It’s the 2016 Olympics so it was certainly time for there to be mixed athletic event here in Chateau Lawrence, Malaysia Branch, this evening. It was the first triathlon, Lawrence style-ee.
Trixie and Edwin joined me for a 2.2km running lap of Desa Park City’s much used pathway around the centre, where Trixie manage a sub 14 minute lap. People who know about these things will tell anyone who wants to know that the key to a successful triathlon is a good transition between parts of the race. A successful transition requires planning and so after the lap I sent Trixie and Edwin off back to Chateau Lawrence to get the bikes out and the drinks in while I did a few more kilometres.
I had high hopes for bicycles being at the ready when I got back, but it was not a particularly smooth first transition, sadly. Trixie’s bike was at the ready, as was Ned’s but that was it. Apparently there had been much debate about who should or should not get Daddy’s bike out, with iPad timing winning. Still I had time to have a drink, pick up my wallet and then click on my helmet before locking up.
Yes this was a new form of triathlon in which completion was far more important than time or even order of events. The Girl Lawrence, Elder Boy Lawrence and I then set off for phase two of the triathlon dodging the pokemon go collectors who were packing Desa Park City with eyes only on their smart phones and not on the look out for cyclists on a mission. Our mission was to complete the 3.5km stage from home to Restaurant Double Seven, a sort of Chinese food hawker centre. On arrival this stage of the event involved Trixie tackling a plate of chicken rice, while Edwin competed in the fried rice category. Unfortunately the lad made a mistake in forgetting to ask for his dish without the addition of chili. He initially thought the sauce from my dish that he had tried was the culprit but little chopped up red offenders soon showed their spicy cards on his plate. Both Edwin and Trixie did well in the chocolate ice-cream subsection before completing the return 3.5km cycling section of the triathlon.
Swimming four lengths of the swimming pool was the final part of the triathlon, but not before another hassling transition, in which all three bikes had to be parked inside Chateau Lawrence’s store room, swimming kits put on sweaty bodies and the front door locked.
I look forward to comparing our event to the real Olympic event, mainly to see whether the international athletes stop for Chinese food and to note how they cope with screen obsessed passers-by. Edwin and Trixie are now snoozing well.
Lexi and Rupert are taking advantage of having an extra two weeks of holiday by flying off to Lao for twelve days early this morning. I distantly remember grunting “have a good time’ at 4.30 am as she and Rupert caught their taxi to the airport. I spoke to them both via the medium of FaceTime and they have had a great time so far and are enjoying their time in Luang Prabang.