TRIgirls ROCK!!!

I wasn’t racing on Memorial Day at Shady Grove Y (again, I do not swim) so I signed up to volunteer at the HH Hunt Sprint Triathlon presented by 3 Sports at Shady Grove YMCA (sounds like a NASCAR race). I ended the day working the finish line helping Triathletes remove the timing chips from their ankles. While working the finish line there was a growing group of female Triathletes cheering for finishers. It took me a bit but I finally realized that this group was TRIgirl Training and their Ring Leader Grandison Burnside was right in the middle congratulating each one as they finished. For many this was their first triathlon; but whether it was their first or fifth, they all cheered for each other. The energy, compassion (one of the TRIgirls had changed a tire on the bike course), pride, joy and support they showed not only for the sport but for each other was infectious. After spending just a short time around them, I realized that I needed to find out more about this group.

Grandison Burnside is the Head Coach and running coach, a USAT certified Coach and three-time IronMan finisher. Grandison is currently training for the 2007 IronMan Coeur De Lane with a fellow TRIgirl Athlete. She created TRIgirl Training to give women an opportunity to train in a comfortable and supportive environment with a structured training program. Burnside says “This is the most rewarding thing I have ever done in coaching. I knew that I wanted to coach women, but so much more has come out of TRIgirls than I've ever imagined. I've made some of my best friends.” Many of the current TRIgirls were TRI-Moms until last year when Kim Kredich moved to Tennessee. Grandison and her husband (Mark Burnside of Maramarc Fitness), have two children. She has been coaching for three years. Her favorite athletic event is the Marathon and her favorite triathlon is the Half IronMan or IronMan distances. Mark is the strength training coach, Som Sombati is the swim coach and Ed Ross-Clunis is the cycling coach. All the coaches have a wealth of coaching experience to offer.

TRIgirls Training is a Coaching Service. It is also a healthy, supportive and courageous community of driven women. These athletes work very hard to meet goals that to some of them would not have seemed possible a few months or years ago. Included in the TRIgirl program are nutrition clinics, bi-monthly strength training clinics, Total Immersion based swim coaching, professional cycling coaching, weekly workout schedule, clinics on various topics important to triathletes, an online support forum and discounts from local retailers. The program is well organized and complete. If an athlete brings the desire and follows the schedule they will be successful. I asked several of the TRIgirls about the benefits of TRIgirls training. Cyndi Dambacher had the following comment, “It always harder to skip a workout when you know that you have a 7 am Saturday workout scheduled on your calendar and people who will notice if you don't show up!!” Many others pointed to the friendships and relationships that they have established through TRIgirls. Deanna Boehm had the following comment, “TRIGirls has proven to be even better than what I had hoped. Of course there are the great workouts - and discovering that even slowpokes like me could benefit (and see improvements for the first time ever!) from learning new skills and pushing yourself beyond your limits. But even better was the camaraderie, support and encouragement from Grandison and the group. Oh yeah, the weekly trips to Starbucks after the tough Saturday brick workouts are also fun!”

The current group of TRIgirls number 46. They range in age from about 25 to 55+. Many have past experience in athletics but are returning to the athletic lifestyle after a hiatus. Some of the participants finished their first triathlon on Memorial Day weekend, others will become “Triathletes” on July 23 and some will compete at Naylors Beach at the Olympic Distance in August. A few have decided to take on the Marathon in the fall; Grandison has adapted the TRIgirl training schedule to prepare these participants for 26.2 miles.

Tri-Moms had a philanthropic component and Grandison has maintained that with TRIgirls. This season’s non-profit community organization is FURS Dogs. FURS Dogs is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing, nurturing, and vaccinating, spaying/neutering and placing homeless dogs in loving homes. See www.fursdogs.com for more information about this organization. TRIgirls has found a way to mix their charitable concerns with good fun. TRIgirls works with local restaurants and entertainment facilities to sponsor TRIgirl Night Out. This provides the opportunity for a local business to pick up extra business on a typically slow night and give back to the community as well. If you would like to sponsor a TRIgirl Night Out see the Sponsors page at www.trigirltraining.com.

If you’re at the Shady Grove YMCA on July 23, I’m sure you’ll see the TRIgirls out in full force. When you see them, give ‘em a cheer and an encouraging word; this is a group who are enjoying triathlons for all the RIGHT reasons.