49°f/9°C, clear, light breeze.
A few more photos from Saturday:
Above, Aaron in the center, with his team members. One is a preacher, the other works for the power company. So, power and "higher power"!
Below, granddaughter Grace (very bad photo, sorry, Grace), daughter-in-law Jaime, and granddaughter Sarah sport their medals.
Granddaughter Haley used to compete when she was a teenager and would like to get back into it, but an ankle injury sidelined her this year. On her shoulders, maybe a future competitor, her nephew and my great-grandson Ryland.
In the beginning...
Nina drove all the way from Colorado to be in the race, and did pretty well. She is a good friend of Sarah's, and used to live in West Virginia.
Sarah, after race refreshment!
The Greenbrier River looks so calm, the kayaks like a shoal of bright minnows. There were other craft in the race, too---I saw canoes, a rowboat, and even a paddleboard. There were two-man kayaks, an inflatable kayak and a homemade wood one. And regular kayaks of every size, from long and thin to short and wide. With over 400 competitors, I guess there was something for everyone!
Son Derek came to cheer on his brothers. His daughter Hannah was there too, and that's her boyfriend and her son beside Derek. Derek is a pretty good grandpa--I think it's a role he loves. He used to compete too, and maybe one day he'll do so again.
The racers gather before the start. Quite a crowd! Competitors ranged in age from 13 to 79. Some parents had their children with them. One Dad ran the whole 3 miles pushing his 2 children in a stroller. Others had their children as team members riding in the kayaks or on the bikes. There were many who, like my nephew, were not there to win but to just do it. Which I think is pretty cool.
Nephew John crosses the finish line. What an accomplishment for him.
And here comes Nina!
Grace cruises in.
Jaime was completely intent as she finished up.
I almost missed George's finish, he was there so soon after the first few finishers. Sarah was only a few minutes behind him and I did miss getting a photo of her finishing up.
This makes the 15th year our family has been in the race. Sometimes it was just one or two, other years, like this one, there are quite a few. Next year, who knows? There may be more, but I know one thing for certain: I am perfectly happy to just cheer them on and take photos.
A terrific family experience... love the fact that there were lots of little people who will grow up to be competitors too!
ReplyDeleteYes, that's what I thought! The race will continue, I think, if these young ones stay with it.
Delete...you sure a racing gang!
ReplyDeleteWell, they are, Tom, not me!
DeleteI had to look up the race. I didn't realize it was a triathlon!
ReplyDeleteYes, run, kayak, and bike. Pretty challenging, I think.
DeleteWhat a fun day and what a splendid thing to do. I think we call them triathletes - is that current?
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of that, Mary, but that would be right.
DeleteThat's awesome! You have a beautiful and supportive family.
ReplyDeleteI am so lucky, Angie. These guys make me humble.
DeleteI am so clueless. All of this time, I thought that they were running.
ReplyDeleteThere are 3 parts to this triathlon, AC: 3.5 mile run first which is a loop that takes the competitors to their kayak. Then 4 miles on the river to where the bikes were dropped off before the race, then a 10 mile bike leg to the finish line.
ReplyDeleteIt’s so wonderful to see your family so involved in such a fun and energetic race! The mix of family members, friends, and competitors really makes it feel like a celebration of community and perseverance. I especially love the "power and higher power" team dynamic—that made me smile. Your photos capture such a great mix of determination, fun, and family support, and it’s heartwarming to see how much this tradition means to you all. I’m sure next year’s race will be just as memorable! Be sure to check out my new post when you have a moment.
ReplyDelete