The Athena Project

I was first smacked with the Athena label in July 2009 when I was signing up for the LA Triathlon, my first Olympic Distance triathlon.  I was just going about my business, ready to put myself in the 30-34 age-group category, when BOOM, there it was. 

Division: Athena (150+ lbs)

My eyes darted back and forth between my choices.  30-34?  Athena (150+lbs)?  30-34? Athena (150+lbs)? 30-34?? 

I mean, we live in a society!  Who asks a lady about her weight?  (Living in LA, both age AND weight are taboo subjects, and lied about on a pretty consistent basis).  And the term “Athena?”  Who came up with that?  For some reason it conjures up images of racing in a viking horn helmet and a fur kilt.  (At least the big guys get to be “Clydesdales”……mmmm, budweiser).

I sent a frantic email to my coach, asking him if I should check my ego at the computer and admit my chronic undertallness.   His response was to go for it — hell, maybe I’d even podium (i.e. come in the top 3).  A chubby little voice in my head whined “but i don’t wannnnnna be Athena.”  Even if I podiumed (yes, I’m using it as a verb…that’s what we triathletes do), wouldn’t that be like being deigned Valedictorian of summer school?  On the other hand, getting on a podium sounded cool.

So choose it I did.  Sort of, I guess.  I am Athena.  Hear me Whimper.

I started training for my first triathlon in February 2008.  When I started training, I couldn’t run a mile.  Now I have a handful of Olympic and Sprint distance triathlons under my belt, and even suffered my way through 2 half-marathons.   My heart has gotten into pretty good shape.  But it’s not my heart that is squeezing into spandex on race day, thank you very much.

Two weeks ago, I signed up for Wildflower Long Course, one of the toughest half-iron distance races in the country (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run).  It takes place on April 30th, less than 5 months from now.  And as of today, I am more Tri-Fat-thlete than TriAthlete.  I know I know.  ”It’s all relative.”  “And good for you for getting out there and doing it” and “You’re not fat”…and all that stuff people say.   Thanks.  Now stuff it. 

The fact is that when I started I was Athena-eligible, but not by TOO much…And NOW, two years into this, I am a good 15-20 pounds heavier than I was when I got into the dang sport (are you doing the math at home?).  I may get into the gory details later of how that happened (though I can direct some blame now to a bad break-up and the lesser known 4th leg of the triathlon — “drink”).  

But it’s time to experiment and really make some changes.  And it’s not just because I want to be able to race wearing one of those itty bitty race suits without igniting a small fire between my thighs.  No, I actually would like to survive an 8-hour race with a smile on my face (at least when there are cameras around) and still be able to lift the champagne bottle to my lips that I insist will be waiting for me when I cross the finish line.

The Athena Project is for the Gullivers in the Lilliputian world of triathlon.  You know who you are — your swimsuit cuts into your back fat, you have to buy tri gear in a size 3XL, when you normally wear a large, because otherwise you’ll be racing in a crop top, and you get your own wave start so as not to scare/squash the age-groupers with your imposing size.   

Who knows how this blog will take shape….At the very least it will document my journey, including successes and setbacks, as I prepare for my first 1/2 Iron Distance race over next 5 months and do battle with the chronic emotional demons I have in regards to my weight.  I’d like to say it will end up in cut abs and single digit body fat.

But really, it’s about being the best little (or big) Athena I can be.