Another reason to rock the Athena category is to vote with your dollars. If people race in that category, race organisers are more likely to keep it.

I raced Athena all last season, which likely was/will be my last Athena season. I never placed 1st, and the woman who did was always like a foot taller than me (Amazon Woman). There was one race where the girl that placed just behind or ahead of me was pretty much my size, which was great (but we were both beat by an Amazon). Anyway, I think it's a fun way to level the playing field for those of us who have to (or choose to) lug that weight around. It's darn near impossible for someone in the Athenas, even an Amazon or borderline Athena, to finish as fast as the people who finish top 3 in the race, and sometimes top 3 in their respective age groups.