Goodyear, AZA Note from Christian’s Coach & Dad:
This past weekend Christian did his first triathlon of 2011. The youth triathlon was scheduled to go first before the adult Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons. Christian was excited to use his new road bike and test his running after a winter of working on both. Triathlons always go in the following order: swim, bike, run. While Christian was in the parking lot getting something out of the car, the race director announced that they would be reversing the order of the youth triathlon to run, bike, swim due to the early morning cold. Christian went to the pool area for the start of the race to find very few people there. Sometimes race start times get delayed so he wasn’t too worried. Then about 100 yards away he saw kids running on the course and realized the race had already begun. The area where the run course passed the pool area was already about 400 yards into the race and we were not looking at the leaders. Realizing what had happened I told Christian to run to his transition area and get his running gear on. Christian had to run about 100 yards to the transition area and change into his running gear. He then had to run another 300 yards to the start line. By the time Christian began the race, there were no longer any other youth competitors in sight. Christian was running by himself with all of the others kids so far ahead that they were no longer visible. Christian had not surrendered however and was running like the wind. Most of the adult competitors had been standing around and had observed Christian’s actions. Triathletes are definitely people who appreciate the never surrender spirit many of them commented positively and with admiration for Christian’s courageous efforts. Christian has achieved many great accomplishments with his racing, but this race is one I will remember. Christian continued to run like the wind. His bike split was by far the fastest of the day. No other kid came close. Christian’s swim was only a few seconds slower than the fastest swim of the day. Despite starting several minutes behind all of the other racers, was awarded a medal for 3rd place. I am not sure anyone will long remember who got 1st or 2nd this past weekend, but they might remember who got 3rd.
