I know this has been discussed before, but Athena?

[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]

When I was over 150 pounds, I *always* signed up for Athena. I liked the statement it made about tri being something that anyone can do, regardless of body size. It just felt right to support that class, to say to them YES, we are out here and we are doing it too!

BTW, for the race you are doing, confirmations are online, and they break it out into divisions.

http://www.racecenter.com/confirmati.../conf_ts10.htm There are 6 Athenas in your class already.

Susan

[GLC1968]

When I was over 150 pounds, I *always* signed up for Athena. I liked the statement it made about tri being something that anyone can do, regardless of body size. It just felt right to support that class, to say to them YES, we are out here and we are doing it too!

BTW, for the race you are doing, confirmations are online, and they break it out into divisions.

http://www.racecenter.com/confirmati.../conf_ts10.htm There are 6 Athenas in your class already.

Susan

OMG, Susan - you rock! Thank you for posting that!! Yay! There are 6 of us!! I feel so much better now (and I'm super excited!).