65 www. Char l es tonWomenPodcas t . com | www. ReadCW. com | www. I ns tagram. com /Char l es tonWomen feature A New Way to Triathlon She Tris The energy was ablaze at The I’On Club on May 21. The Crews Subaru of Charleston She Tris Sprint Triathlon, which women of all ages participated in, is an event that is meant to change the face of triathlons by making them accessible to any woman who wants to “tri.” She Tris was founded by Angi Klick in 2015 to fill a void in beginner women’s triathlon events in South Carolina. She has since built a community of female participants of all ages and fitness levels who train together to reach their goals and realize their athletic potential. Klick completed many triathlons and, for years, managed a local triathlon store. Female customers routinely sought out her advice while training for races. Klick recognized an opportunity for events that focus on and cater to female participants. Moved by this realization, she approached race directors and committees on which she served to pitch the idea of women-only races. “I don’t even like to call it a race,” said Klick. “I prefer to call it an event because race implies that you have to be fast and we want to take out all of the intimidation, which is what makes these events so different.” Klick recalled having competed in over fifteen races of varying distances, including an Ironman, by the time she became a mother. After giving birth, she knew that her body wasn’t the same as it was before. She recognized that she didn’t look or feel the same and accepted that the demands of motherhood presented training challenges. Still, Klick sorely missed the triathlons that had become a way of life for her. Inspired by her slightly competitive spirit, Klick got a group of about 10 friends together to train for a race in North Carolina. Simultaneously, she co-founded the Charleston Chapter of Tri It For Life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “empowering women of all ages, sizes, backgrounds, and abilities to develop healthier lifestyles through triathlon training, mentorship and community.” Tri It For Life is a 12-week mentoring program that prepares women for their first triathlon. Klick put on She Tris’ first official event in 2016, a month before her third daughter was due. She was confident that other women would embrace the sport of triathlon and participate in the low-pressure event. Yet, peers in the triathlon community weren’t so sure. The production company Klick hired to organize the race BY I SABEL ALVAREZ ARATA
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