Heard of the campaign This Girl Can? To give you the rundown, it’s a celebration of active women who are doing their thing no matter how well they do it, how they look or even how red their face gets.
Don’t get me wrong, the campaign is absolutely brilliant. It gets us girls out there exercising with pride: running, breathing hard, improving our fitness, sweating and monitoring our heart rates. What’s more? It celebrates health, fitness and exercise.
We all know that social media and content marketing is essential to modern life and #thisgirlcan is honing on this. It’s getting girls healthy, active and best of all, competitive. Females everywhere are out there training with gritted teeth, lifting weights and exercising hard.
But, at the same time, doesn’t it suggest that girls originally thought we couldn’t? Why do we need to add a hashtag to our fitness training?
Can’t we just admit it? Girls can be competitive.
What’s more, a triathlon is the perfect competition in which girls can really race ahead of the hashtag.
If you’re not sure, a triathlon is a multi-sport race combined of swimming (usually open water), cycling and running. The distances range from sprint distance (750m swim, 25km bike, 5km run) to Ironman distance (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42 km run).
So here are some tips on getting into the ‘I want to complete a triathlon’ mindset and, even better, ‘Bring on the competition!
The advice is divided into two IDEAL parts: ‘Training for the Triathlon’ and ‘Race day’ and includes ideal tips for us girls to really get competitive.
Ideal Training
Join a triathlon club
Don’t be scared to join a triathlon club and, what’s more, don’t be afraid to get in the fast swimming lane, if you really think that’s where you’re at. So many of us will modestly climb into the slow lane thinking ‘It’s only my first session so I’ll assess the standard of other people first’. Instead, bite the bullet, test yourself and you’re way more likely to succeed.
Okay, so don’t put yourself at a level way above what you can achieve, but I just don’t be afraid to raise your blood pressure and train hard.
Be Selfish and get in your Training Time
Find time for your training. Of course, childcare can be an issue for many mums and you can’t skip work but don’t feel guilty about the amount of training you’re doing.
Use your time wisely and you’ll fit in your training as well as look after your kids, your husband, your boyfriend, your off-the-rails best friend, sister etc.
In fact, you’ll probably find you’re happier and much more energetic if you do devote some time to yourself and your training. You’ll probably work more efficiently too.
Make Friends
There is nothing better than going for a bike ride with a couple of friends. You’ll push each other, encourage each other and you’ll find you’ll want to be more competitive.
Before you know it, gone are the days when you want to cycle along the cycle path, stopping for half an hour for a cup of tea, you’ll want to push yourself on the hills, go hard on the flat and feel the wind in your hair as you descend, taking the corners as precisely as you can.
Race Preparation
Taper before the Race
Your training taper period will depending on the distance of the triathlon, but during this time you will take your training slightly easier in order to get race ready. In addition, eat well, sleep well and you’ll be set to compete.
Race Day
Go Hard. Be confident. Get a great time
The advice for race day? Race hard and show what all your training has been about. Try to avoid getting caught up in the crowds and be confident in your swim, bike and run abilities.
If you’re confident, you’ll enjoy yourself much more and perform better too.
You see, this girl can be competitive and she doesn’t need to hide behind a hashtag.
