On June 8 approximately 3,000 women will take part in the 19th annual Danskin Triathlon.

The Danskin is a 5K run, a one-half mile open water swim, and a 12 mile bike ride. It will take place at Walter E. Long Park at Decker Lake.

Tri Zones Training coach Colleen Quindlen said the journey is long.

"It's a huge commitment," she said.

Hours of running, biking and swimming must be logged on top of already busy schedules.

"It amazes me how women are able to work it in their schedule,"
she said.

While some women train alone, others choose to train with a group.

Tri Zones Training is helping approximately 250 women reach the finish line with a 10-week training program.

Quindlen is coaching the south team. Some women prefer structured training, she said.

"It's nice to look at a sheet and know what to do. You don't have to think about what you are going to do," Quindlen said

The group of women is comprised of mothers and wives, career women, single moms, and cancer survivors. Some are in their early 20s while others are over 60.

Some women are veterans like Jeanine Traag. Traag is aspiring to improve her time.

"My goal is to do a triathlon in two hours instead of three," she said.

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"I'm getting a little older so I want to see how far I can go," Mathys said.

Regardless of training history, age, or background, all the women want to cross the same finish line.

As of Sunday, April 20, that finish line is seven weeks away.

Throughout the next few weeks Veronica Castelo will introduce us to some of the women taking on this challenge.

Next Sunday you'll hear how training is helping one woman cope
with her husband being in Iraq.