Evening friends! I hop everyone had a great day. We had a super Saturday down here in the south! Our new neighborhood held it’s first Triathlon here this morning, so Bobby and I got up early to go watch and cheer on the participants. It made me itch tor ace again (NOT tri) but it was FUN to cheer on the other racers!
At 7:00 when I woke up I could hear the music coming from the starting area. These are with my zoom lens from my upstairs balcony.
zoomed out a little bit
we hurried to get ready and walked down to the lake just as the first swimmers were getting in. The swim start area was very small so it wasn’t like several people started at once. There were over 200 participants!
The race was 1/3 mile swim, 18 mile bike, and 5k run. This guy was dancing to Soulja Boy right before he got in the water so I had to take his picture! (guy in orange cap right in the middle of the pic)
everyone looked so excited/nervous!
first out of the water. This guy went on to win in a time of one hour and eleven minutes.
running to transition
There go the bikes!
we walked over to the transition area for a few minutes
and watched people change and mount. it was interesting to see peoples routines for changing, etc.
yay for cheerleaders!
we decided to go up to the house and get some bug spray. The gnats were awful! We also grabbed the golf cart and the dogs and headed to the corner of the park that our house is on. It is a lonely stretch of the 5k in the woods at the top of a hill and we thought the runners could use some encouragement about then.
“wait I’m not ready!”
ok now try…
and yes that is our house in the background!
We had snacks, too! I love this pic. The girls look like they are smiling!
The first runner came by! I took this to show where they were running in reference to our house. You can see the runner on the left of the picture coming up over the hill. He looks very very small still.
I also ran back to the house to grab Bobby’s old cheerleader megaphone so he could yell at the runners!
action shots of me cheering!
maybe my arm was itching?
This was cute. Sassy was just walking around standing RIGHT on the side of the road, just watching people pass. not barking or getting in the way or anything. Then she decided to lay down and watch. We told people she was cheering for them.
Most people were very responsive to the cheering. I got a lot of smiles, waves, thank you’s, and some funny comments like “1000 bucks if I can ride in your golf cart!” and “wanna run for me?” To which I replied SURE! It was a lot of fun! I was so excited for them.
After awhile we headed to the finish line, and parked in the shade. I wanted to walk to where the runners came around the last turn and could see the finish. I wanted to yell for them to kick it in, give it all you’ve got, this is the end. that was SO FUN! Especially when pople actually went FASTER after I yelled at them!
I started calling out numbers, telling them to finish strong, they were looking amazing, and they were almost done. I yelled at one guy to “kick it in" now!” and he laughed and yelled “I AM kicking!!!” It was such a blast. I was seriously born to be a coach. I was loving cheering and encouraging. I have coached volleyball and basketball, so why not running?
After we watched a lot of people finish, it was time to get some grub. They had hot dogs, snowballs (what northerners call “shaved ice”) and Raisin Cane’s chicken. If you have no idea what this is then you are seriously missing out on one of the best tasting things in life. YUM!
it was nice to have our golf cart, we just sat on it in the shade and ate while we watched people finish.
We also met a few more of our neighbors that were out and about which was fun. We stayed for several hours, until everyone had crossed and they did the awards/people went home.
This race got two thumbs up from me. I LOVE a free snowball! (I had two!)
Afterwards we rode home and did a little yard work, planted some plants etc. Then we went for a run ourselves! After watching it was hard not to do SOMETHING active! I ran 2.5 miles and bobby did an extra 3. I was feeling sunburnt and tired so I let him go on without me.
I had some major sunscreen fail, because I obviously didn’t apply evenly and now have hand prints on my shoulders. Whoops!
We had a great day and I know next year it is going to be even bigger and better! off to so some cleaning, my parents come for a visit tomorrow!
QOTD: Have you ever spectated at a race? Did you enjoy it?
Your so lucky- your neighborhood seems pretty amazing and fitting considering how active you both are. Love the house in the background.
thanks, we are enjoying being in this neighborhood!
Sounds (and looks) like an AMAZING Saturday! Bobby and his megaphone crack me up!!! It’s cool you were able to cheer people on at the top of the hill and again at the finish line!! Yay for Cane’s chicken!!! :0)
haha it was fun to yell into it. I think he was reliving his glory days.
That looks so much fun. Your neighborhood looks awesome. I live in MA and my hometown is the 2nd town the Boston Marathon goes through. When the marathon first started it was the first town actually. We go every single year to watch the runners and I absolutely love it. It’s one of my favorite traditions. I can’t wait to take my daughter to her first Boston Marathon this year!
thats so cool! have a blast!
Looks like so much fun! I love spectating races! I don’t do it often because if there is a running race in the area I’m usually running it, but even then I cool down by walking the course backwards and cheering.
I love everything about this post! There will be an Ironman held about 30 minutes away from me in May and we’re going to go watch. One of our friend’s brothers is actually racing it! CRAZY!
We call them snowcones in Texas. And I LOVE Raising Canes! Now I’m hungry! Haha!
How fun to spectate this kind of race! I have only done this once and it too was tri. Usually I’m the one running, but I think cheering people on is so inspiring and I’m sure you made the racers day! And what a fun afternoon for you and the hubs! 🙂
your comment was in my spam folder! ak!
it was a fun day! :o)
That’s so cool that your neighborhood has a triathlon! I bet the people were really happy to have spectators!
I have been reading in google reader so I’m sorry if I am late to noticing but I am loving the blog look 🙂 Its a nice change to spectate a race than participate, right?
That is so neat your neighborhood had a tri! I am sure those runners loved seeing y’all on that lonely stretch of the 5K. May be you will be out there next year!!
P.S. Your house looks so beautiful from far away. The porches are breath taking!
thanks you!
doubtful that will be me next time though ha!