WTF?
Do these guys even finish?
Probably.
The oldest woman to finish so far was 76.
Is Frank Farrar doing Kona this year? I think he’s 76 or so…
Frank did Madison this year, and came in with about four minutes to spare. The announcer said he was 78.
Bob Scott is in that age group. He finished last year’s race under 16 hours. I took a couple of tri classes at the Y with him a couple years back. His Chicago Tri time was 2 hr 50 min this year. His bike average was over 21!
He’s the one who inspires me most in the sport of Triathon.
Sister Madonna Buder is 77 this year and now has competition in the women’s 75-79 AG 
.
Yes but from what I have seen of her this year she is in fine form:
IM Canada 2007 result…
2407 16:40:29
BUDER MADONNA W75+ 1/1
I was wondering, and thought for sure I heard of a guy in his early 80’s competing at Kona, But didn’t finish that year? It was very windy? Maybe I imagined it?
The had to finish somewhere to qualify.
I was wondering, and thought for sure I heard of a guy in his early 80’s competing at Kona, But didn’t finish that year? It was very windy? Maybe I imagined it?
That would have been Norton Davie at 82 years old. That was the year(2002) with 10-12 foot swells and strong winds and incredible heat, so it took it’s toll on him. I talked with him at length, and I’ve never met a more energetic and wonderful man. Sadlt, he died a couple of years later from cancer. A true loss, but I was honored to have had him touch my life.
Thanks for the news…I am saddened to hear about him. I new that year at Kona was a very very tough race which is why he dropped out.
I think these people in their 70’s/80’s are to be admired for what they accomplish.
Thanks for the news…I am saddened to hear about him. I new that year at Kona was a very very tough race which is why he dropped out.
I think these people in their 70’s/80’s are to be admired for what they accomplish.
You’re very welcome. I found that the 70+ year old athletes I’ve met there have been the most interesting, humble, and gentle driven souls I met, having only the love of the sport at heart. True warriors doing the sport after very successful business lives. They found the fountain of youth in triathlon.
WTF?
Do these guys even finish?
Yeah, and they do often finish.
More power to them. If I’m alive and mobile at that age, I hope I’m able to do an IM.
Robert McKeague was featured two years ago on the Kona broadcast when he finished Kona at age 80.
I’m not having a go at them doing it as I know they still need to qualify but the heat in Kona makes it so much harder.
I hope I am still able to toe the start line when I am in my 70’s.
Good luck to all oldies on the weekend racing in Kona.
Here was a little blurb about one of my older heroes…so yeah, these old guys “finish”:
In WWII, James R. Ward was recruited from the parachute infantry by the OSS because of his proficiency in foreign languages. The OSS assigned him to Detachment 101 in Burma, where he commanded the Kachin and other ethnic guerrilla forces in combat for more than 13 months. Later, as a reserve officer, he had active duty tours with the 10th, 7th, 3rd, and 6th Special Forces Groups, which he claims would have killed him if he were not in good physical shape. Staying in shape since has enabled him to win national and world triathlon championships in his age group and become, at age 75, the oldest finisher of the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. James R. Ward passed away in September 2000, while training for his next Ironman Triathlon. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
I was at IM Cali (when it was a full IM) when Bill Bell became the oldest person (at that time) to officially finish an Ironman. They gave him a special award at the banquet…“this buds for you”…a case of bud longnecks. I still remember his speech and the accompanying standing ovation. He talked about when he attempted to join the army during the world war and was dropped by the doctor for having a “weak heart”. Bill then said “I’d like to meet that son of a bitch today”!
I found that the 70+ year old athletes I’ve met there have been the most interesting, humble, and gentle driven souls I met, having only the love of the sport at heart. True warriors doing the sport after very successful business lives. They found the fountain of youth in triathlon.
Very well stated !
I am awestruck everytime I see them. I cannot fathom attempting the race at that age.
In 05’ I got my post race massage at the tent by an old gent who had been a physio therapist , since the early 1960’s. He was 72 and told me some of the funniest ,most interesting stories of Kona I have ever read or heard.
I cannot recall if he ever raced , but a really interesting man !
Last year, my wife & I were sitting out at Lava Java couple days before the race. My wife says that guy with the race bracelet and his family look familiar over there. Then they got up & left. A few minutes later, she thought maybe she had seen them at a big family reunion the year prior. So we get back to the condo later and she goes through every name in the athlete guide to see if any of them ring a bell. Sure enough, she recognizes the name Farrar. Then she called the King Kam hotel & asks if that family is staying there and sure enough they are. So she was able to get in touch with them and verify that they are related. Unfortunately, we were all so busy we never got to meet in person while we were there.
I called him when we were back on the mainland & introduced myself. I found him to be a very genuine & nice guy. As an aside, he is a former state Governor (South Dakota?), and has also survived like 4 or 5 plane crashes. How many guys can add that to their resume?
So go, Frank, GO!!!