I know this has been discussed before, but Athena?

[GLC1968]

I'm currently 5'4" and about 162 lbs. I qualify for Athena and at my height, certainly won't look like a sandbagger. My first tri is a week from Saturday, but it's small and has no special classes.

I signed up to do the sprint tri at Blue Lake on June 5th. Unless someone cuts off one of my legs, I'll still be over 150 lbs at that point. I figured that since I am losing weight at a fairly regular pace, it *may* be my last opportunity to ever race in the Athena class, so I signed up for it. I figured that since my age group (40-44) seems so FAST that I'd actually feel better (more competitive) racing against younger women that are closer to my same size.

Today I looked up last years results. Oh boy. Athena was broken into two age groups! There was Athena under 39 and then Athena 40 and over. Whatever, I'd be ok with that EXCEPT that in the 40+ group, there were only two competitors (maybe 15 - 20 in the under 39 group). Crap! I really, really don't want anyone to think that I signed up for Athena just to get an award. I mean, if I compete against 20 other Athenas and still make the podium, great...but I sure as hell don't want it by default!

Thoughts? Should I contact the organizers and get moved back into AG or just enjoy it as my last oportunity to ever be an Athena (and look at it as supporting the 'Athena' category)?

[Veronica]

Stay in Athena. It's fun to get the award and tri is harder for us chicks who are not twigs. At 147 pounds I no longer qualify for Athena. But I'll never be as fast as the women who are sub 120 pounds. It doesn't matter that I am solid muscle. It's still harder to move that extra 27+ POUNDS.

Veronica

[GLC1968]

Yeah, no one has ever accused me of being a twig. Log maybe, not twig.

I'm still torn. Is there any way that I will know if I'm in a small class before or during the race? I'm afraid it won't be very motivating to know that I'll place before I even start.

Yes, this is about doing this for me and all that...but I'm a supremely competitive person and I know that I'll have more fun if there is something for which I can shoot (like not being the only 40+ Athena not on the podium if there are 4 of us).

[colby]

If you really want to know how many there will be, I would flat out ask them - send an email to the race organisers or when you check in you might be able to tell and have it changed. Sometimes it takes a race a couple of years to build up the Athena categories - people new to triathlons don't know about them, but once they see girls "their size" racing and placing in that category, it does get them thinking.

For me, I know, like Veronica, that I will probably not place in the not-athena category for quite some time, if ever. There is a far cry from very close to 150 lbs and more like 120 lbs soaking wet - we're talking several minutes here. (I will still enjoy going faster downhill ) I am still right on the border of being and not being athena (basically exactly 150 lbs today), and if I raced before Ironman I might have to think about it - it would probably be my last time. That said I feel a little guilty for considering it, because last year I essentially placed top 3 in every race I raced athena in, even if I was over 150 lbs and the other women were 3-5 inches taller than I am. What is it about us that's programmed for such guilt

The reality is the category is created for women over 150 lbs because it is harder to race those courses and distances... I would do it as long as I could. I certainly won't be collecting medals in the other category AND I can ALWAYS compare my times to my normal age group (trust me, I do). And I still get ranked for most of those races against my age group in the USAT rankings even if I race athena.

Tough choice, but I think you should just do it. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Selkie]

Shoot for coming in first, if your class is small. I think it's incredible that you are doing a tri, regardless.

ps--If I recall correctly, you're part Greek, right? Athena is the perfect category for a Greek Goddess like YOU!!!

[GLC1968]

mickchick - yes, half Greek here! I admit that the category name alone is definitely appealing to me!

I think I'm going to do it. Why not, right?

[Susan Otcenas]

I'm currently 5'4" and about 162 lbs. I qualify for Athena and at my height, certainly won't look like a sandbagger.

I have a female friend who is 6'1" and 155 pounds. She did Athena at Pac Crest last summer. I told her she was sandbagging! But, as she pointed out, she did in fact meet the class requirements. But, I convinced her to compete in her age group this year.

Susan

[GLC1968]

Yeah, I'm going to be very close to 150 if things keep going like they are by the time Blue Lake gets here. This may be my last chance, so I really wanted to take it.

I did notice a lot of women in the AG classes that opted for L and XL t-shirts which makes me think they might qualify for Athena's as well.

Have you decided on sprint vs olympic at Blue Lake yet? (see, that's my real motivation for Athena - I don't want to be competing against YOU again )

[Susan Otcenas]

Have you decided on sprint vs olympic at Blue Lake yet? (see, that's my real motivation for Athena - I don't want to be competing against YOU again )

Not yet. I have a charity awards/auction dinner on Saturday night. So my choices are sprint before the dinner, or oly the day after. I *should* do the Oly on Sunday, as it's the only chance I'll have before the HIM, and at 3 weeks prior, the timing is perfect. But that does mean I can't have much fun on Saturday night.

[GLC1968]

I think you should do the sprint so that I can cheer you on as you blow by me on the bike (the only reason I'll be in front of you on the swim is because Athena's go before our AG).

Actually, I was originally thinking that it would be fun to 'watch' you do the OLY the next day, but that's the day that Kyle arrives, so I can't.

That is a tough call. I don't envy you having to decide!

[Susan Otcenas]

I could be a sadist and do both.

A gal in my office training for an IM did a HIM on Saturday and an Oly on Sunday last summer.