Better Participant than Spectator

So I found out this weekend that I am definitely not a good spectator.  I know spectating for sports sounds like an easy job but I just can't handle being the person that is taking pictures and cheering on other people.  I think it's because I've always usually been the participant and not watching and cheering on others.  I feel that maybe I need to practice taking fast action shot pictures, and cheering on the "right" person.  Yesterday was Carl's first triathlon of the summer season at the Bluff Creek Triathlon by Ogden, Iowa, in turn it was also Cyril and Paxton's first triathlon experience cheering on daddy!  It started like every other tri and run that we do and before light we were up and on the road to the starting line.  When we arrived at our destination Carl got himself ready to race and I got the boys and I ready to spectate.

After the boys were fed, changed and bundled up we arrived at the transition area to give out hugs and kisses for good luck.

 The participant

The spectators

 We then got to our first cheer spot of the day, right outside the water.  Passing the time until the race starts Paxton enjoys the cool day and explores the grass. 

Now as you will be able to see in the following pictures why I'm not a good spectator.  The race starts and we wait for Carl's head to pop up for the swim and then cheer really loud (we even brought bells) and then get the camera ready for a great action running shot.  Well as soon as I saw Carl running, instead of clicking the picture I clicked the off button.  This is how we get this great picture :)

As you can see this is the picture I got of Carl "running out of the water"- He's the one with the black wetsuit and green cap.  

Well the good thing about triathlons is that they have 3 events, maybe I didn't get the perfect picture for the swim but at least there was 2 other opportunities to get him.  It was time to pack us up, pack up the boys and travel to our net destination where we would watch the bikers go out and come back in.

Cyril having a blast at the tri

Paxton is ready to cheer on daddy

Happy boys waiting for daddy

"Was that daddy?"

Paxton loves to show his tongue

Cyril is showing off that he can move beyond the blanket

Our "Gap" photo shoot of the day

After waiting for Carl to come back on the bike and thinking that maybe I wasn't paying enough attention to everyone coming in, I felt like we had missed him.  The boys were also getting tired so we started to pack things up move to the next spot.  Just as I get the camera put away in my pocket, I look up and see Carl biking in.  "Go Carl!" that's all I could get out, no camera no picture.  

Don't worry, at least we have one more photo op that we are sure to get him crossing the finish line!  As we travel to our third and final cheering spot the boys decide they are tired and rest up to cheer really hard for daddy when he crosses the finish line.

Carl comes in great time, I cheer for him so loud (to compensate for my previous bad spectating) I get the camera ready and I wait for Carl to get in my viewing area to get the perfect finishing shot.  Instead I waited too long and took a picture of the back of some lady's head that you can see a red spot by her head.  Yeah that red spot is Carl, but Carl laughed and deleted the photo.  And to even top it off he didn't even hear my hollering and cheering at the end for him :(

  I guess this photo is going to have to do for his first triathlon of the season

    Daddy with the boys post race

All is all it was a great first race for all of us, but I think I need to practice being a better cheer squad before the next race!