Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1356079
APRIL / MAY / JUNE 2021 27 ISAAC TYSON Triathlete Last year was going to be the year of many races for me. As a triathlete, my schedule was packed with several half-distance Ironman races and one full-distance Ironman, all of which would take months of swim, bike and run training to complete. Following months of planning and preparation, I was well on my way to becoming the most fit I've ever been. en COVID-19 happened. e WAC closed, and one-by- one races canceled. Competitive athletes oen judge themselves by their last performance or race. Well, my final race prior to the pandemic went terribly. Suddenly, I was faced with untold months before I could seek redemption. Or so I thought. e virtual world of cycling exploded during quarantine, and platforms like ZWIFT have allowed me to compete in virtual cycling races from the comfort of my own home. Additionally, with Zoom calls I've been able to race "with" other teammates and create friendships I never would have expected with people from all over the country. Swimming in the WAC pool was also a much-needed escape from long days spent at home. A year later, I'm excited to be using more WAC fitness facilities again. My 2020 race schedule was bumped to 2021, but it's still unclear which races will happen. Either way, my newfound passion for virtual cycling is here to stay. WeeWACs has always taken great pride and pleasure in partnering with WAC parents in the care of their children. We always want to be there to support families when they need us most. As life-changing and routine-interrupting as the COVID-19 pandemic was, it allowed us to become the "constant" that children could depend on. We never closed. We made a commitment to the Club and our families—we would make whatever adjustments necessary to remain open and accommodate those for whom working from home was not an option. A small core group of teachers—the Fab Five, I call them— promised to limit risk of virus exposure by making work and home their sole contact with the world. While other centers had one or more outbreaks and subsequent shutdowns, Wee- WACs managed to keep COVID-19 out of our doors. We are grateful to the families who willingly, and graciously, cooper- ated with whatever protocol needed to be established. In return, the kids of WeeWACs got to keep their "safe place." ey had some of their favorite teachers, and could interact freely with some of their favorite friends. We had to temporarily give up some cherished traditions, such as regular visits to Seattle Center via the Monorail, chartered van rides to local parks and other fun spots, and summer camps (there is nothing better than a summer filled with WeeWACs summer camps). But we created new ways for kids to nurture their sense of wonder, their zest for life, and their trust in the world. e arts, cras, cooking, games, and bounce houses continued! e pandemic robbed us of many things, some irretriev- able. But at WeeWACs, laughs and hugs and singing and bubble dance parties never ended. Neither has our determination to weather this storm and come out on the other side stronger and more eager than ever to be there for WAC children and families in the ways that matter most. SHAWN BONNEY Director of WeeWACs It allowed us to become the 'constant' that children could depend on." " E M I L I O H U E R T A S ( 3 )