See ya, summer!

So I did my triathlon yesterday (holla!), which signaled for us the unofficial end of summer. Good riddance, I'd say. If I could live every day in one of the shoulder seasons, I would never feel sad again. Alas...

The triathlon went well, in that I finished it and did not die. Several times during the event I said to myself, "This was dumb. I am never doing this again." But as soon as I got home I started trolling the internet for next year's event. Today I'm feeling a bit sore and a bit tired, but I'm glad I did it.

Clara is so inspired by me being a triathlete that she informed us that this coming Saturday she'll be competing in her own event. It's a "girls' triathlon," evidently, and it will involve "doing strokes," riding a bike, and dancing. "And you will stand and wait for me and cheer," she told us. So far, her training schedule has been quite rigorous. Earlier this afternoon she told Jeremy and Jonathan to go play in the kids' pool so she could practice her strokes. Jeremy and Jonathan huddled in the corner of Jonathan's room while she "swam" on the carpet. When she was done, she joined them in the kids' pool. I guess she noticed that one time when I was not with them in the kids' pool. At any rate, she is looking to be in top shape for her big race.

While I was gone with my friends at the triathlon (which was in Montana) Jeremy stayed home with Jonathan and Clara and spent a surprisingly ambitious 26 hours with them. On Friday evening he took them to the community center for a fun evening out, then on Saturday, in a fit of bravery I don't think even I would have attempted, he loaded them up for a jaunt to the county fair. He came home several hours later and still had both of the kids, so we'll call that a success. I'm just glad they were able to go at all. Evidently, on the way there Clara kept harping on about wanting to ride the ferris wheel. Jeremy kept telling her she was too short and that she'd have to content herself with the farm animals. When she wouldn't let it go, Jeremy said, "Clara, if you mention the ferris wheel one more time I am turning the car around and going home." Apparently it took her several minutes before she would say even a single word, lest she accidentally mention the forbidden f----s w---l. Fortunately she stayed true and was rewarded later by a spin on the carousel. It's hard being two sometimes. And sometimes it's awesome.



All said, we had a nice summer. Not a single person in our house was in her third trimester of pregnancy, which can't help but make everything seem a bit better. Also, we finally got a pumpkin to start growing in our garden, so Halloween is destined to not be a bust. Now all I really want is a very long fall so we can enjoy my favorite flavor of air (crisp) before the snow starts to fall.

Jeremy's turn to tri

Jeremy did his triathlon relay on Saturday. He and his teammates did an Olympic triathlon, and Jeremy brought them home with a swift 10K (48 minutes!). The man runs like a gazelle.

And now a few shots of the action:

Clara and Jonathan waiting for Jeremy to start running (if you look closely you can spot Jeremy in his sweatband. Awesome look, JB!):



I was also there:

The big bike-to-run tag (Jason could spot Jeremy really easily, on account of his headband):

Starting the run (don't worry--that's not actually his running stride; I caught him coming around a u-turn, and his headband may have thrown him slightly off-balance):

Crossing the finish line, and looking good! (Funny story: an "elite" triathlete who'd finished by the time Jeremy was running (the relays start last) was sitting along the route cheering people on. When Jeremy ran by the guy said, "Keep it up, Headbandy!" I am still laughing just thinking about it. Classic.)


And a nice team shot:

Now that I've written this post, Jeremy is reading it and telling me why he needed to wear a sweatband. His reasons are threefold: 1)they hold his glasses on; 2)they keep the sweat out of his eyes; 3)they are awesome!

Regardless, nice job, JB!

Try a tri!

On Saturday I did the bike leg of a triathlon relay with two friends of mine. I will admit that it was my idea--I can be very rash--and that it was brutal, but it was fun. I think. The main problem was that the race organizers changed the bike course about 36 hours before the race, so instead of a 12.4 mile ride with one steep hill (the rest of the course was mostly smaller rolling hills) I had to ride a 10 mile course that was 5 miles more or less straight uphill and 5 miles more or less straight downhill. Since I'd trained for different terrain, my poor body was not prepared. Nevertheless, I finished--and in less time than I thought I would take. So there you have it.

And to prove how rash I am, this morning I talked my friends into doing another triathlon--this time not as a relay!--just four weeks from now. They're on board, I'm having second thoughts, but I'm strapping on my running shoes this evening for my first training run. And I bought goggles, so clearly I'm committed.

Are you ready to try a tri yourself? Be like me: don't think, just do!