First Triathalon

Along with his Scout troup, Greg participated in the yearly Scout Triatholon at Mission Bay. To prepare he visited the gym several times a week learning new swimming strokes as well as riding hills on his road bike. I didn't realize just how worried he was that he might drown until afterwards when I learned that these worries spurred butterflies and anxiety preventing much-needed sleep the night before (along with some noisy boys in the next camp over).

Despite the lack of sleep, he was charged and ready to go morning of the race. When the race started, he took one look at the crazy mass of swimmers swarming on top of each other to cross the bay and decided to wait one minute before starting so as not to drown in melee.

Triumphant and proud he finished the swimming and did not drown in the bay! Here he is transitioning to where his bike is waiting.

The bike riding was the easy part for him where he passed many other cyclists. Then came the running . . . He was warned that the transition from biking to running would cause leg pain and he was given strict counsel to keep running despite any pain. The first mile was fine and he thought he was past the threat. Then his calves seized up with intense pain. Runners all around him, stopped and tried to stretch, but he remembered the advice and kept going. Again, the pain tightened and burned in his calves and he was tempted to stop and relieve it, but he kept on running.

He finished, not with a medal, but with pride.