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My kids love to bike, like their dad.  And they love to swim.  And they like to run.

For a while now we've been interested in signing them up for junior triathlons, because we just had a feeling that they would enjoy it.  The problem is many triathlons (if not most) are held on Sundays, and we don't participate in sporting events on Sundays in an effort to make it a holy day devoted to worship and family.

So we were thrilled to learn about the Blackland Tri in Plano on Labor Day.  And the boys were excited too.

We woke up at 5:20 a.m. to get there by 6:00 so they could set up their "transition" areas (they had to do this all by themselves without us), receive their ankle chip timers (very official!) and attend the required meeting.  The swim started at 7 am (100 meters – which sure looked long in person!), followed by a 3-mile bike, and a .6 mile run. 

We were SO proud of these little big boys.  WOW!  Watching them swim their hearts out!  Jacob passed several people with his beautiful stroke.  Caleb swam like a champ (having to rest on the ropes several times because he was so winded).  Bless his heart – that's a long swim for a little body!  But as soon as he was done he jumped out of the water and sprinted towards the biking area. 

Here's Jacob on the swim:

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6608490&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Jacob – SWIM from Meredith Smith on Vimeo.

Derek followed to see them bike and Caleb apparently gave him a "look" that said "I don't know if I can do this". :)  But he never quit – he rode hard and then ran hard.  And Jacob was concerned about his brother enough to ask about him as he finished on his bike.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6608502&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Caleb – BIKE from Meredith Smith on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6608515&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Jacob – BIKE from Meredith Smith on Vimeo.

After the swim, me and Samuel waited for them close to the finish line as they sprinted to the ballooned arch. 

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6608481&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Caleb – RUN from Meredith Smith on Vimeo.

There's NOTHING like cheering your kids on – in whatever requires it – academics, sports, whatever.  Tears welled up and my chest tightened.  I LOVE these kids.  And to see them work hard and do well gives me the most satisfaction in the world.

Way to go, Jacob and Caleb!!  We love you!

 

Here they are wearing their t-shirts to school the next day…

Just for the record (but who's bragging!): 

Jacob finished in 27:33 and placed 25th out of 66 kids in his division (9-10).  Awesome – particularly because many of these kids train for tri's all year long and he barely trained at all (other than hanging out in the pool all summer).

Caleb finished in 35:59 and placed 25th (no kidding – both were 25th!) in 32 kids in his division (7-8).  Caleb was one of the youngest participants there, having just turned 7 in July.