About 750 women will swim, bike and run a total of 21-plus miles in the Iron Girl (sprint) Triathlon at Lake Lanier Sunday. An impressive feat for anyone. But for some, reaching the finish line is about more than proving physical prowess. It's about getting life back on track. Here is a closer look at five Georgia athletes and their reason behind participation:

Kimberly Smith / AJC (ENLARGE)

Nicole Coaker, of Snellville, trains by swimming laps at the Gwinnett Aquatic Center in Norcross.

Vino Wong / AJC (ENLARGE)

Anna Smith is a personal trainer and owner of Revolution Fitness.

Picasa 2.7 (ENLARGE)

Ali Brannon will compete in her first triathlon.

• More Photos Aflac Iron Girl Triathlon What is it: A sprint, women-only triathlon is one-third mile swim, 18-mile bike and three-mile run. A traditional sprint distance is one-half mile swim, 12.4-mile bike and 3.1-mile run. Olympic distance is just under one mile swim, 24.8-mile bike and 6.2-mile run. The full Iron Man is 2.4-mile swim, 112 mile bike and a marathon. When: 7 a.m., Sunday Where: Lake Lanier Islands Resort For more information: Go to irongirl.com. LIVING Latest Headlines: Georgia Aquarium to welcome 10 millionth visitor  Aquarium adds 4 sandbar sharks to exhibit  Cellphones serve as '$300 baby rattle'  Athens ranked among best places to live  Jobless Atlantans stay busy volunteering  • More Living Stories • Living photo galleries • Georgia Aquarium news and photos • Zoo Atlanta news and photos

Ali Brannon, 31, married with two kids, works as a manager of production and planning for NCR Retail Business Solutions.

Lives in: Cumming

Experience: First triathlon

Life changing event: Mother to a 7-year-old girl, she wanted to be a good role model about being active and healthy.

Her words: "Body appearance is such an obsessive focus for girls and women these days, I thought this is a good way for my daughter to see me live a healthy lifestyle and take the focus off the way you look and have it be more about good health."

Biggest challenge: "Working full-time and having two kids and a husband, it's been challenging, but it has not held me back. I've had to work out on my lunch hour or at the gym after the kids go to bed."

Training schedule: Started in February. 45 minutes of cardio three to four days a week. Recently added biking 10 to 15 miles, five days a week.

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Nicole Coaker, 30, operations manager at Formetco, an outdoor billboard company

Lives in: Snellville

Experience: Third triathlon

Life changing event: She turned 30 last October and did the Emerald Pointe Triathlon, also in Lake Lanier.

Her words: "I wanted to do something big before turning 30. And I've kind of caught the bug. It's an addictive sport."

Biggest challenge: Coaker said that race days have proved most challenging – and rewarding, too. During training, she said, stopping is an option between the three disciplines. "It's a different feeling on race day. You can't stop."

How she trained: Trains five days per week. Swims during lunch. And rides loops at Stone Mountain and either runs at Stone Mountain or around neighborhood. For her first, she started training eight months out.

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Annett Garcia, 28, married, works in the internal audit department at Aflac, sponsor of the event.

Lives in: Columbus

Experience: Second triathlon

Life changing event: Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her early 20s

Her words: "I want to inspire other people that even though you have a disability, you can achieve."

Biggest challenge: "I have to tell myself not to go too hard or it will bring on numbness or MS fatigue."

Training schedule: Started in February. Two hours of training per day, six days per week. One hour of weight training and walking in the morning. One hour of jogging at night. Swim and bike on the weekends.

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Pamela Monastra, 41, divorced, works as a director of marketing of Full Circle Productions.

Lives in: Duluth

Experience: First triathlon

Life changing event: After her marriage ended and her brother-and-law was hit by a car, Pamela felt like she had lost her independence and identity.

Her words: "For me, it's about getting control over my life. From being more courageous to having an outlet for stress, this is my journey. This is my story."

Biggest challenge: "I have not been in a pool swimming laps since the 8th grade."

How she trained: Started in April. 30 and 60 minutes of swimming, biking or cycling, alternating each exercise.

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Anna Smith, 33, married with a 2-year-old, works as a personal trainer and owns a fitness studio.

Lives in: Lawrenceville

Experience: First triathlon

Life changing event: Her mother died five years ago at the age of 55.

Her words: "I lost my mom to bad health choices and right before she got sick, I felt like I had all of this information to turn things around, but it was too late. I couldn't save my mom but I am not going to take my life for granted. I have the ability to make healthy choices and raise the bar and push myself."

Biggest challenge: "Time. With my studio and my job and my family, sometimes I don't have an hour to train. But if I've got 20 minutes, I'll do 20 minutes and give it all I can."

How she trained: Started in March.

30 to 60 minutes of one of three sporting events four times a week. In May, she started combining two of the components. Robert Haddocks and Mike Benzie contributed to this report.