Sports
If You Follow a Plan, You're an Athlete: Women in Endurance
Aline Alexa and the Se Liga Nelas panel discuss female athletic identity and the dangers of rushing the process.
Embracing an athletic identity and celebrating personal achievements remains a challenge for many women in endurance sports. On Se Liga Nelas, the panel highlights the importance of encouraging female participation in triathlon without falling into the trap of rushing the process.
The transition between simply exercising and truly recognizing yourself as an athlete does not depend on podiums, race pace, or elite benchmarks. For anyone training consistently, the standard is much simpler: if you have a structured routine and follow a training plan, you are an athlete. However, adopting this mindset and claiming this space is still a complex process for many women in endurance sports.
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The trap of normalizing your own achievements
It is common to see female triathletes and runners downplay significant accomplishments. Completing a road marathon or crossing the finish line of an Ironman 70.3 is often treated as just another calendar event, as if the goal loses its magic as soon as it is achieved. This tendency to normalize achievements fuels imposter syndrome and makes it difficult for women to see themselves on the same level of admiration they project onto other competitors.
Female representation in sports plays a transformative role in this scenario. When everyday women share their real workouts, challenges, and breakthroughs on social media and on the track, they pave the way for others to believe in their own ability to lace up their running shoes or get on a bike.
Mindful encouragement without skipping steps
Despite the growing presence of women in triathlon, there is a crucial concern: the rush toward long-distance events. The excitement generated by the community and social media often leads novice athletes to sign up for challenges like a Half Ironman (70.3) without first building a solid technical foundation in shorter distances or even feeling confident on the bike.
Encouragement from friends and social media needs to go hand in hand with good judgment. Progressing through sprint and Olympic distances is essential for learning how to balance all three disciplines simultaneously, understanding the sport's logistics, and respecting the body's adaptation process.
Longevity and the joy of training
Sustainable endurance requires patience. When sports become merely an immediate obligation aimed at securing a long-distance medal, the routine can become exhausting, drastically increasing the risk of injury and early dropout. Learning to enjoy the daily training process, varying stimuli, and respecting your own pace of progress are the true secrets to building a long-lasting journey in triathlon.
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