Instagram Inspiration: A Lazy Person’s Iron Man

My family is hosting its 28th Annual Triathlon this weekend. It’s a triathlon for people who would rather relax than do sprints, which is the best kind of triathlon, and for most of us, the only kind. My dad started it with some of his college friends back in the day, which makes sense considering all three events could potentially be played with a beer in one hand.

The fierce competition is made up of three games: Frisbee golf, ping pong, and horseshoes. Sometimes there’s a non-credit dance round that inevitably includes both “The Electric Slide” and “The Cha Cha Slide.”

The best part of this sort of triathlon is that you don’t have to be good to compete. In fact, you can even be terrible. My frisbee golf score will double almost everyone else’s (I have the throwing arm of my 6-year-old cousin) and success in horseshoes for me means that I don’t injure anyone. I have a decent backhand in ping pong, but the only teams I ever beat consist of pre-teens or a tipsy couple my parents’ age who have taken to using the paddles to playfully spank one another in celebration after every point. At the end of the day, winners are crowned, but it’s all about the merrymaking and hilarity that transpires.

This week, I’ve corralled some photos from five fun Instagram accounts (seriously, look at their other posts!) to help get you craving a summer day full of friends and lawn games.

From the top: spikeball, cornhole, horseshoes, croquet, and bocce ball. Grab your gear and head to Gasworks Park, Woodland Park, Jefferson Park, or your parents’ backyard. Then let the games begin!

1. Erick Nelson: @ee_nelson

2. Joel: @oldsouljoel

3. Mark Olson: @mark_olson

4. Printed Village: @printedvillage

5. Jessica Marak: @jessmarak