and just waited to see her smiling face round the corner. Before I EVER expected her, suddenly, there she was!!! As soon as she saw that finisher's chute, she picked up her pace and her face lit up. When she crossed that line, she came through strong and with an enormous smile on her face!! And, I was so amazingly proud!!

You cannot imagine how special and how valuable it is to me that my children are being raised in an environment that exposes them to such strong, brave, amazing women. The pride they feel when they wear a TRIgirl shirt or hat is absolutely unbelievable. A few weeks ago, Kelsey came in 5th out of 5 in a 5k race. She, understandably, started to cry. I pulled her aside and I told her, "Kelsey don't forget that you are wearing a TRIgirl jersey. Do you know what that means? It means we don't measure ourselves by the numbers. We don't define ourselves by times or place in a race. We believe that ALL women -- and ALL girls -- deserve to be valued just for being on the playing field. Do you know how many people are sleeping right now? How many people were too scared to get out here today and try? How many people simply said "I can't." So, I don't want you to look at that number. I want you to think about just how special YOU are for getting out there today. How hard YOU tried. How YOU felt during that race. What YOU learned. And then, if you have other goals of getting stronger or faster, that's fine. But don't ever let someone else steal your joy or the value of your accomplishments." And, she wiped her eyes and wore that jersey for the rest of the day with all the pride of a genuine, grown-up TRIgirl.

So, can I tell you how proud I am? I cannot. I simply cannot express how proud I am. I don't know if I could have done what she did. I don't know if I could have channeled that drive and pushed myself that hard -- I KNOW I would not have at ten years old!

So, how'd she do? Well let me tell you . . . Team TRIgirl & TRIgirl Daddy took FIRST PLACE in their age group!!! I don't think I've ever seen a happier little girl!! Good job, baby!!! I hope when I grow up, I will be just like you!!