Pulling...............for the Kids!!

Steelfit had another great week, capped by an opportunity to spend some time with kids who are participating in the ACHIEVE Kids Tri. summer camp program in Washington DC.I was fortunate enough to sit and talk to these kids about their "training", my personal triathlon experience, and most importantly, about setting and achieving goals in sport and in life. As a "guest speaker" for the morning, I was a bit worried at first about what I would share and how they would react, but within 30 seconds of arriving to the local community center in Southeast Washington, I felt at home with these great kids. It was ME who learned and benefited from the visit.

ACHIEVE Kids Tri, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to enriching the lives of youth through the sport of triathlon.ACHIEVE helps kids master the fundamentals of swimming, cycling, running, and triathlon racing, as well as the essentials of proper nutrition, stretching, strength-training, and flexibility. Under ACHIEVE’s motto of “Enriching Lives Through Sport,” the program includes specially trained counselors and coaches teaching kids triathlon skills, and how leading a healthy fitness-oriented lifestyle can help them succeed in life. There are camps currently in Washington, Houston and New Haven Connecticut.

Athletes learn how to train for the swim, bike, run, and transitions of a triathlon in a free six-week camp open to youth ages 9 - 14. At the end of every ACHIEVE camp, the athletes put all their hard work into action at a USAT sanctioned kids’ triathlon. As youth navigate the challenges of a triathlon, they also build essential life skills in fitness, exercise, discipline and self-confidence.

When asking the kids about their goals, I got responses ranging from "I want to beat my time from last year's Tri", to I want to be a "track and field star in school and go to college". One young man talked about becoming a motor cross champ and then opening a restaurant when he grows up. I LOVED listening to them and appreciated the fact that they were thinking, dreaming and engaged. And after our talk, they hit the road for biking, to be followed by some swim training later that morning.

So, the "pulling" on this morning wasn't about getting the chin over the bar but was about pulling for the kids......for the Tri next week where they will compete and for their journey's in life.