Sam's Marathon

When Sam was 12, we noticed he was a really good swimmer.  He didn't quite make it to Shark before turning 13 and had to move to the teen class, but he was really close.  As a personal challenge, we suggested he try out for a local marathon the next year.  It would require weekly training of biking, running, and swimming but at least he had the swimming down pat.  

From the fall of 2023, through spring of 2024 I trained with Sam.  This part was significant for me personally, because I had only learned to swim in 2022, and by fall of 2023, I was still very nervous about swimming in the deep end.  I could see Sam needed a little extra encouragement so I swam with him and even though I was slow, I made it back and forth the three requisite times.  

After swimming, we'd change into our dry clothes and move onto the treadmills and stationary bikes in fall/winter/spring, because it's too cold to go outside in wet gear.  In the race, obviously you continue on in your swim clothing.  We'd then move onto 3 miles on the bike, followed by a 1.5 mile run.  I couldn't do the run because my knees can't take the impact, and I get shin splints so I'd walk fast next to him.  We did this every week, at least one activity, three days a week and the full activity one day a month.  It really helped me get in shape!  

In the early summer months, we ran into a major snag.  Wild fires from Canada were making the air quality so bad we couldn't go outside and train.  Sam was still learning how to bike, and it was super challenging to go from stationary bike to biking the hills and pace of the race location.  We got a park pool summer pass and went as often as the weather would allow but I think by the time race day came, he would have appreciated more training time on the bike.  It's also super hard to learn how to go from pool, to bike transition because it's disorienting to run from one even to the other while removing goggles, adding helmet and putting on shoes while wet!  

We also worked really had on his nutrition to make sure he had enough calories because the entire race was almost 50 minutes!  We worked on building up his diet the entire week before the race, carbs the night before, lots of pasta meals, tons of scrambled eggs for long lasting energy, and peanut butter bagels, along with high protein smoothies.  

Race Day!  We all gathered at the park for Sam's big day.  It was an amazing experience to watch him perform and I know parts of it were really hard, but I'm SO PROUD of him for working hard and finishing the big race.