Triathlons favorable for modern women
Modern women lead busy lives.
The average 21st century woman usually has four or five different balls in the air at the same time as she tries to juggle career goals, mom obligations, wife obligations and to maintain some semblance of a social life while trying to stay in shape so she can keep up with the rambunctious kids she’s trying to raise.
In recent years, several enterprising women have identified this trend, and in their different ways, Marla Emde and Robin DeRuwe have revolutionized the burgeoning women’s fitness market in and around Spokane by creating opportunities for the average woman to get her exercise fix in amidst the numerous things she checks off her to-do list everyday.
Four years ago, Emde, 48, a triathlon coach and former professional cyclist, and DeRuwe, 43, the owner of Fitness Fanatics, a local bike shop, got together and decided to start an all-women’s triathlon.
“We had different people mention to us at different times that ‘you guys should put together a women’s triathlon,’ ” said DeRuwe, who like Emde, is a veteran triathlete. “So we got together and did it.”
The result: The Liberty Lake-based Valley Girl triathlon made its debut on the local triathlon scene in 2004.
That year, Emde and DeRuwe had 325 participants – all of whom had such a good time that they told their girlfriends. Word spread that the Valley Girl was a great experience and the perfect beginner’s triathlon because of how much care the organizers put into making sure they gave every woman all the support she needed to complete the sprint distance (¼ mile swim, 11 mile bike ride, 3 mile run) race.
The following year, the organizers sold out in a matter of days as women rushed to fill the 550 available spots. The event’s popularity has grown exponentially every year since then: Registration for the 2007 race opened up in October 2006, and all 550 spots sold out in six days.
Because of this popular demand – and in an effort to respond to the dozens of calls they were getting from irate women upset about not getting a place at their favorite triathlon – Emde started a second women’s triathlon this year.
The inaugural West Plains Wunder Woman triathlon will be held this Sunday, August 19 at Medical Lake, and yes, it’s sold out.