This weekend we traveled to Minnesota for the IronKids triathlon in Minneapolis and the host hotel also happened to be hosting a little-miss-Minnesota-something-or-another pageant. Yesterday after the triathlon was over we went back to the hotel and when we got into the elevator there was another girl about my daughter’s age with her dad in the elevator. Talk about a Kodak moment!!!
Next to me stood my 10-year-old daughter… in her stinky running shoes (she insists on running in them without socks), bathing suit and “Mia Hamm” t-shirt (kinda stinky too), suntanned and sun-streaked blonde hair (‘cause she’s a kid and plays outside) with a gold medal around her neck (yes, I’m proud to say she won).
The other girl… in her white high-heeled shoes with hose (they make heels and hose that small?!) strapless adult-styled but kid-sized gown (with sparkles and lace) pale complexion (was that her natural color or make-up?) with mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and bleached, styled hair (that should be illegal) with a “Miss-something-or-another” slash across her shoulders and a 4-foot tall three-tiered motocross-looking trophy in her hands.
If there ever were polar opposites in one elevator, this was it. I don’t like to judge, and I’m sure the other little girl is a wonderful little girl… but if you’ve never seen one of these pageant things… my Lord!
We got out of the elevator first and when the door closed we both snickered, then raced each other to the room.
funny how kids can be so different…got a call from a neighbor to come pick up my daughter because a play date wasn’t working out…ok…apparently my 7 yo wanted to play “duathlon” and the neighbor girl wanted to watch TV…they told me there is something wrong with a “girl” that young wanting to run and bike rather than watch videos…I bit my tongue as my 5 yo boy runs up and asks if we can go to the track and do laps…
I stayed with my friends for the race this weekend and they have 3–twins 8 (b/g) and boy 11. We had the Olympics on Saturday night and Mitch (8) was turned away from the TV when the men’s cycling RR came on and Phil Ligget started talking. Mitch whipped around and said, “Is this the Tour de France???” Later, after hearing names of riders in the race, he said, “These are all Tour de France guys!” His dad beamed.
Are you guys going to IronKids in Sacramento on the 29th?
My 7 year old son took 1st in his AG at the TriCalifornia kid’s camp race last week and has decided he wants to be a pro triathlete. There is nothing like discussing race strategy with a 7 year old to make you feel good about the sport. This morning he told me his bike wasn’t legal for the IronKids race. I assumed he didn’t know what he was talking about but went with him to the garage to look at his bike. He was right; the end of his bar was exposed because the grip was torn after a crash yesterday.
We’ve gone to Sacramento the last two years because nationals were held there but we won’t be going this year, instead traveling to Atlanta for the nationals. We’ll miss it though, because we met some really great friends there and also spent several days before the race in beautiful San Francisco. You guys should definitely do it, though… I can’t say enough about how kid-friendly IronKids is!
That’s a great story. I really don’t understand these “other” type parents, but I guess the feeling is mutual. It would be a very boring world if everybody thought the same way.
I’ve tried to get my 15 yr son into both tri and scuba diving, my major hobbies. Got him certified as a diver and built him up a nice old steel road bike with modern components, but he’s just not interested. It’s all about basketball, volleyball and soccer for him. That’s fine with me because I don’t believe in pushing kids into things and he’s very good in the sports he’s picked.
My daughter, now that’s another story! She’s a very alternative culture 20 yr old college student with no real sports interest except snowboarding. But she speaks four languages (languages majors) so that’s great to.
Be proud of your kids but don’t expect them to turn out the way you plan. They’ll find their own way.
you seem to have done well, but i’ve seen a lot of tri parents who are just as bad as the gymnast and beauty pageant parents.
Having coached a few tri camps and road clinics, and seeing more than a fare share of aggressive parents living vicariously through their ten year olds, with zipp wheels, custom made frames, and brand new durace components to boot, i have to say that triathlon has more than it’s fare share of these types.
Hmm, alternative ski boarding chick…i bet she could score me some great weed.
I have two children that are opposites when it comes to kids triathlon. My oldest has done a couple (her choice a few years back) and gets very stressed out by any form of competition. She is the “artsy” in the family who loves to play piano. My youngest is 8 years old and loves to race kids of steel tris. I can remember growing up being involved in all sorts of sports and really focusing on distance running from age 11 onwards. People used to ask me if my dad “made me run” which I always thought was funny since I figured that it would be impossible to make someone head out the door in -20 degree weather for a 8 mile run unless they were really motivated on their own. I do see my share of crazy parents at the kos races though pushing the kids (I’ve seen some that were in tears) into a sport in a way that will definitely see them as ex-traithletes by the time they’re 14 or 15 years old, if not sooner.
My 8 year old was glued to the tv with me during the Tour de France and so far during the Olympics and whenever we go near a bike shop she wants a Vanilla Crisp Power Bar … product of her environment
"Hmm, alternative ski boarding chick…i bet she could score me some great weed. "
If I ever got back into it she’d be the first I’d ask! Hey, I was quite alternative culture myself when I was her age.
I understand what you’re saying about sports parents. Up here in Canada we call them “hockey parents”. They all think their kid is going to be the next NHL super star.
you seem to have done well, but i’ve seen a lot of tri parents who are just as bad as the gymnast and beauty pageant parents.
Having coached a few tri camps and road clinics, and seeing more than a fare share of aggressive parents living vicariously through their ten year olds, with zipp wheels, custom made frames, and brand new durace components to boot, i have to say that triathlon has more than it’s fare share of these types.
Hmm, alternative ski boarding chick…i bet she could score me some great weed.
It doesn’t matter what sport… you’ll have “(insert sport here) parents”. I think you should do what’s right for your kids, not what’s right for you. Not just with sports, but with parenting in general. Unfortunately, that’s the part that most parents just don’t get.
"Hmm, alternative ski boarding chick…i bet she could score me some great weed. "
If I ever got back into it she’d be the first I’d ask! Hey, I was quite alternative culture myself when I was her age.
I understand what you’re saying about sports parents. Up here in Canada we call them “hockey parents”. They all think their kid is going to be the next NHL super star.
you know something funny…i used to play with this guy for a few years, who’s parents were complete dicks, and because of it, he was a complete dick. He’d drop his equipment and be like “dad, carry that” or throw his sticks after a bad game, and his parents would pick them up and carry them for him.
he was the biggest shit i’ve ever met, my dad always told me if i tried any of his bullshit, i’d never play hockey again.
the irony…he signed #8 overall last year with Calgary, and a nice 1-2million dollar signing bonus. i guess the occasional asshole with hockey parents wins…but i’d really really prefer if it were the opposite.
you seem to have done well, but i’ve seen a lot of tri parents who are just as bad as the gymnast and beauty pageant parents.
Having coached a few tri camps and road clinics, and seeing more than a fare share of aggressive parents living vicariously through their ten year olds, with zipp wheels, custom made frames, and brand new durace components to boot, i have to say that triathlon has more than it’s fare share of these types.
Hmm, alternative ski boarding chick…i bet she could score me some great weed.
I agree that it doesn’t matter what sport, there will always be soccer parents, hockey parents, baseball parents and tri parents… but don’t equate that with, or criticize kids that have expensive Puma soccer shoes, Bauer skates, TDX bats or Zipp wheels — those may be gracious children with passive, loving well to do parents. Overzealous parents and ungracious children exist with inexpensive equipment as well. (It’s just like not all jerks or poseurs ride Litespeed Vortex’s with Zipp Z4’s, some ride Raleigh’s with stock wheels.)
I have been fortunate enough to volunteer at 4 Ironkids triathlons, and I can say that other than a couple of parents of the older 14 year old boys, I didn’t see any neck vein bursting vicarously living parents, nor did I see any bike throwing or angry cussing children. Almost universally among the 400 some odd kids and even more family members I saw smiles and hugs.
How long have these IronKids/Kids of Steel races been going on for?
Is there somewhere I can look to get more info and details on them? We have nothing like this in South Africa but we have the climate etc. Anything to get more kids cycling, running and so on.
I get hugely depressed when I see kids moping around shopping malls when they could be out in the fresh air getting healthier and having more fun. (My two boys are getting into the cycling scene at the moment and can’t wait for the weekends when we go to a local race track for training.)
You can go to the Ontario Association of Triathletes website (www.triathlonontario.com) and they have the information listed as to the distances and age groups etc. They would also be able to give you more information about specific rules (ie. kids can’t use aero bars until the 14-15 year old category) for the kids races. My daughter has done 2 this summer with a third coming up in a few weeks and she loves them.
How long have these IronKids/Kids of Steel races been going on for?
Is there somewhere I can look to get more info and details on them? We have nothing like this in South Africa but we have the climate etc. Anything to get more kids cycling, running and so on.
I get hugely depressed when I see kids moping around shopping malls when they could be out in the fresh air getting healthier and having more fun. (My two boys are getting into the cycling scene at the moment and can’t wait for the weekends when we go to a local race track for training.)
Wozza… IronKids has been going on for over 20 years. Take a look at www.IronKids.com for more information. From what I recall, there are kids tris in SA, but I just can’t recall where you can go to find that information. I’ll take a look and see if I can find it and I’ll get it to you.
Be proud of your kids but don’t expect them to turn out the way you plan. They’ll find their own way.
Cerveloguy, you nailed it with that line. We can only influence our kids and be good role models, listen to them and understands them. My 8 year old son has the opportunity to do whatever sports he wants, but he is not really the athletic type, but quite into art and playing games like chess. My dad was the corporate type, but clearly, I am not. Funny enough, he never exercised when he was working but now that he is retired, he works out for 2 hours every morning. In a weird way, although he has influenced me (but I’ll never put in the effort to try and become CEO of a company), I have also been able to influence him. Sometimes, we are perhaps more influenced by our kids than we realize, and although we “bring them up”, they too “bring us up”. So yes, be proud of your kids and don’t expect them to turn out the way you plan. They’ll find their own way.
