Sunday, July 6, 2014

Summer means kid stuff!


Last week was a bit of a blur with lots of kid type things going on! The prior weekend I'd taken Spencer and Grant to National Harbor in DC for Technology Student Association Nationals where Spencer competed. Long travel weekends make the week before and after far busier, but it's always a fun (and expensive, ugh) time in DC. It was a unique opportunity to be around 6000 kids dressed in business attire, most of whom are probably far smarter than me.


I got two runs in - up over the Potomac and along the river up to Old Town Alexandria on a beautiful paved trail. One was my longest run to date at 8 miles, and the other was 6 miles that included 12x 1 min up + 1 min down intervals. It's always fun to run in a new place...and to feel good doing so!! I didn't swim, but I'll be swimming in the Potomac at my races this weekend.
 

I returned from my early morning runs to this enthusiastic greeting each morning:


A few days after our trip, I got my first open water swim in, tagging along with the local group of coached 11 and 12 year-olds. I kind of did my own thing, but I'm sure in a head-to-head, every single one of them could leave me in their bubbles. I've always thought that my swimming peers are probably the 8 and 9 year-olds. I might be able to hang with them!


Twice last week I helped with TriAdventure's Youth Triathlon Camp which was quite fun. The 4-10 year olds meet three times a week in preparation for an upcoming local kid's tri. On Tuesday they ran and biked. We did some relay races and follow-the-leader with running and some basic plyometrics.

The biking was done as laps around the parking lot where they will 'race.' I spent a fair amount of time adjusting kids' helmets for a better fit. Those Barbie type helmets that lack the dial or ratcheting adjustment of normal cycling helmets stink!

The second day the kids "swam" and ran. The run part gave me a chance to do something I've always wanted to try. We did a cross-country follow-the-leader type run where the leader sets the pace for one minute, then peels off to the end in kind of a fartlek style. There is probably a name for it. Anyway, we had fun and it was cool to see how the girl in the lead became extra motivated!

Future triathletes!



A very fun week with some talented kids!