It was a big triathlon weekend for this family. Yesterday Chris did the Xterra Sugar Bottom off-road triathlon in North Liberty, Iowa. We arrived at the race just after 6 a.m. in a steady rain. It rained off and on through the swim, and then cleared off. I have to say the rainy cool temps were preferable to last year’s miserable heat and humidity. With the drought we’ve been having this summer, I didn’t even think to check the weather before we left. I ended up paying way to much for an Iowa Hawkeyes umbrella at a gas station, but that thing was a lifesaver during the rain (especially for my camera). I took a few photos, big surprise!
Seconds before the swim start. Chris is the one in the middle adjusting his goggles, with his head facing away from the camera.
Meanwhile, Evan decided that it’s never to early to play on the beach.
Campbell was so tired that she went back to sleep in the car, and stayed asleep when I put her in the stroller. She did woke up when I bumped down the sand on the beach.
Wave 2 swim start. Chris is hidden here.
There he is, running in front:
Splish, splash…always a personal debate as to when to stop running and dive in.
Chris tends to dive in sooner rather than later and is already swimming in this picture
Mostly all swimming right here:
By now, Campbell has changed out of her P.J.’s and is playing on the beach with her brother. One nice thing about watching triathlons is there is almost always a nice beach!
The swim was two laps. Here Chris is coming out of the water to head out for lap 2.
Checking out the competition before heading back into the water:
Finish of the swim. It’s POURING at this point. Chris has passed all of the swimmers by now including the wave of women that started 3 min. before he did.
We hiked a good bit up a service road that Chris would cross 3 times during the bike race. Here he is, heading into lap 2 of 3 of the bike. It was so muddy. Normally in these conditions the trail would be closed (riding when it’s at all muddy is bad for the trail, causing erosion, etc.).
This is the end of the bike, coming down the service road back to T2:
Running down the service road to the finish, for the overall win.
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