MINNEAPOLIS — The sport of triathlon may seem daunting. The biking, the swimming, not to mention the cost of it all.
But it doesn’t have to be. There’s an organization doing its best to remove all the barriers, and specifically get women into the sport.
“This will be my fourth year,” says Liz Winslow proudly.
Liz is now hooked on a sport she never imagined she’d be part of.
"I wasn't an athlete in high school or college, I didn't play sports, I hated PE, and so I never had that experience of crossing a finish line,” she says.
Liz signed up for YWCA women's triathlon in Minneapolis and quickly realized she had found her people.
"It's a really welcoming, incredible environment, and it's the highlight of my summer, and I've encouraged and brought new friends every summer who keep coming back,” says Liz.
Liz is just one of the success stories the YWCA is proud to tout.
"About 35 percent of our athletes are brand new to triathlon and we do that very, very intentionally because we want to create a welcoming space for women to try out the sport of triathlon,” says Rachael Weiker, Race Director of the YWCA Women’s Triathlon in Minneapolis.
For 12 years now, the YWCA has been purposely reaching out to communities of women that may have barriers to triathlon. Women of color, women with disabilities, women of all ages and fitness levels.
“I think access is a really big deal. For one thing the sport can be expensive to get into, or you need to know how to swim, or have access to a safe bike route, and if you don't have those pieces or even somebody to run on a safe path with, it can be really hard to get into the sport and it can seem pretty daunting,” says Rachael.
They run classes and clinics all summer long to teach folks the ins and outs of the sport.
The race itself is all women, so hopefully a little less intimidating, and all the equipment? None of that matters here.
“Use the equipment that you already have, as long as it's safe and working, so it may be an older model bike, it might be a mountain bike or a cruiser, we do not care, as long as it's safe as long as you feel comfortable on it, that is fully welcome at our race,” explains Racheal.
If you want to do it, you'll find a community of supportive women that will help you make it happen.
And before you know it... you, too, might be hooked.
"I've done a ton of finish lines and it's still a wonderful experience every single time,” says Liz.
Registration for the YWCA women's triathlon in Minneapolis is now open.
The race is Aug. 11 at Lake Nokomis, and there are two different distances to choose from.