Ready to Cheer HIM On!

I have some fun and exciting news to share with y’all.

A little over a month ago, my oldest decided to start training for his first triathlon at the beginning of September. It’s a Sprint Triathlon (I have no idea what that means, but I’m just gonna go with it) that includes 500 yd S, 15 mile B and a 3.2 mile R.

As soon as I heard, I had a light bulb moment. My man has a fancy-shmancy, expensive road racing bike that has sat, for the most part, covered up and unused throughout our marriage. Over 15 years. He’s ridden it here and there, but nothing more.

Now . . . let me back up a decade or two.

Waaaaay before I ever met my man, he was deep into cycling. He competed in a handful (or two) of races, won several ~ including the Hotter’N Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls back in 1990. I believe. Or maybe it was 1991. Honestly, I’m a bit sketchy on the exact year. I just know he won it and I have to brag on him because he sure won’t tell anyone about it.

Anyhoo . . . back to my light bulb moment.

I thought, “Oh. Ooooh. He should get his racing bike down from the attic and help the oldest train for the biking portion of his tri!”

They both loved the idea and started going out for rides.

There’s so much I love about my man.

He’s the most supportive guy I know.

He’s willing to rearrange his work schedule to help me with homeschooling. He’s willing to run a half-marathon by my side with only a few weeks notice.

He listens, he gives advice, he encourages, he makes me laugh, he cheers me on.

He’s an attentive father ~ truly active in the lives of his children. He loves them and they know it. It blesses me beyond words.

After a couple of training rides with my oldest, he casually mentioned an upcoming road race he had heard about. A 100K coming up the end of September.

I didn’t hesitate.

“Yes! Do it! The children and I would love to be there for you. We want to see you do this!”

Now . . .

Now, it’s our turn. It’s our turn to encourage him. It’s our turn to cheer him on.

Training has begun and every time he returns from a ride we can’t wait to hear all about it.

“How far did you go? How did you feel? What was your average pace?”

As new parts come in the mail, we watch him tinker with his bike.

As he reads articles on-line, we listen as he tells us what he learned.

As he tweaks his training plan, we encourage him that he can do it and he’ll only get better over time.

Basically, we are absolutely giddy for him.

I love that our children are getting to see him do something he has talked about in the past tense for so long. He’s bringing it into the present for them. For me. For himself.

Stories of the past are wonderful and certainly have their place in our lives, but there’s something about being able to experience it and see it firsthand.

The children and I will be there on race day to meet him half-way and trade out water bottles with him and scream his name at the top of our lungs.

I can’t wait.