It's Tuesday, you know what that means! Group ride, and yep, thunderstorm and rain in this afternoon's forecast. Surprise, surprise. LOL
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This post is a big of a brain dump, maybe a bit of a vent, and not an easy one to write -- will be hard to hit the publish button if I do. Here goes.
Yes, yes, I know it's just a number, and has little significance in the grand scheme of things. Health and happiness are more important, they are; I get it.
Being new to the world of triathlon, I certainly didn't expect this number to have an impact. Until this past weekend, I hadn't really given it much thought, but one of the other girls mentioned it, so it's been on my mind since.
150. This is the weight at which a woman is considered an "Athena" (generally 200lbs for a male to be considered a "Clydesdale"), which is to compete in heavier-weight divisions rather than just the typical age-groups by gender.
Yes, I am. By how much? I'm not telling. My genetics didn't give me my dad's tall slim build which my brother got, instead, I'm following the trend of most women in my family, shorter and pudgy (which has served as motivation to break the mold). I was a gymnast and figure skater as a child, I have thick muscular legs (which I appreciate a lot more now that I'm cycling), I've had a baby, I had a period of a few years where I couldn't be active for fear of my safety (I tried a low impact exercise dvd once when I had epilepsy, I fell backwards on a glass coffee table because I was having a seizure... it wasn't pretty), I've quit smoking, and yes, I have boobs (and curves). I suspect I also have enough fat stores to keep me sufficiently fueled for a while.... Of course I want to shed a few pounds, that's what got me running in the first place, but generally, I'm comfortable in my own skin. I am who I am. I think I'm a pretty average size, but can't help but feel a bit otherwise since I would be classed differently based on weight.
I'm probably quite a bit different in my way of thinking about competition than most of you. I'm happy to be out there, don't have any delusions of winning anything. Everything since surgery for me is bonus, which is probably why I tend not to be nervous before races. Excited, yes, nervous, no. I'm there to enjoy the moment, without the pressures of higher expectations. Having said that, I don't look at my reflection in the mirror thinking I can't train or race the same as someone below 150 pounds.
**All of this doesn't affect this weekend's race at all (I don't think....), because they don't appear to have the classification, but the next one I'm considering does.**
Should I decide to register for that event, do I acknowledge and label myself as a 'heavy-weight' and perhaps be in a smaller group who will likely still kick my a$$, or continue trying to pretend I'm one of the fit chicks? Am I wrong in my thinking? Is 150 pounds now what society considers overweight? geez.
A few interesting and exciting things have things possibly opened up for me, stay tuned!
33 comments:
I've really thought about this one before too - a lot of the local running races here have Athena categories, all around 140-150lbs. I did some number crunching on it a while back, with the average American height used... In the end, the BMI for a woman at normal height and Athena weight is still in the 'normal' range, while a male is well in the 'overweight' range. It's another instance of inappropriate social weight restrictions placed on women. Sorry, rant done.
Rowing has well defined weight classes for all competitions, where a female heavyweight is anything over 129 lbs! That was a hard one to make!
I've never seen that designation around here, but then I've never looked at triathlons. It seems like a pretty arbitrary number and 150 woman could be any make up, some of which would make them compete better. I guess i don't get the point. And I don't know if I'd care or not if I were in your position.
{{{SHRUG}}} don't know what to tell you.
MCM Mama
Just my opinion but don't sign up for the Athena... go after it as a FIT CHIC cause that's what you are! Hope this helps a little!
I am an Athena and a fit chick. I am doing a tri this weekend in the Athena class. The classification has a lot to do with weight and climbing hills on the bike, wind sheer, etc. At 6'0 I am just big, so I thought why not sign up.
I don't know what to tell you, Mel :(
Weight categories seem as arbitrary to me as age groups, & I only say that because I've gotten my @$$ handed to me by older & heavier athletes.
Good luck with the decision!
umm i think the athena/clydesdale limits are ridiculous. 150/200 is NOT unhealthy or overweight. i mean unless you're like 5' tall. ummm i used to be in the low 150's though everyone would always assume i was 130-140 (hah! joke on them). i was once entered in the athena category by a race 'cause i had filled out the weight part of the registration.
anyway... i don't know if you should sign up for the category or not. if you do, i guess you'll be eligible for the athena awards too? i think if you win an age group award you don't get to double dip in athena, but i'm not sure. i know i have been beaten by athletes of all shapes and sizes, and i have also beaten skinny little toned girls who looked like gazelles. i don't think being in the athena category makes you any less of an athlete - you will always be one!
that number seems so arbitrary... If I did tri's I qualify for the athena as well (like you I did not get whatever genes my sister was blessed with!) good luck figuring out which class to compete in you fit chick!
I dont' get the whole special weight category. All I have to say is that many clydales and Athenaa are FIT people. You are a FIT person, if you weren't you wouldn't be able to bike, run and swim as far as you. Which ever you decide to race in will not change how you race or your overall place/time. Just go out there and have fun.
I've spent a good portion of my (pre-running) life in the Athena category. I've never heard of the term until I visited someone's blog. My average weight was 155 (I'm about 5'5"). I never thought of myself as overweight, especially since people assumed I was about 20lbs lighter. At this very moment (I weighed myself today), I am 146. I'm usually somewhere between 140 and 146. They really don't take into account bone structure and such. According to the charts, I'm a bigger girl. But I've got people calling me small and telling me not to lose any more weight. In any case, I don't think I would/could embrace being an Athena unless I was also a plus size.
Um, you ARE one of the fit girls and the number doesn't matter. I feel like I've spent my whole life focusing on the number, and through running have learned to focus on what my body can do instead. Worrying about what category I fit into just puts me right back into focusing on the number. Yeck.
PROUDLY an Athena with no plans to change. I am competitive so I think of things a bit differently. I WANT to be matched up against people to have to haul as much weight as I do. I am FIT at 185 and 6'0...Athena yes, FAt no..
Take what God gave you and sign up for whatever category you want. I truly believe that this category was designed for us with "thick muscular legs" and some curves. Let even things out and race each other for a change..
I think the categories are there to encourage people who would not otherwise do the event (just like age group). I also think the categories are unfair – I know many Clydesdales that are 6 foot 5 and 10 percent body fat. These guys are placing in the very top of the field. BMI would be a better indicator but still not perfect.
I do not fit in these categories but even if I did I would prefer to race the entire field – not selected groups. I guess the only fair way to see who is best on the day is to just race it out.
I think whatever category you feel most comfortable being in is what you should register for. In my area, the weight classification for Athenas is 140# and over, and there are some very strong, fast women in it. I've often wondered why they choose to compete in that category as they can clearly place well in the usual AG category too. For some, perhaps it's just that they feel more at ease competing with others like themselves. I've also heard that there is much more camaraderie amongst Athenas (and Clydesdales) so that once you begin competing as one you don't want to change as it'd sort of be like leaving the group.
Oh, and appearances can be deceiving. I've been passed by many Athena athletes before!
I've never understood while they have a special category. I fall into the "athena" group too and find it annoying so I never register as such. There are plenty of "athena's" with rockin' bodies (read: Kerry Walsh volleyball player and Gabby Reece also v-ball). I'm tall and will never be small.
I vote register with your age group instead. That's what I would have done had I realized how the breakdown would go. I actually find it pretty offensive that because we weigh >150lbs we need our own special group, like we can't compete in the "real" groups. We are women, with hips and boobs....and YES muscles and that adds up to weight! You will do so great in your tri!!
Id say win the Athena group. I am a clydesdale and will always be a clydesdale. There is a podcast on itunes about this that I think would ease your mind. The coach is doing a study and found some interesting things with taller heavier people and performance. Its about the journey and not the destination anyway!
I'm torn about this too, with regards to myself. It kills me that 150 is considered the larger group. Although I'd like to say I'd do it, I think you should register for the Athena category and show them what you're made of!! And let everyone know that you can kick butt regardless of weight!
Gurl, go with what you want! One of my training partners is an Athena...she is proud of her 'junk' and all the boys in the yard like it;) Anyway, she kills Athena all the time. Not everyone is a sticklet and guys don't like sticklets anyway! They're too pointy, too sharp OR look like a man.
I'm familiar with the categories. I HATE them. I don't think that any running, bi, or tri event should have those categories. What useful purpose does it serve?? Why single yourself out as someone weighing more than 150 lbs? If I weighed over 200 lbs. I'd still be running with everyone else. I think you should compete with everyone else, and forget you ever heard of the "Athena" group.
Plenty of Athena's kick my butt! I don't equate Athena to fat or slow....just some designation that acknowledges that we can't all run as fast as the tiny little 100lb runner women (my running group is full of these 100 lb runner women...speedy little buggers).
I'd race as an Athena if I qualified and I probably would qualify if I was just a tad taller and am on the path to qualify if I don't win my current battle of the bulge.
anyway...do what you want. and either way...be proud of what you've accomplished. :-)
I'm tall but have a low BMI, so I would register for the age group. I want to see my rank vs. women my age so I can compare my rank from race to race. If you think your weight is in impediment, go for Athena. Hey, a lot of times there are very few in the category but all the podium winners get prizes! Really, do whatever feels right to you... there is no wrong answer.
You are a total fit chick!!! I don't know what to say about signing up, though. That's a tough one.
Yeah...I don't get those classifications either...but I'd also be lookin' for any angle where I could possibly win a medal...so if registering as an Athena would do it, then I would...in a heartbeat!
Thanks Mel for the comments on my last post-as I still have things to "work" out in my mind, I appreciate everyone's great words of encouragement and owe everyone a big hug when/if we ever meet!
On that note, I always sign up for the fat girl category they call Athena! I still weigh 188lbs. I don't look it-at all, but I don't care. I used to weigh over 300. To be 188 (my goal is/was 150) is priceless to the previous. My goal is 150, but may never be achieved due to the fact that when you lose so much weight, the "skin" still is there and it doesn't really ever go anywhere. I won 3rd place for my AG under athena at my duathlon last year. Just as proud of that trophy as I am for the medal I got in my first tri-that was one just by AG.
As everyone told me, be proud of past accomplishments! :-)
i could easily race as a clydesdale, but i stay age group. i don't care where i place inside of the ag, but i feel the playing field is more level there.
I thought about this quite a bit when I was registering for Lake Stevens, the only race I have done with an athena division. Ultimately, I'm not competitive as an age grouper...could I be as an athena?
Didn't matter to me at the end of the day, I went with age grouper. I guess I didn't like that I had to think about distinguishing myself as a heavier participant so I was just going AG.
That classification sounds ridiculous, especially to be considered 'heavy weight' or 'overweight'. I really don't think 150lbs for a woman compares to 200 lbs for a man.
150 lbs? I mean, come on! I don't think I know ANY women (runners or not) under 150 lbs.
It's just a number in the end so try not to let it bother you ot affect your racing decisions. In the end, who cares? You're strong, healthy and beautiful AND soon to be a triathlete. That's all that matters.
That number is completely arbitrary.
I'm taller than 5'8", I can comfortably wear size 6 at 150lbs. And, some races set it at 140 lbs?? Ridiculous.
I don't know which group I would compete in. Sorry.
my training partner was a clydesdale and he could kick my ass. so i think weight like age is just a number
I'd say it doesn't matter which group you roll with. You are out there, doing it, and that's all that matters.
Pick whichever group you feel more comfortable with, and then don't give it another thought.
i know several girls who are NOT overweight or big and they fall in this category. because they are muscular and strong and can kick my ass!!
this is some ridiculous thing that it sounds like Somsault came up with. Go with what you want Mel, it is your first tri.
I am an Athena too and no matter what, we are out there busting a gut (sorry, no insult intended), just like the rest of them. Whether we are more "Statuesque" or not it is just some lable...
Trust me 150 is not large....
Hold your head up high, be proud of who you are!! xoxoxox
Muscle weighs more than fat...you knew that right?
Go with... well, just go!
And you did ;-)
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