Loyalist KOS

[The Moose]

Yesterday, my daughter Rachel competed in her first ever KOS triathalon.  She'll be 12 in Dec., so her distances were 200m swim, 8km bike and 2km run.  She wasn't last.
I know where you finish shouldn't be too important in her first tri, but to me this is special.  You see, Rachel has CP.
As parents we decided early on that this was not to be used as an excuse, or as a weapon to get what she wants.  We have not had her officially labeled as handicapped, even though that would open many avenues of special funding.  To her, it just means that some days she has to try a little harder than some of her competitors, and that is her specialty.
Some of you have seen my daughter participating in local events up to 5km, and may have noticed her gait is a little "off", well it took 16 castings, and 1 surgery to get her this far.  You can imagine my joy just to see her competing at something athletic that I have been unable (unwilling) to accomplish.  Her not being last place is just icing on the cake for both of us.
In a seperate, but related note; Zak competed as well.  After having difficulty in the swim (11/16 out of the pool), and 6th fastest on the bike, he really threw down the gauntlet on the run and posted the 2nd fastest time.  He was 5th overall.

Obviously I am extremely proud of both children.

Mike

P.S.  Don't anyone tell my little girl that she's handicapped.  She's not, she just has to try a little harder some days.  In many ways, she has an advantage in life, she'll be used to trying harder when things get tough.

[Janet]

Hey Moose,
  Give your kids a big hi five for me!  Great to hear that they had a great time and enjoyed themselves!  Congrats to your son on his finish (was this his first tri), and for your daughter on completing her first tri!  So are they hooked?  Will they be going to Cobourg in August? Any pictures for us to see, or to go on Sandy's wall of fame?

Janet

[Cathy]

You have some pretty amazing kids Mike.  Congratulations to all of you.

[Laurie]

wow Mike..
awesome post..
we all have alot to learn from kids like yours.. and parents like you!
You should be very proud of yourselves..all of you!

[The Moose]

Hey Moose,
  Give your kids a big hi five for me!  Great to hear that they had a great time and enjoyed themselves!  Congrats to your son on his finish (was this his first tri), and for your daughter on completing her first tri!  So are they hooked?  Will they be going to Cobourg in August? Any pictures for us to see, or to go on Sandy's wall of fame?

Janet

Will do.  They had a great time.  Zak did about 4 tri's last year, this is his second this year, and they're both hooked.  Rachel is now looking for an open water swim (her words, obviously she's been paying attention to other triatheletes, she's got the jargon down) so she'll probably be in Cobourg.  Maybe I'll try a tri.  Sorry, no pictures yet (I'm not very good at sharing those on the internet anyway.)

[Sandy]

Congratulations to the kids Mike!   

[coakley]

Congratulations Rachel and ZaK!!!

I'll be thinking of the two of you as I grind my way through IM USA on Sunday.

Thanks for the inspiration!!

Nancy C

[rubberman]

My son Matthew was also at the Loyalist KOS - improved his time over Picton by a minute.  He had his best tri at Lindsay where it was 300/13.75/2.5.  Congrats to your daughter and son.  My cousin has a 7 year old girl with CP and they have much the same attitude about her abilities as you.  Her 9 yr old sister is one of the top runners in Scarborough. My cousin and I are running right along with our kids in our minds as we both have Multiple Sclerosis.  My cousin's MS has progressed much quicker than mine - now using braces on her legs and a cane.  At one time she was an active fitness buff and terrific swimmer. I loved to run and did so religiously and did fitness classes until a stroke set me back at the age of 34 and then two years later the diagnosis of MS.  After learning to walk again I can proudly say I ran the Frankford 5K this yr. It wasn't graceful or fast but I did it!

[Jane]

Rachel and Zak, way to go on your Tri's this weekend!!  You are both amazing!!  You have the guts to get in the pool and swim -- better than I am capable of doing, that's for sure!

By the way - if Nancy Coakley is calling you inspirational, you better know that you are!!    (As she is very special and amazing herself.)

Can't wait to hear about your next Tri events!  Rachel, you should talk to my daughter, Heather (she's older than you - 23).  You have something in common as she is trainiing for her very first open water swim in August as well!

[Sandy]

Congrats to Matthew as well, and to you too "Rubberman".  I've been watching the ads on ALS research and their tag line of "what would you do if you still could" is so fitting for all those athletes that compete with physical hurdles to get over.  To all those sofa spuds who dare utter "oh I could never" or "I can't" need to realize it's their mental limitations not anything physical that is stopping them.

To all of you who are...keep swimming and biking and running! 

[coakley]

Sandy as usual you hit the nail squarely on the head! 

As I struggled through the marathon portion of IM USA and at one point thought  "some irongirl...walking most of the way...anybody can do that...wwwaaawwwaaa.." I gave my head a shake and thought back to the night before when Ryan Van Praet, the races'  "hero of the day" who is going blind said "when you're feeling really low just remember those people who'd give anything to trade places with you" and it really put things in perspective.  It doesn't matter what distance the race or how fast we are as long as we are in the race!!

I remember my Dad always telling me, "Don't say can't. There is no such word as can't".  Rachel and "Rubberman" are proof of this and so is everyone out there who enters a race that scares the bejeezes out of them. It's never easy but the joy of the finish line never diminishes!!

How lucky are we that we have many more to look forward to!!

[Sandy]

Well said Irongirl!