It's not as if traditional chores (cooking, cleaning and laundering) have been cast aside.

Only now, a sizable contingent of area women are wedging swimming, cycling and foot racing into their already hectic to-do lists.

It's time to introduce the TRIgirls, easily spotted at triathlon competitions in their hot-pink gear.

"We're serious athletes but also very feminine and well-rounded," said Grandison Burnside, TRIgirls founder/coach. "That's why we chose pink -- to show our diversity."

Come one, come all: There are 120 TRIgirls, ages 25 to 60-something. They vary from trail-toughened veterans just back from Ironman Brazil to beginners like Amy Godkin.

A mother of two and fundraiser for an area pediatric group, Godkin debuted as a triathlete at the Shady Grove YMCA PowerSprint on Sunday.

"When I started, I couldn't swim 50 meters without gasping for breath or run a mile . . . and I didn't own a bike," Godkin said.

For her 40th birthday, husband Todd Godkin presented his adventurous wife with the gift of pedal power -- a racing bike.

Godkin was among a group of 32 TRIgirls (25 first-timers) swimming 300 meters, cycling 20 kilometers and running five kilometers at the Shady Grove "sprint."

Next up on the 12-event, TRIgirls schedule is the Tavern Sprint on June 29 along the James River downtown.

Working women: To gain perspective on just who these "pink ladies" are, here's a peek at recent TRIgirl of the month winners:

Diane Schnupp, IT consultant; Jackie Rice, computer programmer; Kathleen Martin, lawyer; Susie Fazzio, customer service manager; Carrie Mayrhofer, pediatric occupational therapist; Kate Bott, fourth-grade teacher.

"We've got it all, from women who've never been athletes their entire lives, to former collegiate athletes, marathoners and Ironman veterans," said Burnside, a mother of three and a former English teacher at Salem Middle School.

Let's sweat: The TRIgirls, based out of Maramarc Fitness, train three nights a week, with swimming at University of Richmond, running at UR and Byrd Park and cycling all over on roadways.

Then there are what Burnside calls "philanthropic/fun things," like raising funds for Safe Harbor Women's Shelter.

Burnside suspects there is a competitive athlete somewhere in every woman, longing to be released.

"Most just need someone to get them started . . . to motivate them," she said.