My Kids Completed Their First Triathlon
Every now and then, something in life happens that reminds you of what children are truly capable of. For me, it was watching my kids finish a triathlon.
The annual Santa Rosa Island Triathlon in Pensacola Beach started in 1996 and includes both an adult triathlon on Saturday followed by a youth event, called the Sea Turtle Triathlon, on Sunday. The youth event is designed for children age 7-15 and is conducted on a closed course. It includes a swim in the gulf followed by a bike ride and then a run along Hwy 339. Registration for the event opens around April (around 6 months before the race) and is limited to a certain number of participants.
We traveled to Pensacola with two other local families who had registered to compete in the event.
The children were excited to watch several of the parents compete on Saturday to get an idea of what to expect. While watching their “grown-ups” compete was undoubtedly inspirational, what proved to be more so was watching several of the others who were competing in the race. Several participants had visible physical disabilities, including an adult with a visual impairment who was competing alongside a teammate who was holding onto a rope as well as several athletes with prosthetics.
The day of the youth race, I’m certain that I was more anxious than my children were (I had a rosary in my pocket for good measure!). Back at home, my kids participate in several sports but we did not spend a significant amount of time specifically training for this event.
The youth event is set up just as an adult triathlon is conducted but on a shorter course. It requires a significant amount or prep work including body markings (bib number written in sharpie on arms), setting up your bike and tennis shoes in the transition area before the race and swim caps for each participant. The triathlon begins with the swimming portion, transitions to the biking portion and concludes with running.
It was a beautiful but windy morning and there were hundreds of people on the beach there to cheer the young athletes on.
The kids are divided into subgroups based on age with a staggered start for each age group. After the national anthem was sung, the first group was off to the races with lots of encouragement from the friends and family on the beach.
The event is staffed by volunteers who assist the kids along the way but parents are not allowed in the transition zones. In between events, each child has to get themselves ready for the bike or run portion of the event on their own, including finding their bike and getting their shoes on. As a parent, I have a tendency to want to do things for my children, such as getting everything they need ready for them, especially when we are in a time crunch and the clock is ticking. Watching them do this on their own was a good exercise for all of us.
While I was unable to personally help my kids, there were lots of volunteers ready to help the kids.
Lifeguards were stationed throughout the swimming course to watch the kids while swimming in the Gulf and keep them on course. Volunteers cheered and guided them to the biking transition while helping them locate their bike and shoes. The area was barricaded off so only race participants could enter. Volunteers were stationed throughout the biking and running portions as well. Once racers crossed the finish line, they received their finishers medal and snacks from volunteers.
As my son, age 11, and daughter, age 9, each crossed the finish line, red-faced and exhilarated, I could feel my heart swell with pride. The triathlon was undoubtedly more challenging than they anticipated it being, but they finished the race. It was a life lesson for them. Life is hard but if you keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when if feels like you can’t, you will eventually get to your destination.
There will be rewards on the other side of the finish line – self-confidence, resilience and maybe even a big box of chocolate chip cookies.
You can check out race information for 2025 on facebook or the website.
About the Author
Dr Lacey Ellis is a child psychologist, mental health advocate and the founder of Acorn Pediatric Consulting. As a Louisiana native, Dr Ellis is passionate about changing the face of how we deliver care to children in our community. Dr. Ellis resides in Metairie with her husband, Bob, and two amazing children.