Welcome to a New Year! The IRaceLikeAGirl team is thrilled to be heading into 2021 with positivity, friendship and inspiration for women everywhere. Thank you for being a part of our IRLAG community and supporting women of all ages and abilities in our efforts to empower and motivate all women in endurance sports. It is our mission to promote fitness and positive change through movement in a fun and uplifting way which will inspire female athletes globally to embrace their strength through sport.
IRaceLikeAGirl Team Member Spotlight
Each month, we will highlight one of our fabulous athletes in this newsletter. This January, we would like you to meet Erica Pratt!
Erica Pratt “Stumbling My Way Through”
“There’s a lot to the world of triathlons and it can be intimidating and confusing. Like most things, it’s better with friends.”
I was first introduced to triathlons in 2016 when I watched my best friend do the Augusta half Ironman. She was hurting due to needing neck surgery but was determined to finish the race. I was amazed at her athleticism and endurance. Of course I wanted to try it! I knew how to swim and I was already a runner. It had been sometime since I had been on a bike, so my friend let me use her smart trainer, bike, and Zwift to try it out.
I found out that even on a trainer I really enjoyed it! I went to the local bike shop to check out their stock. Everything was beyond my price range, but fortunately they had a road bike on consignment that was my size and that I could afford. I had no idea if it was considered a good bike, if it would serve me well, or how to take care of it, but I figured it was a start.
You can read the full article about Erica’s journey into triathlon here on Girls Get Gritty.
Feature Articles from IRLAG Teammates
We have two guest bloggers who will be contributing to our web page “Girls Get Gritty” on a regular basis this season. Be on the lookout for tips on endurance training, nutrition, mental training, life balance, motherhood, strength and many other interesting topics written with the female athlete in mind.
Cynthia Falardeau will be sharing her words of inspiration and experience in her column “Sincerely, Cynthia”. Cynthia lives in Vero Beach, Florida. She is a college athlete who discovered triathlon ten years ago at the age of 45 while on the journey to better health and life balance. Cynthia shares her start to triathlon in her first blog post which you can find on the GGG webpage!
“What It Means To Race Like A Girl” is a powerful piece - one which shares Cynthia’s determination to be the best mother she can be while also forging a path to balance and health in her life. Please give it a read! Well done, Cynthia!
“I was “that kid.” The one who was taller and more developed than her peers. I longed to fit in. As the only girl in a family of three brothers, I learned how to hold my own. My brothers taught me how to shoot a basketball with great precision. In a neighborhood of boys, I was revered as “one of them.” My athletic prowess earned me respect and acceptance. However, I confess that I longed to play Barbies and experience all things full of “girl power.”
(Cynthia’s full article can be found here https://www.girlsgetgritty.com/racelikeagirl/)
Amy Woods will be sharing her experiences as a triathlete and a mother in her column “Into the Woods”. Amy lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She has two teenage children,a husband and a dog. She is also a former 8th grade teacher who recently left the classroom to spend more time with family. Although she found the sport of triathlon only three years ago, she has fallen in love with her new identity as an athlete and with the sport.
Amy’s article “The Mom/Triathlete (IM)Balance” is a great read and one which will resonate with many women in our IRLAG community. Here’s a little take away from Amy:
“Mommy guilt will happen, but it also fades. I used to rush through workouts and rush home because I felt guilty that I was training instead of being with my kids, especially as a working mom who didn’t see them all day. But as they got older, I realized that I was a better mom for taking time to exercise and do what I love. It’s easier to take care of others if you are taking care of yourself. I also realized it was not the end of the world if I didn’t make it to a little league game. Don’t worry, one day you will find yourself running a marathon instead of going to a gymnastics meet (BQ’ed, baby… worth it).”
(The full article can be found here at The Mom/Triathlete (IM)Balance by Amy Woods / I Race Like A Girl (girlsgetgritty.com)”
Cynthia and Amy, thank you for sharing your experiences with the IRLAG community! We can’t wait to read more from you in the coming months!
Team Sponsors and Discount Codes
We are featuring MoxiLife today! For complete information about the entire line of Moxilife products, please visit the website at www.moxilife.com
Code: iracelikeagirl for the discount!
For your hydration needs in training and during racing, we are highlighting the MOXiLyte™ Hydration System today.
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Maxed on Minerals, Low In Sugar
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4g Total Clean Carbohydrates from Carb4
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Carb4 Featuring:
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Easily Digested & Proven Cluster Dextrin (reduces GI issues)
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Non GMO Dextrin
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Non GMO Maltodextrin
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Non GMO Cane Sugar
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A Premium Concentrated, *Gut Healthy Electrolyte Drink
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Up to 3x more hydration
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Low Sugar
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Replenishes ALL Electrolytes
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Patented Electrolyte with Maximum Uptake
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Featuring: Amino Acid 'Activated' TRAACS™ Magnesium
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Trace Micro-Minerals
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Pure Himalayan Sea Salt
Be sure to check out the MoxiLife website for all products for your hydration and nutrition needs for training and recovery.
January Team Challenge
Members - check out our January Team Challenges on our IRLAG platform! Angela will be posting this coming month’s team challenge soon and will let you all know exactly what to expect as well as what sponsor prizes can be won through participation! Don’t forget to sign up!
Angela’s January Gran Fondo- Saturday, January 30, 2021 starting at 8:00am EST
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Angela has created a fundraiser FONDO event for our team scholarship program! This is through Angela and her sponsors at www.angelanaeth.com/fondo. We will ride 100 miles BANDED (so we all stick together - allows you to ride for 5 hours with Angela). There will also be a zoom meetup going the whole time AND breaks every hour for 5 minutes!
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$35 entry goes 100% into the 12 Scholarships for our women's program.
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And there will be plenty of giveaways! Register: www.angelanaeth.com/fondo
Recipes to Love and Share- Guacamole
Guacamole is delicious and healthy as a dip or as an accompaniment to your favorite Mexican inspired meal. Here is a quick and easy recipe to make guac at home for your family!
INGREDIENTS
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3 medium ripe avocados
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2 tablespoons minced onions
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1 clove garlic, minced
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1 small jalapeno chile (stemmed, seeded, and minced), optional
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1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro leaves
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Salt
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1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, optional
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2 tablespoons lime juice
Directions
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Halve one avocado, remove the pit, and scoop into a medium bowl. Dispose of the exterior.
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Mash lightly with onion, garlic, chile (if using), cilantro, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cumin (if using) with a fork until just combined.
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Halve, pit, and cube the remaining two avocados.
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Add the cubes to the bowl with mashed avocado mixture. Sprinkle lime juice over diced avocado and mix the entire contents of the bowl lightly with a fork until combined (but still chunky).
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Adjust seasonings with salt, if needed, and serve.
Do you have a favorite, fresh recipe to share with the team? Please send it on to me at courtneyculligan@yahoo.com for inclusion in a future IRLAG newsletter.
From all of us here at IRLAG, we wish each and every one of you a safe and healthy start to the New Year!
Angela, Courtney and Stephanie