When Ayana Ball-Griffe crossed the finish line of the first triathlon she’d ever run, she noticed an odd phenomenon – she was one of only two women of color running in the marathon.

That revelation left her determined to see changes and get more black women out exercising.
She came up with Sisters Tri-ing – as in triathlon.

“The purpose of Sisters Tri-ing is just to really encourage women of color to get healthy and fit” says Ayana.

Weight is a “heavy” issue for African-American women and the Center for Disease Control estimates nearly 80 percent of black women are either overweight or obese.

There can be several factors which may discourage women from putting in time at the gym. Among them are cost, time management and hair…yes, hair.

“You don’t want to get your hair done at the beauty shop and turn around and go sweat it out at the gym!” says Ayana.

Ayana takes that into consideration by offering hair stylists at her non-profit. She also has healthy eating classes and two personal trainers available for the women.

Many of the 90 local members also meet weekly to push each other physically and emotionally.

As one SistersTri-ing member puts it, “For me, it helps to have the encouragement and support and know that somebody is going through the same thing you are.”