Boats, Bikes, and Bricks: 2011 Edition

Today I ran the second annual Boats, Bike, and Bricks micro-triathlon for the second time (read about last year's run here).  It was another great event organized by the Flint River Corridor Alliance. 

This year was a bit different: I was slower.  I could make all kinds of excuses, but they don't matter.  It was a great time on a great course. This year it started in the now closed Mott Park Golf Course. 

In the sandtrap.

The river was up and it was a great paddle. That stretch of river is a bit faster than downtown, but it's also prettier.  Trees overhang the river and the water was cool.  The best part of the paddle, though, was the cheering section on the bridge over this shot.

Returning to Port.

Next this year was the run through a mowed strip of old golf course and a short circuit on a couple of streets.  I have fond memories on that golf course with my best friend.  As I ran I looked at all the water and weeds I left golf balls in.  It reminded me of the troubles in Flint, but the triathlon made me think about what is possible.  Running is my least favorite activity in life.  I prefer to wash dishes to running.  Yes, you read that right.  I was fortunate today to run with a man I met on the course named Mark.  I thought I would have to walk most of the 2.4k, but managed to run the whole thing.  That may or may not have been the best choice because I was fairly spent on the bike ride, my favorite part of the tri. 

Running with my support team.

The bike course was a nice way to showcase a recently finished part of the bike-pedestrian trail in Flint, ending with a mild climb that reminded me of the Alpe d'Huez.  Maybe I was a bit tired by that point, but it was worth it.  If I could change one piece of the ride, I would have had us come out onto Grand Traverse a bit further north so I could have stopped and had an espresso at Good Beans Cafe.  I've always wanted to break in a bike race for an espresso. 

In the end I finished in 1:02:17.  I could have finished sooner if I were in better shape.  It wasn't bad given that I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to compete because of a conflict.  Maybe I'll even train for next year, but I doubt it.  I do like the idea of using events like this to try and keep myself in shape.  It almost made me want to try running the Crim, but I have a sink full of dishes that need washing.  So I have no time to train. 

I like that it's a non-competitive event.  I think it makes it more fun.  Only one person I saw didn't smile.  He was too serious or maybe he thought smiling would make him less aerodynamic.  I don't know. 

Something else important, again, is that the boys had a good time and were talking about wanting to run their own race and wanting to run the race with my next year.  It makes me happy to see them interested in these kinds of activities. 

Now it's time to gear up for some good bike rides this summer. 

This Moment

{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. -- via SouleMama

Reading Party

Twin M has been making some leaps in his reading ability and he's decided to start sharing those leaps a bit by reading books aloud.  We've tried to encourage his reading and sharing, so when he said he wanted a reading party, we agreed.  So we invited some of their friends over. 

We weren't really sure what to expect from a reading party (I've never been to one). Some reading happened, including the picture above, and then things shifted a bit to a more traditional five year old party.  We played and laughed, ate pizza, and had cupcakes with frightening blue frosting with sprinkles.  It ended with a good run through the sprinkler.    

All three boys love reading more than I did at their age.  My mother said how much she wished she could have read more to me, but I wouldn't sit still.  I hope the boys maintain their love of reading and I plan to do what I can to encourage it.  Here's a little research on the benefits of reading to small children.  Here are some resources from the University of Michigan about reading.  But really, as I suspect you all know, simply reading to children is the key. 

As the boys learn to read, I realized that I will be able to do less and less of it.  I can see their independence growing daily and I suspect that will happen with reading as well.  And I hope my love of reading to the boys will grow into of love of reading with the boys, sitting around the breakfast table reading the paper as I did with my parents.  Or simply sitting in the living room or on the back deck sharing funny passages from books or graphic novels or magazines. 

This Moment

 

{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. -- via SouleMama