Squirrels Race with Haerr-balls

This past weekend, we entered Eli and Kate in their first ever "Kids Triathlon" being held down by Aunt Susan's and Uncle Shannon's and Aunt Bethany's and Uncle Toffee's. Proceeds from the race (which also included the adult version) were to benefit Susan and Shannon's ranch for disadvantaged or disabled kids and adults.

We knew Eli would be fine with the 100 meter swim, 1 mile bike, and 1/2 mile run but were less sure how Kate would do. Kate acts like it will KILL her to have to pick up her toys or walk down the driveway to get the mail (granted, our driveway is a half mile long but still...). Kate has just learned how to ride with no training wheels and getting started is always a little precarious as she wobbles and careens for several feet before finally gathering enough leg strength to stay upright.

But alas, both girls jumped in with enthusiasm, no doubt aided by the fact that their cousins Hattie Rabbit, Aber Baber, and Lena Bean were all veterans to the event. Lena and Kate were the only ones in the same age group competing against each other and luckily Susan, who had run the triathlon just minutes before, was able to get into the pool with both girls and keep them from drowning as they completed the swim portion of the race. Then off to the bike ride! Husband worked them through the transition area (while I ran behind with the camera) and then he went running after Kate (literally...he ran the route) and escorted Eli back. Then ran back out to catch up with Kate and finished running with her in the 1/2 mile run portion. Perhaps Husband could just enter the race next year. At least he would get a medal for all the running he did that day!Eli came in first out of a group of...ahem...one...in the 8-year-old female division. Kate came in first out of two in the 6-year-old female division. Lena came in second. She may hit Kate in the knee before next year to even out the competition. Hattie came in first out of one in the 9-year-old female division and Abe came in first out of one in the 7-year-old boy division (are we seeing a pattern?). So the great news is that this race is small enough that all 19 kids who were in it got a medal. Now that's MY kind of triathlon!

(Props to Aunt Bethany whose team won FIRST in the team division - she was like greased lightning in the pool, Aunt Susan who won 2nd in her age division, and Uncle Shannon who won 2nd in his age division. I will spare them by not posting pictures of them racing without their permission).