Givin' it a tri

[April]

This may be a little early but... my 8 year old daughter is doing her first tri this July. She is a new swimmer and bike rider. I can already tell she is excited and nervous. Never having done a tri myself, I wondered how to prepare her for the day- length of the race, transitions and whatever else I don't know about. Any advice to calm jitters, hers and mine, would be greatly appreciated.

I've read on some websites that there are jr. clinics that go over the basics and didn't know if there will be any in this area?
Thanks
April

[Sandy]

We accept any age in our tri clinic although the concepts may be a little advanced.  Leave it with my April and we'll see if we can get a KOS tri clinic together.  It would be an afternoon of going over stuff for parents and kids.  Chat with me on Thursday.

[TERRI]

Hi There, how are you all doing?

I have a nine year old son who has been bugging me for the past year or so as well about wanting to do a tri also... So we would definatley be in if you get a KOS/ tri Clinic going sandy!!!

Please let us know,
Terry

[Leanne]

My eight year old daughter did a swim/run with our local YMCA last year and did really well. But we can't seem to talk her into a tri...she has some self confidence issues. If you did a clinic we would definitely be there. I think meeting some other kids her age that are beginners too might make her feel more comfortable.

Sandy, will you post in this thread if you manage to put one together? And do we have to be a member of the Bing Ring Tri Club?

[MITCH]

Hi all,
Just reading your posts.  I am the race director for the County Kids of Steel race.  It is a local triathlon held in Picton and it is our third year running.  Our emphasis is on FUN and COMPLETING the event (preferably with a smile).  For 8 and 9 year olds our distances are achievable - 50m swim, 4k cycle, and a 1k run.  Many local kids compete - I've seen water wings and training wheels so it doesn't have to be that competitive.  On the other hand, there are tri-suits and bikes to match on the more serious athletes. Every kid gets a metal (ours this year are cool!), swim cap, lunch and a t-shirt.  We are still the cheapest around!  Our website is up and running - you can find a link in the PEFAC website.  It is a great place to try it.  It is on May 31.
Thanks,
Michelle

[April]

Leanne, if it helps out at all let your daughter know that my daughter isn't a very good swimmer. I'll be surprised if she can do 25m without stopping. And as for the cycling, I just took the training wheels off a week and a half ago. And the farthest she's run is about 1.5k. I generalized each distance for her using our driveway (up and down 1x for run, 4x for cycle and 1 lap of the base pool. )I think it helped her visualize the distance better.

During march break I had to do some runs so I put her bike in the car and we went to the high school, I ran around the track while she cycled. She was surprised to find out that she rode twice as far as the distance for the tri!!

Michelle, registering her for the County KOS is on my "to do list". It is less than a week after we get home from holidays. She can say she "trained" for it in the middle of the Caribbean. lol

April

[Sandy]

Yes I will post and no you don't have to be a member.  I will put together a 2 hour clinic before the County KOS so that the kids and parents can feel comfortable about.  I will get the details out soon.

[Leanne]

Thanks April...I think I might let her read this thread. She's a great swimmer and loves to bike, we just have to get her to come out of her shell. And then maybe I'll get her her to look at the site for the PEC one. Didn't know about it!

And thanks Sandy, for organizing something!