Iron Girl Triathlon at Lake Lanier

Things to Do

Photos of some of the Iron Girl Triathlon competitors.

About 750 women will be competing in the Iron Girl Triathlon. For some the event is more than a race. This is their story. Anna Smith is a personal trainer competing in her first triathlon.

Her life changed five years ago when her mom died at 55. "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," Smith said.

Since March, Smith has been training 30 to 60 minutes four days per week.

Nicole Coaker, of Snellville, is an operations manager at Formetco, an outdoor billboard company.

She trains five days per week and often swims during lunch.

Coaker turned 30 last October and did the Emerald Pointe Triathlon, also in Lake Lanier. "I wanted to do something big before turning 30. And I've kind of caught the bug. It's an addictive sport."

After Pamela Monastra's marriage ended and her brother-and-law was hit by a car, Pamela felt like she had lost her independence and identity. She's competing in her first triathlon. "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."

Annett Garcia, 28, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her early 20s. "I want to inspire other people that even though you have a disability, you can achieve."

Ali Brannon, 31, is a manager of production and planning for NCR Retail Business Solutions.

Ali Brannon and her daughter Mary Kiley, 7. Brannon wants her daughter "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," Brannon said.

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About 750 women will be competing in the Iron Girl Triathlon. For some the event is more than a race. This is their story. Anna Smith is a personal trainer competing in her first triathlon.

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