Audrey and Kate participated in the Provo tri on Saturday. When I first told them about the triathlon, Kate told me that she wasn’t going to do it. Audrey was game, but Kate was quite emphatic about her decision. So, not wanting to force Kate into anything, I only signed Audrey up…. until Kate saw that Audrey was getting a new suit that would work better for all three events. Then, she said, “I think Audrey’s right. I’ll be sad if I don’t do it. So, I guess I’ll do it.” Luckily, there was still time to sign her up. Being the nice Mom I am, I told her she could do it and get a new swim suit, but if she whined at all at the race, we would put her old suit on and take the new one back.
Kate did really good not to whine until we put on her swim cap – which she usually loves. I think she was just getting nervous about things and it was coming out in the form of complaints about the swim cap. I threatened the whole swim suit thing again and she snapped back into shape.
The temperature outside was mid 60′s. The temperature of Utah Lake averages 60 degrees this time of year. I’m pretty sure, it was no where close to that.
Originally, Scott and I were both planning to swim with the girls but once we got there we convinced ourselves that one parent (Scott) would be enough and that way they other one (me) could stay with Simon and take pictures. Audrey started out great. Look at her awesome freestyle in those pictures above.
Apparently, Kate was having a hard time getting started in the frigid water, so Scott picked her up and put her on her back. I had just enough time to take this picture of her screaming before I saw Audrey begin to come back toward Scott and grab onto him because the cold was finally getting to her. So, I ran back to the stroller, stripped down to my swim suit, ditched Simon, and jumped in the water. It was a good thing I went out there. Scott had already run eight miles that morning and was feeling like he’d be lucky to finish the swim, let alone helping two panicking girls. They both finished with a backstroke – well, more like floating on their backs and kicking, but hey, they finished.
While I helped them dry off and transition to bikes, Scott dried off himself and ran off after them.
The girls came back looking great and full of energy. Scott, however was spent! Audrey got back a little before Kate, so I sent her off on the run and then followed along with Kate a few seconds later.
Audrey finished her run a couple of minutes before Kate and was able to cheer for Kate as she crossed the finish line.
I was so proud of both of them. They worked so hard and did awesome coming in, in the last two spots.
I think Kate may have been the youngest one to do it. They rocked!
Way to go girls!
