Youth Movement

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  Proverbs 22:6   Our Daggett Shuler team was proud to sponsor and work the annual Kids for Kids Triathlon this past weekend.  The event had many lessons for all of us.

First and foremost it was refreshing to see all the families promoting healthy fitness lifestyles in our community.  A great cross section of the community turned out for the event.  The kids had a great time, and, by the apparent smiles, parents, family, and friends enjoyed themselves too.  (Photo album here)

Triathlon and the triathlon community are special.  An elite team of local triathletes staged the race with logistical precision.  The event was on par with national caliber events.  The finish line was spectacular.  Each finisher was given a warm welcome complete with each name being announced, a finisher’s medal, and a special souvenir towel.

Of course we had some special stories too.  Young Toby Linn has been confined to a wheel chair his entire life.  His family teamed up to pull, push, and carry Toby through the race.  The experience of the finish line was special for Toby just as it was for all the other finishers.

Unfortunately, in contrast to the 185 healthy children who raced on Saturday, there are many who suffer from child obesity and the accompanying epidemic of health issues such as diabetes and heart problems.  It’s not the kids’ fault, it’s our fault.  We have an obligation to turn this negative wave.  Events like the Kids’ Race are steps in the right direction.

We should all be proud of the progress in our community toward a heathy fitness lifestyle.  It is good for all of us and makes us optimistic about our future . . . plus it’s just plain fun!