Women Who Tri: A Reluctant Athlete's Journey into the Heart of America's Newest Obsession: A Reluctant Athlete's Journey Into the Heart of America's Newest Obsession

by Alicia DiFabio

What would you do if half your town caught triathlon mania?

If you’re like Alicia DiFabioa minivan-driving, harried mother of four small children whose daily look features stained yoga pants, a messy ponytail, and a big diaper bagyou would shrug your shoulders and try to hold on for that after-bedtime glass of wine. It was to her utter surprise that this middle-aged, out-of-shape mother found herself on the starting line of a triathlon.

In Women Who Tri , DiFabio explores the triathlon phenomenon that has gripped her town and swept the nation.

Her memoir is both inspiring and informative as it explores the popularity, psychology, subculture, and transformative power of triathlons among "ordinary" women. Set in a small New Jersey town that now hosts America’s largest women-only triathlon club, Women Who Tri weaves together the insights of a psychologist, the research of a journalist, and the deep insecurities of a daunted newbie.

DiFabio shares her journey from nervous newcomer to triathlon finisher as she investigates one of the world’s most challenging and inspiring sports. She profiles women who have overcome challenges to become athletes and tri for themselves and to help others. Women Who Tri will entertain, enlighten, and inspire any triathlon enthusiast, from tri-addicts to the tri-curious.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Memoir, Fitness

216 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2017

About the author

Alicia is an author and writer with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Her first book, Women Who Tri, hit #1 on Amazon's Hot New Release list and was listed as a "Best Triathlon Book of 2018" by Tri-Daily News. As a freelance writer, her work has appeared in various magazines, literary journals, newspapers and popular websites. She has been a Content Coordinator for a local publication since 2019.

Alicia is the mother of four girls (one of whom has multiple and severe special needs), and a proud member of the Mullica Hill Women's Tri Club - the nation's largest all-female triathlon club. She serves on two local non-profit boards and is an active volunteer with a local food pantry. Alicia is also a breast cancer survivor, and received the 2017 Cancer Hero Volunteer Award from Hearts United Against Cancer.

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected

I’m no seasoned triathlete but I have completed two 70.3s and I do not feel like I’m the target audience for this book. I thought it would be more of an inspirational book no matter what the reader’s experience level. Instead there was a lot of focus on the basics for those who are new to the sport. There was also a lot of statistics about the sport which was also not what I was looking for. Although the book is probably very useful for a certain audience I didn’t get much out of it.

[Kori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really inspiring. It certainly encouraged me to remove the nerves and fear from my training, but I felt it could've been a little bit shorter. I wished it had focused more on training and the difficulties that people face through that process rather than solely on those who have accomplished great things and broken through incredible barriers.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlikely many memoirists describing their first triathlon, especially women, Difabio refreshingly does not take herself too seriously. For her, completing a triathlon is not a life-defining moment, but a way to understand the fad that has swept her hometown and a necessary step to writing this book. I really appreciated that she was up-front about doing the triathlon in part to support the book, rather than acting as if the book organically appeared at some point.

Difabio alternates between telling her own triathlon story, sharing the history of triathlon and women's endurance sports, and profiling a number of inspirational triathletes. While I enjoyed the profiles, nearly every one featured someone battling some kind of illness or physical impairment. I would have liked to also read about some average, healthy people who achieved some level of greatness in triathlon.

[Juhi Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! This book maps the journey of an average, everyday woman and how she pursues her goal to finish a triathlon. This is neither a training book nor a guide to do triathlons. I love how casual and funny the author is about her experience. It is refreshing to see an author not take her too seriously, but still instill a sense of pride and joy in the reader about her accomplishments. Most of us are not planning to be trained athletes, but want to know that we can achieve any reasonable goal that we set our heart on, if we tri. Some of the quotes from the book were hilarious, some inspiring. You can find the entire list , and I've made a list of them here: https://www.singhjuhi.com/women_who_tri/

Overall, a wholesome book that I plan to add to my book collection soon :)

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this was my first completed book of 2019 as I have a big triathlon goal this year...completing an Olympic Distance tri. I am so fortunate to have found a tribe of women who support and uplift each other as we strive towards and accomplish our own tri goals. This book clearly describes the love I have for triathlons, the sense of confidence and inner strength that comes with crossing the finish line, and the friendships I have formed along the way that keep me “tri”ing for more!

4 stars instead of 5 because I wanted more variety in the women’s profiles featured in this book.

[Julie K · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much more than a book about "How to do a Triathlon." This is a book about being a woman and finding yourself through a passion in which case it just happens to be triathlons (well, maybe not so much for Dr. DiFabio). Loved the tone of the book -- I laughed, I cried. The stories were inspirational. I haven't gone out and registered for a tri yet but I just might... Recommend this book for any woman whether a triathlete, athlete, or nothing in between.

[Colette Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. It was well-written, but I found it to be chock full of stories of women who "tri" that were more scary than inspirational. I started glossing through the stories of injuries, fears, and diagnoses of horrible diseases as they were not helpful to me. I would have preferred a much more prescriptive book.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to see this book on my library's new bookshelf. I love the cover. It took me awhile to finish. I found this book boring. It was a bit confusing as it just wasn't about Alicia Difabio's journey in triathlon but a collection of women's stories.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was meh but I'm slightly more inspired to do a triathlon.

[Tamie Gangloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sad when I closed this book tonight because I loved every moment of reading this. I laughed out loud and was moved to tears. Alicia describes what we all love about women supporting women and how we truly rise by lifting others. Triathlon and those women in pink have changed my life and the intangible magic of Mullica Hill Women's Tri Club is throughout this book. This book is not only for triathletes but for anyone who has had struggles and overcome them. I am inspired by the stories of many women and Tri clubs and the triumph of overcoming. Women Who Tri reminds us that we are never in this alone.

[Izabela K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book is like going for a run with that annoying friend who always said running is not for her and she’d just complain about it the whole time running. But in breaks she’d also give you some basic information, all of the ways you can get injured and then suddenly talk about some friend of a friend who finished triathlon after surviving cancer.
Cancer is a big topic in this book.

Overall, it’s a well written book, but I wouldn’t recommend it to a triathlon friend, not any sports fan to begin with.
It feels like Alicia wrote it for anybody like her, some 45+ moms who are in need of finding themselves.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book awhile ago but the copy I had from the library was missing 100 pages. When I returned it, I let them know, and the other day I saw they had replaced their copy.

This book chronicles the author’s triathlon journey with smatterings of Information about doing triathlon and other women’s stories, as well. I felt like it was trying to do too much and that diminished the impact of her story.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating hybridization of memoir and sports history, Women Who Tri could serve as an inspiration to the novice at any sport. The author embraces the reader in both the history of the sport and her own relationship to the sport. Clever anecdotes and vivid imagery help keep the reader grounded on the edge of their seat.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most inspirational books I have ever read. Had moments where I was laughing, and some where I was crying. Does not matter if you are a triathlete, thinking about doing a triathlon, or want nothing to do with the sport, this book will leave you with a drive to improve your life and make a difference in the world...even if it is just to 1 person. Will be rereading this one for sure.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational stories of how a woman came to decide to take on triathlons. Stories of other women too are within these pages. Hoping this will give me the motivation to get out of my own personal slump and get back into running on a regular basis again. Hopefully someday a triathlon of my own will be within reach.

[Spook Sulek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good. Well written, doesn't go overboard into the world of Triathalon, provides a good overall picture of the sport and phenomenon as well as those who partake. Not sure if I'd read it again, but I'm glad I picked it up in the first place.

[Gina Larson-stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and well-written look at the culture and history of tri. At times the author can be repetitive, but it's hard not to get inspired by the individual stories of women overcoming huge obstacles to do a hard sport.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice, light read, which was exactly what I needed after A Little Life. Some of the stories, particularly the profiles, seemed repetitive and generic, but I enjoyed it overall. The early history section of the book was truly what I found the most interesting.

[Terri Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Inspiring

This is such an inspiring book! I really liked the profiles of other athletes intertwined with the stories. It appeals to everyone and gives you courage to try (tri) new things!

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has some good, funny parts.
It’s a mix of a memoir & “how-to” guide for triathlon, with added stories of women who have overcome illness/disability/etc and completed a tri.
A lot of random famous quotes added in, which broke up the book in a bad way.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it had all sorts of different stories of women’s journeys to tris whether that was people who were really successful, people who competed despite illness or disability, or just normal, everyday people.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amusing and inspiring book that I highly recommend for those beginner triathletes and any woman who wonders if she could be a triathlete.

[Kelsey Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. Not only are the stories unbelievable, but her writing is engaging and witty. Maybe when the husband is released from being bishop, we'll start training for a triathlon.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Motivating. Got a bit redundant but a good read for anyone who needs motivation to "tri" something that scres tehm.

[E Oxford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprehensive and informative. The vignettes from women who tri, and why is the most compelling part of the book.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

One-third inspiration porn, one-third self-deprecating wine mom banter, and one-third cheesy and seemingly haphazardly chosen quotes.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good introduction into training for a triathlon, especially for someone who is not necessarily the most athletic person.

[Claire Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it!

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being that I won't ever be in these people's shoes, I enjoyed it for what it was.