Black Canyon Triathlon 2024

The 2024 edition of the BCT. We started this back in 2016 as two family teams. Then I started doing it on my own, Emmy did it once on her own, Ben began doing it on his own a couple years later, the other kids did it with friends on a team, etc. But this year it was just Ben and I competing from our family. So sad! But it was still fun for us . . . but I still want to cry that my kids are all old and lazy teenagers haha, sniff, sniff.

Ben was a bit "worried" about the triathlon as his "training" had slacken in the past month or so. However, when we got our bags and checked in on Friday night, he was scoping out the competition and thought he had a shot at winning it all (a thought that literally never ever ever crosses my mind). The two top competitors from last year weren't racing and I think Ben took third last year . . . so he was optimistic about his chances.

The day was lovely and almost - just almost- too warm. Luckily we both got in the pool close to 9am and so we beat the hotness for the most part.

All was well and we both ended up doing well - but, sadly, Ben did not take 1st place overall. He was closer in time to the 1st place finisher (last year he was maybe off 7 or so minutes; this year he was off by only 3 minutes) and even had his best time, so a PR in racing terms! I was happy with my time, even though it was about 2 minutes slower than my best. But it's faster than when I first began and so that's good!

Some fun numbers: Ben took 4th overall. Ben and I both took 1st in our age division (Ben was the only one in his, haha. There were four in mine.) Ben was the 12th fastest swimmer (out of 42), 3rd fastest biker (out of 54, yeah I don't get that either . . . ), and 2nd fastest (!!) runner (out of 54 and was beaten by his good friend who only decided the night before to do it, ha!). His overall time was 1:18:20. I was 31st in swimming (out of 42 - not last!), 18th on the bike (out of 54), and 10th overall runner (out of the 54). I was quite pleased with my run. It wasn't as fast as two years ago (I was out of town last year), but it's fast for me nonetheless! I ended up 18th out of the 54 competitors and 5th out of 30 women. And my time was 1:29:32. 

Our good friends and neighbors, the Shockleys, were there (with Molly taking this picture). The dad/husband was doing it for his first time. (I love it - Molly told me her husband's "training": one 500 yard swim, one bike ride, and 2 walks. Haha.) It was cute, though, as I came out of the water - Molly and her three adorable kids (Milo, Aidrey, and Trent) were on the other side of the glass window and  were cheering me on. Love them.

Molly got a picture of me running in. Her kids were sooooo happy because I was the first one they knew coming through - and especially happy because I was beating Ben! (But, of course, I was not technically beating Ben . . . I had just started like 10 minutes before him. But he didn't pass me - which I thought he might. Anyways, the kids were so excited for me and it was the best.)

Yay, another good race in the books!

Yay - my first 1st place finish!!! Ben has had lots. :)

Maybe as my kids grow out of their lazy teenage phase, they will someday rejoin us . . . that would be dreamy.

September 2024

Well October is half-way over (what the heck?!), so it is only fitting that I finally post our end-of-September random stuff . . .

We were literally given/gifted a car by our friends, the Noel family. (Actually we paid them $1 - which we found when cleaning the car haha!) Jaymie, the mom, wanted to get ride of the "piece of junk" and we were happy to oblige. . . It's old and not in cosmetically the best shape - but a good car for our teenage Emmy, ha. The only problem? It's a stick. So Ben took Emmy out twice and the third day she was driving it to school, etc. She's done really well in picking up how to drive it - even driving it up to Junction (although the drive to Junction isn't tricky - but driving around town is - go Emmy!). Ben's done some things to fix it - including getting all the lights and blinkers working, plus getting the windows to roll up (and down). It could use a bit more cosmetic work, but for now it's a great car for Emmy and she's happy with it! 

We thought maybe the "Y" sticker would bring us some luck . . . :)

Lots of Friday Night Lights happening in our small town. This is Emmy's unofficial boyfriend Aidan . . . so I guess her friend who is a boy and whom she likes to hang out with . . . Ben goes to the games as well. Our HS team is rocking it (including Aidan who scores a few touchdowns every game) - they are so far undefeated and win by lots and lots of points. Maybe this year they take state - we'll see!

Heather, me, and Marnae on a beautiful hike. :)

That's a wrap on our September.