We’ve all heard of the Ironman but what the heck is an Iron GIRL? Hint: it’s not Tony Stark’s daughter in a third installment of the “Iron Man” movie series. It’s a series of increasingly popular races – from sprint triathlons to half marathons – with one goal: female empowerment.
“The best part of an all-female triathlon is that a girl comes in first,” said Sarah Frey, the athlete services and marketing coordinator for Iron Girl. “If people were to get passed in the race, they are always being encouraged, even by the people who pass them.”
Iron Girl was started in 2004 and had just two events. Since then, it has grown to 14 events all over the country – from California to Minnesota to Florida to New York. When asked about the rapid growth of Iron Girl, Frey attributed it to the overall positivity of the Iron Girl race experience.
“There’s no intimidation factor here,” said Frey. “This is the kind of event that’s fun for everyone who does it. Even if a woman decides the sport isn’t for her, she has a good time at our race.”
While it would seem that an event that fosters a good time rather than intense competition would be geared towards novice racers, Frey said that it is usually a 50/50 split between beginners and experienced triathletes. Experienced triathletes often use it as racing practice or to introduce their friends to the sport in a less competitive atmosphere.
“Because it’s a premiere event, it is geared more towards beginners,” said Frey. “However, the experienced racers use it as a break in their season because, while it’s still a race, it doesn’t have that cutthroat atmosphere. The environment appeals to everyone.”
Experienced athletes concerned about whether the atmosphere is competitive enough need not worry.
“With athletes, whatever the level, there will always be elements of competition,” said Frey. She explains how it is different from co-ed races: at an Iron Girl event that she participated in, a woman passed her and said good luck. This woman went on to win the race. Frey said that the woman wasn’t trying any less hard than she would have in a co-ed race, but at Iron Girl, she took the time to wish her competitors well.
While Iron Girl appeals to all experience levels and ages, Frey said that is the 30-34 and 35-39 age groups that are the most popular, with the average age of participants at 34.
“Triathlon is becoming a more popular sport,” said Frey. “Women are starting later.”
When asked for one reason why a novice triathlete should pick an Iron Girl event for their first race, Frey laughed.
“I can’t give you one reason, because it’s the whole package,” Frey said. “Iron Girl takes care of everything. It’s the perfect kind of event to start a triathlon career .”
And it certainly seems like they do. Racers have a good deal to look forward to when they sign up for an Iron Girl race. Leading up to the race, participants receive “countdown emails” with advice for race preparation. Iron Girl also offers free seminars from coaches as well as coached sessions for a price. The race directors send a race guide which explains how every aspect of the race is going to work. The day before the race, there is a pre-race clinic which is open to all participants. There’s also an expo with gear, nutrition and clothing all for your training and racing needs. Post race, Iron Girl offers participants a catered breakfast. (Of course, all of this premiere treatment means a higher price tag – entry fees range from $85-105 – but it’s completely worth it.)
Iron Girl also has a special group for cancer survivors called “Team Courage”. Women with cancer or in remission from cancer can fill out a form on the website to share their story. Iron Girl then gives these women a complimentary race entry as well as a special bib to show that they are part of the team. Their stories are then shared with other participants on race day.
“What makes Team Courage different is that women can sign up year after year,” said Frey. “It’s not a one shot deal. We believe that these women are inspirational to others and that their stories should be told.”
As for women just getting into triathlon, Frey isn’t short on advice.
“Focus on your weakness,” said Frey. “It’s a hard thing to do, but it will make you feel far more comfortable on race day. Also, meet others locally to train. It’s 99% easier to show up for training sessions if you know other people are counting on you.”
The future of Iron Girl looks bright. Although they don’t plan on lengthening the triathlons to a full length Ironman anytime soon, (“We tried Olympic distance a few years ago, but we didn’t see the growth,” said Frey. “It just isn’t as appealing as a sprint”), they are definitely expanding their reach. The August 7th sprint triathlon in Syracuse sold out weeks ago. Living a healthy lifestyle is important for women, and participating in an Iron Girl event can provide exactly the right motivation to get started and stay focused.
For a race in your area, check out www.irongirl.org. (Sorry guys, it’s girls only! However, feel free to come support the lady in your life with a “My girlfriend/sister/mom/grandma is faster than your girlfriend/sister/mom/grandma” t-shirt.) If you have questions for Sarah, feel free to email her at sarah.frey@irongirl.com.
Next time, check back for tips on training on vacation, a review of your favorite products for quick energy, and the top ten myths of getting recruited to row in college.
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