First
Steelwoman Triathlon Gets Students Moving
 Typically,
a triathlon—a grueling athletic competition
in which participants swim, bicycle and run for several hours—is
an outdoor event. But with a little adaptability,
there’s no reason that a triathlon can’t be conducted
indoors. And with the erratic temperatures and harsh winds
of this time of year, inside climes make for more comfortable
competition.
That’s why the first
Steelwoman triathlon, an event coordinated by the Smith
Athletic Association Intramural Committee, has participants
competing entirely indoors. Open to Smith students, Steelwoman,
on Sunday, March 9, will put athletes through timed trials.
Entrants will have the option
of swimming a half-mile or full mile via laps in the Ainsworth
swimming pool. They will then cycle 15 miles
on stationery bikes in the Olin Fitness Center. The race
will conclude with a five-mile run on the track in the Indoor
Track and Tennis facility.
The event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to approximately
2 p.m., depending on finishing times. (Ainsworth Gym, Olin
Fitness Center and the ITT will be closed for use during
the event; however, spectators are welcome.)
 Mostly for fun, Steelwoman
also aims to inspire people to use the college’s array of facilities, said Aliza Leventhal ’09,
the intramural sports coordinator. “The objective is
to continue to reach our goal of getting Smith students and
community members active and taking advantage of our athletic
facilities.”
The intramural committee
is conducting this first triathlon on a trial basis, said
Leventhal, by recruiting students to participate and helping
them train for the event. “This
has been a great opportunity for people who have and have
not worked out before to learn how to create workouts for
themselves, train for events and learn to use the facilities
Smith offers,” she said. “I believe these women
will have pride in themselves for this achievement and most
likely a better appreciation for working out and being active
and healthy.”
Twenty-four women will
swim, bike and jog in the competition. Some will compete
in teams, with each member taking a single leg of the triathlon.
All participants will receive shirts, backpacks, drink “cozies,” bottle
openers and Smith swim caps from the Athletic Association.
The committee hopes to make the indoor triathlon a twice-yearly
event, one each semester, said Leventhal.
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