I’m actually nervous about this. Taking my daughter to her first triathlon in the morning. She’s only 6 but has done a duathlon and some short kid’s foot races. We’ll see how she does. I’m just hoping she gets in the water and completes the swim since the water will be about 67 degrees and she only has a short sleeve spring suit.
i won my first triathlon. was supposed to do 3 loops on the bike (probably totaling about 10 miles), but still swear to today that one of the directors told me to go to transition after my first loop. whoops…
How did your daughter do?! I’m looking to get my daughter and son (7 and 6 respectively) to give this race a go next year.
What was your overall impression of event?
I’m a proud papa this afternoon after my 6-year-old daughter finished her first tri with a smile on her face. It had to be the coldest May day on record (Okay, I may be exaggerating) in San Diego with howling northwest wind and chilly temps (50’s). I was a bit concerned that Saige would complain about the cold, but she was a trooper!
We signed up online about 10 days ago and drove down early to check in. The bummer was that you had to check in before 6:30am and her age division, the 6-8 year olds weren’t racing until the end, around 9:30 (ended up being closer to 10am). So, lots of waiting around. We spent most of that in the car eating muffins, talking and watching TV. Despite the chilly, windy conditions, all the kids seemed to be amping and no one was complaining. Saige was in the LAST wave of starters in the entire race. She’s pretty fit and has done a few footraces and one kid’s duathlon, but this was her first tri and I was a bit concerned about the swim, but the IronKids crew had it wired.
It was in a VERY protected little cove inside the bay, so the water temp was MUCH warmer than the ocean and completely calm, and her 50-yard swim was right along the shore in chest-deep water and was completely lined with water safety people. Welchy was on the mic and his daughter was racing too.
So, Saige’s wave finally went off and I watched nervously as I tried to video and take stills with my cell phone as she plunged into the water. She can swim freestyle, but it wasn’t happening at this race, so she and pretty much all the others in her wave doggy-paddled to the swim finish. After getting off the beach, a volunteer helped her off with her suit and I yelled encouragement as I grabbed her suit when she ran by.
Her T1 time was more like a vacation…probably 5 minutes solid. She really wanted to put clothes on over her swimsuit (it WAS cold!) and a jacket, so finally she left T1 and hit the bike course. I was a bit concerned she’d blow over in the wind, but her 30-lb princess bike stayed the course and the cardboard noise-maker she had in the front wheel scared her competition out of the way enough to pass a few contenders.
T2 was much faster and she blazed out onto the run course. Her highlight? Getting to throw down her water cup after getting a drink. 
She cruised into an easy finish and got her medal and a big hug and kiss from dad. I asked her if it was easy, and she said “yes”. I asked if she could do that race again right then, and she said “yes”. Guess she’s going to be a long-course racer! When we got home, she asked if there was another race she could do tomorrow. I almost shed a tear. My daughter and I sharing a love of triathlon!
I told her we could go eat at her favorite restaurant for dinner tonight. Her choice? McDonald’s of course! Quarter Pounder, here I come!
Pre-Race: It’s CHILLY!
Almost ready to hit the water!
Let me at 'em!
A swim even Monty and Tigerchik would be proud of!
Blitzing the bike course a la Chrissie!
Pushing to the finish chute.
Basking in the glory her first triathlon finish- 6-year-old Saige!
Love it, Jay - that’s awesome!
So… does she eat post race like daddy, too?
shes not very aero…
=)
Her seat is too low.
Its too bad you live in So Cal. In Nor Cal, the Jr Lifeguard programs start at age 6.
That’s just awesome!!!
My son, age 6, entered his first last year, and had an absolute ball. Whole thing took about 11 minutes. The grin afterward lasted at least 5 times as long as that.
Love it, Jay - that’s awesome!
So… does she eat post race like daddy, too?
Of course! We just got back from McD’s. She had a cheeseburger, fries, Lemonade and a big slab of cake when we got home. Rock on!
shes not very aero…
=)
The plan was to sit up as high as possible to use her body like a sail. The wind was seriously howling!
shes not very aero…
=)
The plan was to sit up as high as possible to use her body like a sail. The wind was seriously howling!
i’ve never been able to say that on here, i had to take my shot.
congratulations!!! she gets extra oreos tonight!!!
Complete Awesomeness man! Right there with ya, my son Chance is doing a relay with my wife an I next weekend (wife swim, I ride, Chance runs (2 mile - sprint distance). He’s done a handful of 5ks, so when I told him this was 2 miles he was like "only 2 miles? that’ll be easy… "
He does his own in downtown Nashville the week after, 50 mtr swim, 5k bike and 1k run (again with the “easy” part on the run)… i think i’m more excited than he is!
Right on! How old is your son?
OUTSTANDING! i’m the race announcer for our local kids tri and the 6 & under wave is my favorite one to call. we do a pool swim and it’s the only wave where we allow fins, kickboards & parents to swim with their kids if they want. hopefully she enjoyed it enough to ask you if she can do it again as opposed to you “nudging” her into participating.
so did you see any kids that had better bikes than most adults in T1? this year we had a kid in the 12/13 AG with a BMC TT01 Time Machine!
Congratulations to her.
Those pictures of the kids without those two front upper teeth are always great.
Sure sounds like all of you enjoyed it.
Good work.
-Jot
Too Cool!
My son Caiden’s only 2 and I can’t wait until he’s able to do what your daughter just did.
In those pictures, she’s looking like she had an absolutely amazing time out there.
Congratulations to both of you
OUTSTANDING! i’m the race announcer for our local kids tri and the 6 & under wave is my favorite one to call. we do a pool swim and it’s the only wave where we allow fins, kickboards & parents to swim with their kids if they want. hopefully she enjoyed it enough to ask you if she can do it again as opposed to you “nudging” her into participating.
so did you see any kids that had better bikes than most adults in T1? this year we had a kid in the 12/13 AG with a BMC TT01 Time Machine!
Tribato, yes, some kickass bikes amongst the little ones for sure. I was looking at some of them going, “geez, I didn’t think they even made tri/road bikes that little!”
She asked me if there was another IronKids race tomorrow! She’s into it. I think the thing is that unlike when she plays AYSO or T-ball or other team sports, in this, she gets instant success by crossing the finish line, therefore an instant self-esteem boost. With the team sports, if she doesn’t score a goal or get the ball a lot during a game, she gets bored or bummed out. Not that team sports don’t teach her lessons too, but I think there’s a place for both. Unfortunately, there’s a HUGE void of kid’s triathlons here in SoCal. Kinda strange considering it’s such a hotbed of the sport and I think lots of triathlete families would jump at the chance to get their kids into it.
My son is 2 1/2, so a few more years before I can get him into it.
Congrats. My 9 year old did his 1’st last year and my 6 year old is doing his 1’st this summer. I find it so much more fun to watch them than to do them myself. I love how they smile the entire race. I don’t think I’ve ever been smiling during a race.
His T-1 seemed like the longest leg of the race last year as well.
11 minutes?? Haha, that’s more like an obstacle course than a triathlon!
Too cute though.
Thanks for the report man, and please pass along a hearty congrat’s to your daughter. I showed my daughter and she is seriously pumped to give it a go next year. I think more than anything she wants a wetsuit! As for my son, he’s a copy cat and will do whatever his sister does.