Olivia the Tri-Athlete!

The big day has come!  Olivia competed in her first official triathalon today and made us soooo proud!  Goshen, IN held their annual kids' tryathalon today.  This is the first year we knew about it.  When we got there we were excited to see some other Sturgis faces in attendance.  The Gottschalk family whom we know from Andy's Stingrays days were there.  Skylar had already finished and Laci was getting ready. 


Laci, Olivia, and Skylar

Olivia getting ready to enter the water.  (25 meter swim)

She swam well, but got going sideways 2/3 of the way down and hit the lane marker and that slowed her down.  She stopped and had to get herself straightened out and swimming again.

Daddy helping her out of the water.  (They let one parent on the pool deck to help their children.)

And she's off on her bike for the 1.2 mile ride.  This is the leg of the race that she flew!  One of my sister's good friends happened to have a son who swam a few heats before Olivia.  She was waiting for her son to come towards the end of the bike route, when holy cow, "Could that be Olivia already?"  Sure enough, she came in before quite  a few kids on her bike making up for some time lost in the swim.

Flying in to the end of the bike loop.

A parent is allowed to accompany the kids on the 1/2 mile run portion too.  Skylar volunteered to run with Olivia.  We were grateful, and I think it helped keep Olivia motivated.  The run was the part I was worried about with her.  She doesn't like to run very far.  She did lose a little ground on the run, but still did great.

Getting ready to cross the finish line.

And she made it!  Doesn't she look tuckered out?

Her final time was 17 min. and 40 sec. putting her in third place for her age group!
Awesome job Olivia!

Mia hugging on Olivia as all the girls cool off in the misting tent.  Skylar and Laci did awesome too, placing high amongst their prospective age groups as well.  It was a super fun event that we definitely plan to do again next year.  Olivia said she loved it and had so much fun.  After we headed to Olive Garden with the Gottschalks for some much needed lunch and air conditioning.