The Long Beach Junior Lifeguard Stud Ironman race is a four mile run and two mile swim from Shoreline Village to the end of the Penisula at 72nd Place. The course includes swimming 15 bouys and the pier and running the distance between each swim. If you finish in under two hours you are considered a "Stud Ironman" - and it is really a difficult task. This year's race was on July 30th. Kevin was going to do the race with Kelly, so he recruited some of his friends from his swim team to race with Wyatt. Here is Team Wyatt: Ann, Wyatt, and Kristie. Ann and Kristie were both collegiate swimmers and in excellent shape, so Wyatt was in good hands.
The Lifeguard boats at the start:
Kevin & Kelly looking strong after the first bouy:
Team Wyatt looking strong also!
Kelly wasn't feeling too well and tossed cookies three bouys into to the race, so Kevin joined team Wyatt. Team Wyatt's game plan was one elite swimmer would do backstroke at the front, Wyatt would reach for that swimmers toes as he swam. The other two elite swimmers would swim on both sides of Wyatt to make sure he did not go off course. When you are swimming two miles and you are 9 years old and weigh 60 pounds you don't want to swim any more than the course requires. I don't think anyone else on the course had a team like Wyatt's team, he was a lucky boy.
Wyatt's swim coaches were at the pier to cheer their swimmers on for the longest and hardest swim of the course. It was so nice of them and really gave the kids the inspiration they needed to keep going.
Finishing the pier swim - more than 1/2 the race done!
Team Wyatt takes off running:
But Wyatt is so exhausted at this point he cannot control his emotions anymore:
(this is the money shot)
He never tried to quit, but he cried his way through the last half of the race. He was so exhausted but he kept going. I was so proud of him!
Kevin & Kelly looking strong after the first bouy: Team Wyatt looking strong also!Kelly wasn't feeling too well and tossed cookies three bouys into to the race, so Kevin joined team Wyatt. Team Wyatt's game plan was one elite swimmer would do backstroke at the front, Wyatt would reach for that swimmers toes as he swam. The other two elite swimmers would swim on both sides of Wyatt to make sure he did not go off course. When you are swimming two miles and you are 9 years old and weigh 60 pounds you don't want to swim any more than the course requires. I don't think anyone else on the course had a team like Wyatt's team, he was a lucky boy.Wyatt's swim coaches were at the pier to cheer their swimmers on for the longest and hardest swim of the course. It was so nice of them and really gave the kids the inspiration they needed to keep going.
Finishing the pier swim - more than 1/2 the race done!
Team Wyatt takes off running:
But Wyatt is so exhausted at this point he cannot control his emotions anymore:(this is the money shot)
He never tried to quit, but he cried his way through the last half of the race. He was so exhausted but he kept going. I was so proud of him! Team Wyatt enters the swim for the last bouy:
And he finishes with a time of 2 hours 32 minutes!
Wyatt Hess, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!
Team Wyatt is all smiles at the finsh!
I am so proud of Wyatt for this accomplishment. It is seriously, seriously hard to finish this race! Most adults could not do it. Kelly did the Stud Ironman last year with a time of 2 hours 45 minutes and I was so proud of him also - and Wyatt beat his time! I think next year it will be a race to the finish for the Hess boys. I really loved starting my 37th Birthday by watching the Stud Ironman. It is so amazing to watch all the little junior lifeguards push themselves to the limits and keep going! It is really inspiring. Two of Wyatt's swim friends were behind him for the first half of the race, but fell behind at the pier. They finished with times of 3 hours and 20 minutes. They did not have Dads to swim with them and kept their little 6o pound bodies moving for 3+ hours all by themselves. That is so inspiring and such an accomplishment!
And he finishes with a time of 2 hours 32 minutes! Wyatt Hess, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!! Team Wyatt is all smiles at the finsh!I am so proud of Wyatt for this accomplishment. It is seriously, seriously hard to finish this race! Most adults could not do it. Kelly did the Stud Ironman last year with a time of 2 hours 45 minutes and I was so proud of him also - and Wyatt beat his time! I think next year it will be a race to the finish for the Hess boys. I really loved starting my 37th Birthday by watching the Stud Ironman. It is so amazing to watch all the little junior lifeguards push themselves to the limits and keep going! It is really inspiring. Two of Wyatt's swim friends were behind him for the first half of the race, but fell behind at the pier. They finished with times of 3 hours and 20 minutes. They did not have Dads to swim with them and kept their little 6o pound bodies moving for 3+ hours all by themselves. That is so inspiring and such an accomplishment!
Here are some other pictures of friends along the way:
