The boys take part in the kids Mini HaHa Triathlon

The boys got to take part in their triathlon today. It was made a little more complicated logistically for us as they were now in separate age groups (6-8 and 9-11), so we had two different swim distances, two different transitions and different start times.

Cody went first, and was first out of the water, by a long margin, after some quick help for me, he was quickly off cycling and despite having to wait for some slower people from a previous heat to finish, he quickly did the bike leg, dropped off his helmet and was into the run. So fast in fact that we didn't get to see him finish.

Then we moved on to Tyler's race. He had to swim 2 laps, and left the water with a good lead. He had to manage his own transition and then on to the bike with a good lead.  His bike course was the same as my run course (for comparision her did the bike in 9 minutes, I did the run in 13 minutes). He also had a good transition and raced around the run course overtaking many people from previous heats.

I might have to sign us all up for the 1 hour indoor triathlon at the Olympic Training Center next year to see how they do against some tougher competition.

Cody ready to start

On his way to T1

Starting bike leg

Into T2

Running leg

Finished

On the way to T1

T1 change

Finished the bike leg

Sprinting to the line

Alan takes part in the Mini HaHa Triathlon

I last did this triathlon back in 2014, where I managed a time of 1 hour, 1 minute and 6 seconds, so I was determined this year to finish in under 1 hour.

I had only done around 50 miles of bike practice in preparation for the race (300 yard swim, 11 bike, 2 run), but did make a decision to use my road bike as I figured that was worth a minute or 2 and I did get to practice 2 bikes to run using my stationary trainer and treadmill, so I was feeling fairly confident about breaking 1 hour.

My swim was around the same as last time (the boys told me I was one of the last out of the pool), but I did have a much faster transition and passed a lot of people on the bike (definitely felt tired on the second lap) .  I also had a good transition from bike to run and although my legs didn't feel great I was surprised to look down and see I was running around 7:15 pace.  I did pass 3 or 4 more people on the run, including the overall women winner in the last 100 yards or so.

So my splits were 5:35 for swim (including transition), 35:14 for bike (including transition) and 12:26 for the run, with my official time being 57:03 and a seventh place overall (second in my age group).  Overall a great result, could maybe improve a minute in the swim, three minutes in the bike and maybe a minute in the run, so potential time of 52 minutes??

The boys and Siew Gin came out to cheer me on and that helped for sure.

Swim details

Bike details

Run details

Start of the bike

1 lap complete

Coming into transition

Setting off on the run, boys watching on

Finishing the run

Eclipse 2017

The path of the total eclipse was only 200 miles away, so we had to go see it.  Originally it started off as just the Millser family, but by the time all was said and done, we had added 5 more families who drove up and camped in anticipation of the big event.

This was the second eclipse that Siew Gin and I had seen. the last one being in 2002 in Africa.

We were super lucky on the drive up, it only took us 3 hours, which is the usual time, despite lots of warnings about traffic.

After putting up all the tents, eating dinner, and then heading to sleep, everyone woke up early had breakfast and settled down to wait for the eclipse.

It comes in four main parts, chomping the sun, totality, the diamond ring, and then unchomping.  It took about an hour to chomp the sun, then everything went dark (temperatures dropped), we had around 3 minutes of darkness and lots of oos and aas from the crowd until the diamond ring came out and daylight came around.

We quickly packed up and started driving back.  Only to come to a standstill almost immediately.  Our journey home took almost ten hours (200 miles), but despite this it is definitely worth the effort to go see the full eclipse.

Sunday dinner

Getting ready to watch

We only had 4 on the invite list

Let the chomping begin

I-25 parking lot

So young in 2002, a lot less people as well

Castle Rock Incline - The baby brother of Manitou Incline

Tyler and I were in Colorado Springs today for Swimjitsu, and we had wanted to do the Manitou incline, but as luck would have it, they chose this weekend to close it down, so instead we had to settle for the Castle Rock version.

Much shorter, less steeper, more even but still a mini workout.  We managed it in 1 minute 47.

The baby incline

Tyler takes on SwimJitsu

We drove down to Colorado Springs today for Swimjitsu Basically and obstacle course on water. It was held at the Olympic training center, so Tyler can officially say he swam at the OTC.

It seemed like a lot of fun, Tyler met some new swim buddies his own age and raced around the course to finish in 3rd place overall.

Made it to the OTC

Ready to race

The course

Tyler moving fast

Big jump finish

3rd place

Swimming or Triathlon?

Cody and Tyler take part in another Boulder track meet

School has already started, but there are still a few sporting activities for the boys to take part in. Tonight they were competing in another Boulder track meet.   Cody decided to do the 200M and 400M, Tyler selected the 100M and 400M.

Tyler went first in the 100M, we spent a few minutes practicing with blocks, and he seemed to get the hang of using them. In his first race he was the biggest fastest kid and easily won.

Then it was Cody in the 400M.  This may be his event as this is the second time he has done it and won.

Tyler then took part in the last heat of the 400M.  His time was good, but everyone else was much bigger (College kids, older kids) than him and faster.

Last race of the night for Cody was the 200M.  There was a mix of ages and genders in this one, so Cody didn't manage a win, but a good performance.

Tyler block settings

Tyler 100M

Cody 400M

Tyler 400M

Cody 200M

Cody and Tyler start school

Cody started second grade and Tyler started fourth grade today.  They have a parade around the school to start the day, before the real work begins.

If only Tyler knew how to smile

Cody waving to the crowds

Tyler waiting in line

Tyler passes Math level G

Tyler has been working on level H for some time, but he didn't get a chance to take the level G test. Today he took and passed (just) the test.  Now on to Algebra.

Tyler passes

Cody passes Kumon Math level D

After a couple of attempts Cody passed Math level D.  He always got the hard part of the calculations right, then went on to multiply instead of add.  But this time, he got enough correct to pass.

Cody passes Math D

Cody and Tyler both move up in Swimming

We missed the end of the season party for swimming as we were traveling, but both Cody and Tyler managed to move up in swimming. Cody is now in red swim group and Tyler has moved up to gray.

Cody moves up

Cody with his move up prize

Tyler also moves up

Work on our stairs

Evelyn and Patrick did most of the work on our stair project. Staining and painting to change it from orange to Java.  Took a long time as we had 73 spindles and 6 posts to transform.

Halfway through

Completed

Sunrise Stampede 2 miler 2017

Alan and Tyler woke up early on Saturday to take part in the Sunrise Stampede 2 miler.  Training had been curtailed a little due to our yellowstone trip, but it was only a 2 miler!

Luckily this year, I managed to again beat Tyler, although he improved his time by 40 seconds, and I only improved mine by 1 second  Tyler finished 1st in his age group and I was second.

Tyler ran a 14:11, which gives him a good qualifying time for Bolder Boulder, I managed a 13:11 which is also gives me a good starting time.

Finished our race

Tyler with his prize

Alan with his prize