Day #9 Triathlon

The Triathletes

Josh & Kasey

We woke at 4:00 am and drove to Kailua Beach. When we arrived the guys checked in and took their stuff over to the bike racks and set up their transition areas. Shannon, the kids, and I waited in the the car for about an hour until it was time to start the race. The first part was a 600 meter swim in the ocean. Shannon and I loaded up all five kids and went to meet the guys at the beach. Cooper was still sleeping so I thought it would be a good idea to leave him in his car seat and take the stroller. We had to walk down the beach 600 meters to the start of the swim. My stroller got stuck right away in the sand . I should have left the baby seat at this point with the stroller, but I didn't. Lexi did a pretty good job walking down the beach. We made it just in time to see them jump in the water.

Then we had to turn around and race back down the beach to the end of the swim so that we could watch them come out of the water. I turned around to leave and Lexi sat down on the sand and said she wanted to stay there. This entire time I had been carrying all 23lbs of Cooper in his infant seat (which we all know is really like carring 40lbs). I was watching the guys swim further away and knew that we needed to get moving. I told Lexi to jump on my back. This only lasted for a few steps because she didn't want to hold on. At this point I was running out of options. I really wanted to be there when Josh came out of the water and I couldn't leave Lexi. So, I took my swim suit cover up and tied her onto my back with it and ran down the beach (still lugging Cooper in his carrier). We made it with a few minutes to spare and were able to cheer for Josh and he came out of the water.

After Josh passed us. I ran to my sand submerged stroller and loaded up the kids and raced over to the bike transition area.
We didn't quite make it to watch him transition to his bike.

Josh's stuff is by the striped towel.

Josh finishing his 12 mile bike ride.

Switching into his running gear.

The start of his run.

The last 800 meters was a beach finish. Almost to the finish line.

The kids and I . Notice the purple scarf/cover-up/child sling. I really felt like I had participated in my own triathlon by the time it was finished!

We spent the afternoon walking around the Hilton Garden Village Resort.

Lexi is into striking a pose for all her pictures lately.