I decided to throw my hat in the ring in 2010, after spending 2009 with rehab (The Bionic Ankle Saga) and chasing fitness that wasn’t caught.

So, this weekend, I planned a trip to Galveston to try out the Hermann Memorial 70.3. I ended up making reservations at the San Luis resort, in the event Michael and Autumn wanted to join me. Since Autumn is going through a phase where she doesn’t want to leave me (she’s 10, so there is both trepidation and joy at this…. Since one day she may abruptly change her tune), so they joined me.

I drove a car full of stuff, wearing my new wetsuit for part of the drive (don’t wear untested gear) and they flew. Good plan.

Honestly, I just don’t know how families pull off having their kids hang out at the race venue. Pre-race, I was hanging out in a lounge chair on the beach (my wave was last, 75 minutes after the first) – and there was a family with 2 little boys sitting on lounge chairs. As if!

Autumn loved the beach and the waves so much that going to the race was agony – she just wanted to be in the surf. I knew this because of her immediate reaction at the finish line: “Mom, will you go to the beach and boogie board?” With her ADD it’s true that she prefers activity and is more self -centered – it just made me laugh. My legs were sore, I wanted to socialize, but well, whatever.

The process of getting my stuff and bike was greeted with frustration and impatience, but we got out of there – we rode our bikes back near the hotel – and hit the beach. The boogie board is quite fun.

PS:
The video of the boogie boarding is more fun than the race photos, because they had no interest in taking any. But who wants to watch another family’s family video?
Thanks to the Austinites cheering today…

---