Passing the Torch

One of the reasons I started this blog was to focus now and then on kids & triathlon training. Let me put it this was: When I visit my local health club to do my swim workouts I see young kids....we're talking 10 and under here...that have a need for a mansiere. A mansiere is defined as a brassiere for men, aka a "bro". They can't put on their little swim trunks without having to take a breather. My son is not going to fall into that category.

Last year The Boy® did his first triathlon in Park Rapids, MN last year and is signed up again this year. He is a few weeks out from his continuing duel with neighbor Sam to be the fastest kid in 3rd grade, this year choosing to run the 480-yd dash at the school track & field meet. Unlike last year, we have started a training program.

Tonight we run a loop on a walking path near our humble abode. The result was not too shabby for a boy just turned nine. Per the Garmin, we covered 1.79 miles at 9:57 pace. Let's say we have a few pacing issues that need to be worked through with the pupil as someone started out at 7:40 pace and became aware he could not sustain that, oh, about 1/4 of a mile into it despite pleas from his coach to 'slow it down'.

Nonetheless, despite several temporary stops (Whoa Dad! That's a huge hill!) The Boy® enjoyed his workout, remained somewhat talkative, and even outsprinted me on the last block back home (for real). I mean, he finished the last segment at 6:38 pace! The entire run can be seen here.

Note to self - A 2-miler with The Boy® and your avg HR is 138?!? You are getting old, coach!

What is doubly nice is seeing this played out across the country. It really tickles me to no end to see the next generation come along!

In Rochester, MN fellow tri-geek Mario Minelli's 8-year old son won the 1-9 age division in a local 2-mile race. Jace's time was an astounding 15:14 which is a 7:37 per mile pace! Like I told Mario, he has a Steve Prefontaine in the making. Note - Mario is the current course record holder for the upcoming Winter Be Gone! Duathlon on 4/26. The apple didn't fall far from the tree. I'll be seeing and racing with Mario that day. More on that race next week.

Another local tri-geek, Jeremy recently ran a 5K with his daughter, Anastasia. She ran a 30:18 and set a course record for her age group. Let me ask you all something: How many of you would actually 'throw away' a race and instead, slow down and race it with your son or daughter?? Sadly, not many would. And that's a tragedy. Kudo's to both Jeremy and Anastasia!

Farther north, Canadian tri-geek, cdnhollywood, often takes time to reconnect with his family, trains with family, and is certain that his daughter is the only 4yr old that can tune her bike!. Which is beyond my skill!

And a tad older, but still showing that triathlon is not becoming a 'old man's sport' as Mr. Chris McCormack recently stated in an interview with Triathlete magazine I wanted to give a shout-out to Adam Beston of Missoula who is just eight weeks out from the Kansas 70.3. His training schedule has been intense, he stats are killer. And I'll be watching from afar with vested interest. Adam's blog can now be found here. I'm trying to talk him into coaching me!

To everyone, please keep working with your kids. Keep it fun. And most importantly, if it comes down to fitting in that long brick versus taking time to do something with your son or daughter...the choice should be very clear and very simple to make.

Gotta run, someone wants to watch The Day the Earth Stood Still.