Welcome to the March edition of our IRLAG Newsletter. Each month we have new and exciting information to share with you all about endurance training, team and coaching support, special events coming up in our community, sponsor highlights and nutrition. Please take a moment to read through the news so you can stay on top of all the latest updates. You all are amazing and inspirational. Thank you all so much 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.
IRaceLikeAGirl 5K- Women’s Day Virtual 5K on March 7, 2021
The 5th Annual IRLAG 5K is coming up this weekend! If you have not yet registered, now is the time to do it! Please join us for this fun celebration for Women's Day this Saturday! Don’t forget to post your photos on social media and tag us @iracelikeagirl and #irlag5k.
https://snohomishrunningstore.square.site/product/i-race-like-a-girl-virtual-5k/290
IRaceLikeAGirl Team Member Spotlight
Each month, we will highlight one of our fabulous athletes in this newsletter. This March, we would like you to meet Dora Sari! I am lucky enough to have raced with Dora on the IRLAG Zwift E-Racing Squad this winter and she is one incredible human!
What is your name and where do you live?
Dora Sari - Geneva, Switzerland
What inspired you to become a member of the IRLAG team?
The support and the strength of members!
How long have you been racing and what distances/discipline do you enjoy the most?
4 years, olympic (increasing the distance though)
What do you consider a highlight of your athletic journey to date?
My swim during the Boston Tri in 2019
What does "IRLAG" mean to you? What is your favorite part about this team?
INSPIRATION
Share some special aspects of your life with us outside of your athletic endeavors. Family, career, where you live, hobbies, etc.
I recently moved to Switzerland after 4 years in the US. I am originally from Hungary. I have been on the road for quite some time. My father was a pro-tennis player and one of my favorite people in the world. My mother, sister and niece are the strongest women I have ever met!
It is fantastic to learn a little bit more about you, Dora! Thank you for sharing some special facts with the team!
Feature Articles from IRLAG Teammates and Girls Get Gritty
This March, we are featuring an article on Sweat and Hydration by Leslie Hiller.
I don’t know about you ladies but I am a crazy sweaty girl! I have had problems in the past with cramping because I did not realize just how much sodium and electrolytes I was losing! Being in tune with your sweat output levels and your sodium concentration and dialing in that training and race nutrition to highlight your individual needs is vital for your best performance. Lesli shares some of her insight below in her article from the Girls Get Gritty webpage:
https://www.girlsgetgritty.com/sweatingandhydration/
We also have an inspiring blog written by Amy Woods on the “Upside of Injury”
“Triathlon has helped me to see exercise as more than a tool for weight loss. In fact, even the word “exercise” has disappeared from my vernacular. I now ‘train’, which for me, means looking at my body as what it can do for me, not as something that needs to look good in a pair of jeans. Triathlon has also helped me see food as fuel, not the enemy.
Through triathlon, I have realized that I am stronger and tougher than I think. Once you do that first rough open water swim in a race, you realize that you can face anything. I have met some of my best friends through this sport.
Most importantly, I just feel like a bad ass when I say I am a triathlete.”
https://www.girlsgetgritty.com/news-5/detail/370-id.209715348.html
Team Sponsors and Discount Codes
We are especially lucky on the IRLAG team to have so many generous deals from our sponsors. I hope you will all take advantage of these amazing discounts and try out our sponsor products! Thank you Angela for providing us with top of the line sponsor support and introducing us to terrific businesses in our sport. I’d like to give a special shout out to all of our sponsors who provide us with terrific incentives throughout the season via our team challenges and events. Each month, we will highlight a few of these key companies.
This March, we would like you to learn more about our sponsor companies BlueSeventy and Headsweats!
BlueSeventy
Blueseventy has released three new wetsuits for 2021. Their iconic professional level Helix has received an update to increase distance per stroke and make the suit come off faster in transition. Their entry level Fusion suit was completely redone with more flexible materials and a lower neckline to increase comfort. They've also released a new suit called the Glide. This suit was made for the budget conscious athletes and swimmers who want a moderate amount of warmth and buoyancy. You can view the entire range of wetsuits and accessories at www.blueseventy.com . As a team member you receive 20% off! - codes found in our club!
HeadSweats
Headsweats is proud to partner with I Race Like A Girl by offering its team members and friends 25% off of online purchases through 2021. Headsweats is recognized as the world leader in ultra-light, supremely wicking headwear and athletic apparel. A variety of high-quality performance products made of REPREVE® recycled fibers are now available online. Whether you’re looking for headwear or apparel we’ve got you covered – all backed by an unconditional warranty. Headsweats is sought-after to optimize performance whether training at the gym, hiking the trails, pounding the pavement or celebrating on the podium. For more information visit Headsweats.com.
March Team Challenges are up in CLUB
We have some exciting challenges for you all this month on our IRLAG team club page! Members only. *If you want to be a member - email Angela directly at iracelikeagirl@gmail.com
SPARK JOY! #sparkjoy is our theme for the month of March!
What you can win this month:
- CALILOKO Recovery and Compression top/bottoms!
- TOPO ATHLETIC SHOES
- Powerbar product grab bags (supply of powerbar products)
- BLUE RUB products giveaway bags
- Zealios Sunscreen Packets
- SIDA INSOLES
- SLATE MILK 12 pack
- JUICE PERFORMER PACK
- RISE COFFEE
- BlueSeventy Goggles!
BONUS BONUS CHALLENGE! Thanks to our amazing sponsor NORMATEC, we want to spark joy in more ladies lives! Normatec is giving away to 2 members: Blue Tooth Hypervolts ($450 in value) AND 2 Normatec Leg 2.0 Compression systems ($1600 each!) - to help support our team recruitment and #sparkjoy challenges in March. (DETAILS IN OUR MEMBERS AREA!)
Recipes to Love and Share
This month, I found a great resource online at Shaw Simple Swaps. Check out the delicious recipe below and try it out for some extra pick me up for your next training session! It’s a quick meal to make!
https://shawsimpleswaps.com/smashed-baked-potato-nourish-bowl/
Smashed Baked Potato Nourish Bowl
Ingredients
1 small russet potato baked
1/2 teaspoon nutritional yeast
1/3 cup black beans
1 cup chopped spinach
1 cup red cabbage
1/3 medium avocado chopped
1/4 cup hummus
1 teaspoon Sriracha
Instructions
Reheat baked potato for 30 seconds in the microwave.
Remove and slice vertically in half, then horizontally in half again.
Press the back of fork directly down into potato to "smash" it!
Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of nutritional yeast over the potato and cover with black beans.
Arrange spinach and cabbage around the potato, and top with chopped avocado and hummus.
Drizzle with Sriracha and enjoy!
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 491kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 402mg | Potassium: 1940mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3905IU | Vitamin C: 81mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 6.4mg
IRaceLikeAGirl E-Racing Team on Zwift!
Guess what, ladies? We are finishing up Session #2 of the Zwift Racing League this week but we have another session coming up in early April! Now is the perfect time to join us in all the fun as we head into a new Tuesday race series for the Spring. If you are interested in joining in, please e-mail Amanda Wendorff at amanda.j.wendorff@gmail.com.
The IRACELIKEAGIRL/ SISU E-Racing team is appropriate for riders of all levels, from PROs to beginners. Our supportive community is highly engaged online and participates in multiple race series on Zwift each week. Additionally, team members participate in formal and informal workouts and meetups, while sharing information, strategies and techniques for improving cycling, both in-game and in real life.
You can follow along and check on everyone’s progress by visiting the Facebook page for the E-Racing Team here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1790418584457764.
And, that is a wrap for now!
Please always feel free to reach out to iracelikeagirl@gmail.com if you have something exciting to share with the team which you think would make an interesting addition to our newsletter! I am so inspired by all of you incredible women and I love to learn more about you, your dreams and what makes you “Race Like A Girl!”. Let’s continue to grow our community through love, support, passion and amazing communication!
Angela Naeth (Founder) and Courtney Culligan - Team IRACELIKEAGIRL.