To Athena or Not to Athena

That is my question!

So I have been toying a lot recently on whether I should be registering as Athena at my races. I am very conflicted and figured I would ask for assistance from my followers. So please give your honest feedback. I am really interested to hear what others have to say.

My Story

I am not a girl to hide behind the numbers. I could care less if people know my true age and will tell just about anyone my real weight. Not the generously reduced number that makes me sounds skinner. I actually tell people my true weight. I really have nothing to hide and after all, it is just a number.

I weigh 160lbs.

In the triathlon world that means I technically qualify for the Athena category. For those outside of the triathlon world, let me explain. In a typical race you compete with other athletes of the same gender who are in your age group. For me that is women who fall between the 30-34 age range. When I register for a race, I am automatically ranked against women of my same age group.

However, some races will do additional categories such as: Novice (first time racers), Military (self explanatory), Fat Tire (those using Mountain Bikes) and then Clydesdale/Athena (Men and Women over a certain weight range). Registration in these categories means that you pull yourself out of the age group rankings and instead compete against others who have self identified that they would like to be considered for these categoies.

So specifically in my case, if I registered Athena I would be withdrawing my name from the Women's 30-34 ranking and instead competing with other women who wished to be considered Athena. Typically Athena is classified as women over 150lbs and Clydesdale is men over 200lbs. There is no rule that says a woman over 150lbs must register as an Athena instead of being an Age Grouper but it is an option. (Same for a Novice or any other optional category).

In my adult history and truthfully really in my adolescent history, I have never been under 150. At my lowest weight right before my wedding I was at 153. I have sat comfortably between 155-165 for just about 2-3 years now. I would love to be below 150 but for all purposes, I have never seen that happen. Seeing as in college I was over 200lbs, 160 is a great improvement.

So that brings me here, Should I be registering Athena?

In a typical race, I am no where near the podium for my age group. At 5'4 and 160lbs, the odds are pretty stacked against me when I am competing with 5'9 125lbs speedsters who run 8 minute miles. I have won an age group award once at the Vidalia Onion Tri in 2009 when I placed 2nd out of 4 women in my age group. In three years of racing triathlon, that has been my only age group award.

Looking at the two races this season

Rock n Rollman Sprint- I placed 8th out of 11 women in my age group. Would have placed 1st or 2nd Athena out of 3 women
Indian Springs- I placed 13th out of 15 women in mt age group. Would have placed 1st out of 2 women in Athena.

Looking at Past Races

Vidalia Onion 2009- Placed 2nd in Age group out of 4. Would have placed 1st out of 6 Athena.
Tri PTC 2009- Placed 22nd out of 32 in my Age Group. Would have placed 10th out of 26 Athena.
Tri Cooter 2009- Placed 6th out of 10 in my Age Group. Would have placed 4th out of 10 in Athena.
Chattanooga Water Front Oly Tri 2010- Placed 61st out of 64 in Age Group. Would have placed 15th out of 17th in Athena
Augusta 70.3 2010- Placed 82nd in Age Group out of 97. Would have placed 14th out of 18 Athena
(Irongirl does not do Athena Categories)

Obviously as you can tell not many women register for Athena. Clydesdale is a much more popular category but for obvious reasons I am guessing you can bet why Athena is not popular among the women. Clearly more women do qualify but wish to compete with their respective age group as I have done thus far.

So what haven't I just bitten the bullet and done so already? 

First: Truthfully I haven't really given it much thought until this season when it meant that I missed out on two potential awards. It's not all about the hardware but it is nice to get an award every now and then

Second: Typically Athena/Clydesdale racers start in the last possible wave of a swim start. I really like starting with the other women in my age group. I totally get why you would start Athenas together but hate that is has to be the last possible swim wave. I have never been concerned with the shutting down of a course because I am too slow but when you are already the slowest person among your friends, starting even farther back is just that much more daunting.

Third: And yes I will fully admit that while I am not one to hide behind the numbers, secretly I would feel "fat" registering as Athena. Now I will state that I understand that I am not fat, nor does being an Athena/Clydesdale racer make you fat. It has nothing to do with the public label of being an Athena/Clydesdale racer. This for me is more personal in having to do with admitting that I understand that I am not like the other women in my age group. Clearly if I was landing on the podium or ranking higher than I currently do, this would not even be a question, I would pick Age Group every time. However, the reality is that the women out there are hella fast. And while I am progressing, It is no where near comparison to my fellow age group women. I am typically placing in the bottom quarter of women in my age group on every race I compete in.

So triathlete world, please chime in. I am seriously conflicted on what to do and would love to hear some honest feedback.

What are your thoughts about the Athena/Clydesdale Categories?
Should people have the option to register Athena/Clydesdale/Novice/Fat Tire/etc or should we all just be Age Groupers?
What are your personal thoughts on my situation and what things would you consider if placed in a similar situation?
At what point should one not consider Athena and go with Age Group?
Etc? Etc? Etc? :)

Ultimately I know it is personal decision in the end but I am totally interested in what everyone has to say.