Second Ever

Ackley Lake from our Dock

The Ackley Lake Invitational Triathon is back by popular demand. It will be held on Saturday, August 17th. Early feedback and registrations indicate increased participation this year. For example, nephew Tom's son Matthew has registered to do the whole thing! He will be our youngest participant ever at 12 years of age. Friends of family members have also expressed interest.

I know the question uppermost in your mind is whether I will compete again. The answer is yes but on a relay team this year. I found my motivation lessened since I had already proved to myself that I could do it. Then my sisters asked me if I wanted to be on a relay team with them. That made my decision right there. It's a win for all 3 of us. The youngest sister was part of the support crew last year and this plan moves her into the participant ranks. As she walks/hikes frequently for exercise she said she'd take on the run/walk leg. My middle sister did the whole thing last year and so also proved to herself that she could do it. This year she wants to concentrate on biking, with a new bike and more gears.

You guessed it, that leaves me with the swim leg. As you may know from following the blog posts last year this is the most challenging leg for me. So I still feel challenged to be doing that this year. I agreed since I wanted this relay team from the very beginning and it's easiest for me to train on the swim leg living as I do right on the lake.  I took my first swim on July 15th and it went well. Fortunately, after a cool start to the summer the weather has warmed considerably and the water temperature felt great.

I also find myself in a support role for Randy, the biking sister. She and I have been riding together and I've been able to help her figure out more about how to use her gears and manage the race. I may not be the most experienced biking but I have more road miles than she does. I have always liked teaching/coaching so this feels really good. She and her daughter (who is doing the whole triathlon this year for the second time) went on a ride together. I am a social person and exercising with other people really helps me to enjoy it more. We did 7.5 miles on a really hot day and felt proud of ourselves,