There are many Gwinnett County women who display their strengths in different ways. Some are strong community leaders, while others are strong in a more literal since of the word.

But many of these women have something in common: they recently joined together as "Iron Girls." They proudly showcased what they were made of during the Aflac Iron Girl Triathlon – an event at Lake Lanier where local women compete in a third of a mile swim, an 18-mile bike ride and a three-mile run.

Local businesswomen Anna Smith and Nicole Coaker were just two of the Gwinnettians who rose to the challenge, joining in the event and showing everyone how much they wanted the title of "Iron Girl."

Anna Smith wasn't always this tough

Anna Smith hasn't always had a passion for working out. In fact, if you'd seen her several years ago, you'd probably consider her overweight.

Smith, who at the time was an economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, struggled all her life with her weight, body image issues and self-confidence.

"I tried all the diets and had a hate-hate relationship with exercise," she says. "My weight did skyrocket after college, marriage and work at the USDA. But I was a good student. I had overcome a lot of self-confidence issues and graduated with a master's degree from U.G.A."

It was during this time that Smith began to turn it all around. "I took charge and read everything I could get my hands on and educated myself about eating right and exercise. I cut through the myths to the facts and took control of my future health....Fitness became my favorite hobby and subject."

But in 2003, Smith experienced what could have been a potential set back – losing her mom to brain cancer.

"The 'life is short' lesson hit me hard, and I began to think about doing what I loved for a living," Smith says. "The risks were huge. My job was cushy, well paying...and boring. So losing Mom gave me the courage, and the best reason to get out there and risk it all to show others how they could turn their lives around."

It was then that she quite her job, became a certified personal trainer and started Revolution Training, a boot camp style personal training program designed for anyone and everyone that wants to get healthy.

She says the Iron Girl continues to mean a lot to women in Gwinnett. "For me it is a perfect way to celebrate how capable women are in the physical arena as well as business arena. Both take planning, persistence, grit, savvy, organization and a strong positive 'can do' attitude, so I think it signifies all that for women."

Nicole Coaker trains for five

Last year, Nicole Coaker planned to do something big before she turned 30 – enter a triathlon. This year, Coaker decided to raise the bar a bit and up that number to five triathlons, including Iron Girl.

Coaker plans her training schedule around her job at Formetco where she is the operations manager for the print and display division. Formetco is known as a company that promotes staying healthy with all employees, which is a good thing because Coaker trains everyday.

"Truly, my training doesn't affect my work all that much. I've been able to tailor my training schedule so that I swim over my lunch hour and bike/run after or before work, depending on the weather," Coaker says.

Coaker believes an event like Iron Girl is a great opportunity for women to take on the challenge of getting fit and healthy.

But the main reason to compete is equally as important. "Each race, I learn more about my ability to do anything, no matter what obstacles may get in my way. Nothing should separate you from participating and accomplishing your goals," she says. 

Fitness Tips for Busy Professionals

You don't have to train for a triathlon to get healthy. Here are some fitness tips for busy professionals:

• Get in a quality program and schedule it for yourself. You wont be perfect, but you must plan. "Failing to plan is planning to fail!"
• Find a buddy, team in training or accountability partner – this is invaluable.
• Manage the "little voice" and do your best everyday – even if it's only 20 minutes in the beginning.
• If you find yourself with extra time some days, and less on others, work out longer on the days you have more time to make up for those days that you didn't get to work out as long as you wanted to.
• Focus on progress, not perfection, you will go farther than you ever dreamed. Perfectionists just set themselves up to fail because there are no perfect people.

Source: Revolution Training

Triathlon Statistics:

• 54 percent of triathlon fans are between the ages of 16 and 34
• 57 percent of triathlon households earn more than $43,000 annually
• 47 percent of triathlon fans are university educated
• 63 percent of triathlon fans have no dependants and a high disposable income
• 75 percent of triathlon fans are either white-collar workers or blue-collar managers.
• 77 percent of triathlon fans are active sport participants
• The majority owns their own home and car
• Most are computer and Internet savvy

Statistics courtesy of 2000 Sydney World Cup organizing committee. (Source: www.triathlon.org)

For tips on training for an event, visit www.beginnertriathlete.com.