I threw myself in to the fire, and I got burnt.

Although I got burnt, I survived, and I found out how hot the fire really is.  The alarm came buzzing at 5:30 AM on Saturday morning. The words “What in the hell are you doing” passed through my head at regular intervals every few minutes. Even my Beagle opened one eye as I turned on the light and gave me the look of “What in the hell are you doing.” As I calmly gathered what I needed for the race, I headed out the door, knowing that if I don’t do this race, I may never do one. This is my opportunity to get the fire in the belly going again  I arrived at Eagle Creek nice and early so I could take my time and get everything organized. Hundreds of people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities were joyfully flowing in to the bike corral.  I politely smiled back at people as they passed, but on the inside I was in “don’t talk to me” mode as my nerves started kicking in.

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His parents John and Gretchen are the first to admit it. “Most kids needs to be pushed, by their parents or someone else,” John said. This past summer, in fact, the Mauldin High sophomore went three-for-three, taking first place at the three top youth triathlons in the country in Des Moines, Seattle and San Diego. Gretchen knew from the time Sawyer was still in diapers that there was something different about him, but something that was also very familiar to her. The thing about Sawyer is, he’d like to wrap up doing all three in about an hour. Another thing Sawyer likes to do is win. John, who is a triathlete himself, believes the club has challenged Sawyer both mentally and physically. Gretchen said, “Some of the other parents at the triathlons ask us how we get him to train and that’s the thing, we don’t. Sawyer Willingham likes to run. When Sawyer was just five, he joined Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club, a move that continues to benefit him. Sawyer’s grandfather is a professional trombone player who’s performed with Chicago Symphony.

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