The Trials and Tribulations of a Triathlete Spectator

Here is a wonderful Guest Post by my one and only M! He is there for me at every race and I don't know what I would do without him!!!

*****

Everyone knows that the time and dedication when training for triathlons is legendary. However, equally as important is the time and energy spent spectating at these fun and exciting events. From the early morning wake up times to making sure that Sarah has her transition items to assisting with getting the car loaded in the morning and cheering, it is a full time job! 

On a typical day of the triathlon, we wake up at 5:00 – 5:30 (depending on driving distance). I help Sarah get the car packed with her transition bag and attaching her triathlon bike to the bike rack. Once we have made sure that she has everything, we grab our breakfast food and some water bottles for the car ride. 

  

After our drive where we discuss the course, Sarah gets her registration and gets checked in while I unload the car. As she proceeds through the different stages of preparing for the race (setting up her bike, unpacking her triathlon backpack, getting markered), I find the perfect vantage point to snap some pictures with our DSLR. 

After transition closes, we proceed down to the water for the start. As everyone organizes into the waves, I take a few more pictures. And then the fun starts, I switch to the long-range lens to snap some close up pics at a distance of my M swimming in the water.

As I track her, I switch lens on the camera to snap some more pictures before she comes into and runs over to transition. I sprint beside her, cheering her on and making sure I don’t run into anyone. Often times, I yell at her to hurry up in transition :) and take pictures of the bike out.

 Prior to the race, I study the bike map in order to see if there are multiple places where i can take a picture. During the Nations Triathlon, I must have run 3 or 4 miles to get multiple pictures of my m at different points during the race.

I give myself just enough time to get back over to transition in order to see Sarah run out and to snap some photos of the run leg of the triathlon all while encouraging her and telling her she is almost done.

At the end of the race, I setup at the finish line to take some photos of my m finishing and to take a picture of the new shiny medal she's earned. And I give her a big hug and congratulate her for finishing!

After the race is over, we drive home and end up crashing pretty hard. We usually take an epic nap followed by gorging ourselves on some food :) . Hey a spectator has to eat too!

Happy Friday All :) Have a great weekend