True Confessions: Why I love IronKids

It’s been a summer on the road …

Back in June, we launched the Hy-Vee IronKids Midwest Series, a slate of 14 youth triathlons held in Hy-Vee communities throughout our eight-state territory. From Lawrence to Lincoln, from Sioux Falls to Cedar Rapids, I’ve watched hundreds of kids ages 6-15 take on this swim-bike-run endurance challenge. The best of them — the top five boys and the top five girls at each age level in each race – qualify to compete in the Hy-Vee IronKids U.S. Championship on September 17 in West Des Moines.  

After 12 races, I’d like to say I’ve seen it all — the highs and lows, the smiles and tears, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Except … there isn’t any agony of defeat in IronKids. When these kids don their swim caps and line up at the start, they’re already winners; and when they cross the finish line, no matter what their time or how they place … they become champions.

How can you NOT love a sport that fills kids with a sense of accomplishment? That helps them learn how to dig deep, push past the hard stuff, and keep going until they reach their goal?  That promotes the value of physical fitness, good nutrition and a positive mental attitude?

As each young competitor crosses the IronKids finish line, there’s almost always someone — a parent, a grandparent, a sibling, a friend — waiting to deliver a hug or a high-five. And week after week, race after race, you hear the same exclamation over and over: “I’m so proud of you!”

Tell me, how can you NOT love a sport that lets kids hear those magic, life-changing words?

Check out Mark Millsap’s album of photos from the recent Hy-Vee IronKids event in Columbia, MO.