Women Who Tri

This is a funny book - the small town that Difabio moves to as a stay at home mom of several kids and one special needs kid is bursting with women who are training for triathlons. Frankly curious about this obsession but not exactly gung-ho to do one herself she pulls together some interesting history of the sport, many “rising over adversity” profiles of the women + girls doing tris, and (of course) her own experiences training and completing a triathlon. Overall the text is enthusiastic, it focuses on what triathlons do for the women, the charity causes many of them support, and the overall community rather than athletic records. Difabio makes triathlons FEEL accessible to all women.

I did imagine all the “ladies in pink” as white upper-middle class ladies - Difabio doesn't address race in this sport / although she does talk about the shear expense (still cheaper than some things like sailing eyeroll) and talks about a few ways to control expensive for a newcomer to the sport (mostly - borrow a bike).

sidenote when triathlon first became an Olympic sport a Canadian, Simon Whitfield, won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and we met his parents at the Edmonton Airport standing in line to get our flights rescheduled a year or two after that. Apparently winning gold makes you a target in later races!

Anyway, I enjoyed this.