Triathlon in Des Moines

Prepare yourself for picture overload.  This weekend a bunch of us made the 8 hour drive to Des Moines, Iowa for the "Hyvee Triathlon / 5150 U.S. Championships."  Jason, Ryan, Mark, Alex, and Matt all competed this weekend. The girls had a lot of fun shopping and watching the race.

Since a triathlon involves swimming (and you can't swim with a race number pinned to your jersey) the boys had to put these special "number tattoos" on.

Jason and Ryan getting ready the night before

The race wasn't until Sunday morning so all day Saturday the girls went shopping!  We bought Brynn a fall wardrobe full of play clothes!

I think these might be 2 of my favorite outfits!  She is going to be in style with these little jeggings!

On Sunday morning we got up bright and early to get to the race start...here is the "transition area" where the competitors run to get their bikes after swimming.  Look at ALL these bikes!

Everyone started at different times and Jason had just started...and the boys were waiting to get in the water for the swim so we caught them for a quick picture.

We made Ryan a sign to cheer him on!  (Brynn stayed with my parents over the weekend but this way she could still cheer her Daddy on!)

GO RYAN!  I think he looks like a superhero in this wetsuit! HA!

Here is Jason getting out of the water and running to get his bike.

Ryan finishing the swim and on the way to get his bike.

Here is Ryan running out of the transition area to start the biking portion of the race.  I normally think I have a pretty handsome husband...but I have to admit...in a bike helmet and nerdy race outfit...not so much! HAHA!

We got to see Jason on the run portion of the race before we headed to the finish line.

We are so proud of you boys!  Jason and Ryan decided to sport a new look this triathlon...visors and sunglasses (evidently this is the "thing" to do! HA!)

BROTHERS!  (The race ended by the state capitol building...it was beautiful and the weather was perfect!)

Celebrating after the race!

Look at these studs!

We had a great weekend watching the boys compete!  And one of the CRAZIEST things was that one of my good friends from high school (that I ran cross country and track with) now is an excellent triathlete and competed in the Elite race.  She WON the entire women's elite race and WON A CAR!  (If anyone who is reading this went to high school with me I'm talking about Kim Pancoast!  How crazy is that!).  She lives inWashington now, but travels all over the US competing.  This is the second time we've seen her at a race this summer!  I just couldn't get over the fact that she WON A CAR!  She did always kick my butt back in high school! HA! 

We were so ready to come home and see Brynn, though.  She got her first cold a couple of weeks ago, and it kind of came back this weekend while we were gone!  It was so great to see her cute smiling face after a LONG DRIVE!