ABW Sept 2023-1

were separated into age groups and started in sorted groups
about ten at a time, entered the water and turned as the
course crossed and followed the shoreline. They splashed
into the water ready to swim only find it quite shallow, too
shallow to actually swim. I queried an
onlooker who seemed to be involved.
Well even the best laid plans! They had
set the course the night before at high
tide, which would have put the kids in
swimmable water, but the race was in
the early morning low tide, in a day with
one of our most extreme tidal changes.
Undaunted the kids pushed and paddles
thru the water and off to the next leg.
They splashed into
the water ready to
swim only find it
quite shallow, too
shallow to actually
swim.
The area for the exchanges was well laid
out. Each participant had their box with needed equipment
ready to go. Helmets, riding shoes, running shoes all laid
out. As they came out of the water soaking, they swapped
gear, grabbed their bikes and blasted to the next course, the
bike ride. Down the road they went.
With each stage the racers became more spread out due to
speeds, the bike race ended with the winners far ahead of
the pack. Bikes dropped, helmets off, maybe a shoe change
and the run began with the crowds cheering them on.
I marveled at the dedication and
sportsmanship shown by these kids, truly
inspiring. Moms and Dads cheered the kids
on, some were obviously participants in the
upcoming adult races, real Iron Families!
The next day the big boys and girls got to
play, over one thousand racers hit the beach
in organized groves, exploding into one
meter choppy surf and heading to the long
swim, almost 2 kilometers of rough crowded
waters. Again the swim spread out the racers, first coming
out well ahead of the pack. As before the gear was stored in
individual boxes just a lot more of them, the changing area
took up a square block. No kid’s bikes this time, curious I
34