New Twists on Triathlons

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The two veteran athletes are hosting Michigan’s first triathlon for women, “She Rocks!,” on June 28 at Big Portage Lake—and an offbeat adventure race called the “Battle of Waterloo” on August 16.

In many triathlons, McKeachie says, some women can get lost in the pack. Others don’t even enter because they feel intimidated racing against men. She and Solomon hope “She Rocks!” will attract those women, and others who might have found the demanding races too intimidating as well. “She Rocks!” will offer an optional shorter route for beginners and a duathlon, with biking and running but no swimming.

“We’re doing our best to make it fun and not stressful,” says Solomon. “We want to alleviate as many fears as possible for these women.” It seems to be working. At a recent training class, a group of women from Detroit showed up—none of whom had ever competed in a triathlon before.

Both Solomon and McKeachie are serious athletes. McKeachie, fifty-six, is a lifelong runner who did her first triathlon when she was twenty-nine. She’s competed in nine Ironmans—basically triathlons on steroids—and once placed an impressive eighth. She has five world titles and nine national age-group titles in triathlons and duathlons. Her business, Women in Motion, helps women reach their fitness goals.