April 12, 2007
-- Press Release: Canadian author Lisa Lynam aims to inspire every woman – no matter their fitness level – to say yes to triathlon with her new book Triathlon for Women - A Mind-Body-Spirit Approach for Female Athletes. Lynam guides, educates and inspires women to get moving, get training, get involved and get balanced one step at a time.
In her introduction Lynam writes, “Any woman – regardless of age, color, size, or ability – whether she is an athlete or not, can embark on this three-sport journey and become empowered as the special woman she is.”
Lynam will be in Phoenix this weekend for Ironman Arizona for two book signings on Friday at Scottsdale’s Tribe Multisport store for a special women’s triathlon celebration from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday at the Ironman Arizona Athlete’s Village Inside-Out Sports store from 9-5 p.m. with an appearance from six-time Ironman World Age Group Champion Cherie Gruenfeld expected on Saturday at noon. Books will be on sale for $16.95
While struggling to write her first book, Lynam, an under-40 author, asked Gruenfeld to help her get to the project finish line and to lend a veteran voice to the 200-page full color edition. Gruenfeld agreed to write the final chapter and drew on her 20 years of experience to further emphasize Lynam’s message to encourage women to make the leap into the triathlon arena.
The book includes many inspiring stories of women like Tucson’s Karin Bivens, who competed at last year’s World Ironman Championships in the 60-64 age group along with her husband Rodger, and who is also expected to appear at the book signing at the Ironman Arizona Athlete’s Village on Saturday.
Fittingly, Gruenfeld’s support highlights one of the aspects that draws women together so strongly in the sport – a healthy sense of camaraderie where women not only cheer each other, but will run alongside or even hold hands together victoriously across the line. Lynam’s book emphasizes how more and more women are discovering the fitness and fellowship benefits of triathlon -- over 35% of USA Triathlon’s membership are women and even the Ironman distance races like this weekend’s race in Tempe now regularly attract fields that are 25-30% women participants.
Gruenfeld will travel this week from her residence in Cathedral City, California to compete in the Ironman Arizona in the 60-64 age group and qualify for the Ford World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii in October, 2007.
Lynam is excited to have some of the sport's most respected women join her to promote the book. It will be her first trip to Arizona.
“The weekend’s adventure is so representative of the fulfillment the sport has offered me beyond the rewards of 140.6 miles of swimming, biking and running. I will visit a new state, re-unite with many friends from around the country and support them on race day, while also having the opportunity to share signed copies of my book that will encourage, inspire and inform women at every level about the holistic benefits of the sport. The joy that comes from the friendships and making a difference in the lives of thousands of women is what inspires me to keep tri-ing.”
Lisa Lynam, B.Sc, M.A., MBA, is a nine-time Ironman finisher and USAT Level 2 Triathlon coach. She has been directing women’s triathlon clinics for 10 years and coaching triathletes for 9 years, helping first timers or veterans succeed in completing or competing in short sprint to Ironman triathlons.
Lynam wrote Triathlon for Women as a result of her decade of experience coaching and mentoring hundreds of women in swimming, biking and running. The book includes aspects of fitness and skill development, smart nutrition choices, strength training, race planning, and mental aspects, but also goes beyond the theories and science with a more thorough mind-body-spirit approach that raises the interests and enjoyment of all women who seek fulfilling triathlon lives.
“I consider the accomplishment of completing this book equal to, or beyond, any Ironman triathlon I’ve completed.”
As a writer with 13 years experience in triathlon publications, Lynam has been a past contributor to both Triathlete Magazine and Inside Triathlon, as well Ironman.com and Irongirl.com more recently. From 2001-2003, she founded and directed the MultiSportswomen Series in Austin, Texas, which included women's only running, cycling and adventure events.