Get on your bikes and ride...

Saturday morning was the Junior Argus Cycle Tour. It was a day that Jake has looking forward to for weeks. I should know - he's been waking up before the sun, jumping up and down and yelling about how many more sleeps he still has to go until the big day. So, after many early mornings (we've been getting up at 5:45 most mornings to train), the day's finally come and gone. And I can finally sleep in a little.

Saturday was tons of fun. It was a really nice outdoors, family day and quite an adventure for the kids. Jake asked his very fit Uncle Paul to do his 5km ride with him, which was really sweet and I'm so glad that he has such wonderful uncles who are prepared to do so much for him and who make him feel so special. Paul was supposed to do the main race on Sunday (it's 105km around the bumpy Cape Peninsula for those not familiar), but he chickened out (AGAIN - he had the same excuse last year!) because of the wind (personally, I think he was pooped after riding with Jake). Paul said that Jake rode very well and did no complaining along the way (little star). Jake was so proud of himself at the finish and is super chuffed with his medal and goodie bag. He hasn't take the medal off since he got it! Seriously, I had to fight with him to take it off when he got into the shower on Saturday and he's gone to sleep wearing it the whole weekend (I'm scared he'll strangle himself, so it does come off as soon as he's asleep). He's also gone off to school wearing it today - he looked so proud going off with it on.

Other then that, I realised that I'm really not a sports photographer, so don't have many great snaps of the event. In my defence though, there were a lot of people and the shoot past so quickly, it's really difficult to catch them properly. There were professional photographers taking snaps along the way, so fingers crossed they managed to get a few good ones too (I'll post them if I can when I can)...

Jake's number with his red wrist band and power food...

Uncle Paul bought Jake a proper riding top for the race - I love the lion print... Arriving at the venue (Youngsfield Military Base, which was quite nostalgic for us - my mom grew up around the corner and she could remember riding her bike there as a kid too). Please note the new bike and helmet. Jake wanted his birthday present early, so I bought him a bike and my folks bought him a new helmet. The bike's a little big, but at that price, he's got to ride it for a few years. Besides, he manages...

With Uncle Paul... Waiting their turn - I had butterflies already...

Dishing out some kind of come here order...

Ahhh - there's one of Jake and I...

Pep talk. Note Jake's hand on Paul's arm. So sweet...

More pep talks. Jake must have been so amped by the time Paul was finished with him...

Ready to go. On the way to the starting chutes...

The masses lining up at the chutes (that's where they queue up before they go to the start line). You can spot Jake and Paul somewhere in the middle there - Jake's top is hard to miss...

The start line - the kids in front are all sponsored kids. The masses are coming up to the starting line at the back. My boy's in there somewhere. Somewhere way, way near the back...

I had to find him, so made my way down the line and eventually found this in the sea of faces... Did I mention that it actually rained on Saturday? Yep, that's the joys of the Southern Suburbs - makes me glad I don't have lots of money and a fancier house closer to the mountain. Anyway, here Jake's giving me a dirty look because I wouldn't give him the warm, dry top I had in my bag. Somehow, I must have known the weather was going to be really crap 20 minutes away from home and packed a long sleeved top for just in case. That's Cape Town for you...

The track is cleared. The count-down begins and my stomach turns... And they're off. My stomach turns again... And there he goes!!! YAY - I saw him passing! I didn't miss it! See that little wave? Just for me (OK, my mom and dad too)! At this stage, Paul was walking next to Jake, steadying him... Around the corner they go and Paul hops on to ride with Jake... Lap 1 of 2 completed! I'd moved by then and we (mom, dad and I) obviously made enough noise as they came around the corner that they managed to spot us...

Check him giving it horns. Such a show-off...

Coming around the corner to finish his race! What a boy... He didn't even break out a sweat - I'm going to have to train him harder next year so that he can do the 10km ride. Hopefully by then he'll fit his bike better... A very proud moment... Through the finish gates (don't you like Paul's T-shirt? We got it for him for his birthday on Thursday - Happy birthday, Paul!)... Showing off his new bling... Glowing with excitement. My heart wants to burst when I look at this picture, I'm so proud that Jake managed to complete this ride - 5km doesn't sound that far (unless you're me), but it's far when you've only got little legs... Showing off to his loyal supporters! Jake's granny, cousins and Auntie managed to make it through to the grounds (they got lost) to see Jake come around the last corner. Between the two families, Jake's a very lucky boy to have such a wonderful support system... And last, but not least, me with the two winners...

Thanks for listening, hope you enjoyed the ride with us...

Sue XXX