76-year-old far from running on empty
By Tim Gallagher, Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Dr. Wayne Marty of Le Mars, Iowa, finishes the second annual Le Mars Sprint Triathlon Saturday in Le Mars, Iowa. Marty, 76, finished second in his age category, just behind his brother, Carroll Marty, who is 73. (Photo submitted)
LE MARS, Iowa -- Wayne Marty laughed and said he was disgusted with himself for inviting his brother to run, swim and cycle with him at the second annual Le Mars Sprint Triathlon Saturday.
Why? "He beat me," he said, chuckling. "But he should have. He's younger."
Carroll Marty of Ames, Iowa, is 73. Wayne Marty of Le Mars is 76. The younger Marty toured the course in 1 hour, 37 minutes and 50 seconds. The elder Marty took 1 hour, 41 minutes and 29 seconds.
The race featured a 300-meter swim, an 11-mile bike ride and a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) run.
I know 70-somethings who have a hard time getting to the kitchen and back. These guys swim, run and cycle all over Plymouth County. And all before noon!
"When Dr. Marty (he was a biology professor at Westmar College for 35 years) finished last year in our first triathlon, it gave me goose bumps," said Angela Loutsch, the aquatic director at the Le Mars YMCA and the organizer of this event.
Marty had such a good time a year ago, he decided to invite family members to join him in the 2008 race. His daughter Lynnae Hentzen and her husband Rob Hentzen of West Des Moines, Iowa, made the trip and competed Saturday. Lynnae, 49, finished just ahead of her uncle and father. Rob was 10th overall out of 154 competitors.
The race attracted 40 more athletes than last year. And this year they came from six states: Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas and Missouri.
Next year, there should be even more. Wayne Marty said his grandson, Stijn Hentzen is a freshman at Valley High School in West Des Moines and is running on the high school cross country squad. He'll be 15 by this time next year, old enough to qualify for the triathlon in the Ice Cream Capital of the World.
"If I'm still around, we may try to have three generations from the same family running," said Marty.
What does he mean, if he's still around? The man has no heart trouble, back issues or knee pain. (Some might wonder if a triathlete at 76 needs his head examined, though.)
Marty celebrated his showing Saturday by taking it easy the following day. He biked, but only a short distance. He hopped on the cycle Monday morning and trekked downtown to listen to congressional candidate Rob Hubler deliver a talk.
"For many years I've had a rule: I never do it two days in a row," said Marty, who came to Westmar in 1959. "I always train every other day or less. I think you need the time to heal."
By my calendar, he's got about 362 days.
Sheldon to leave Lakes?
The school board serving the Sheldon Community School District may decide to stay in the Lakes Conference, or it may apply for admission to the Siouxland Conference.
A move from the Lakes to the Siouxland could allow Sheldon to save on transportation costs. Gone will be regular trips to Storm Lake and Emmetsburg, replaced by conference visits to nearby Orange City, Hull and Rock Valley.
An application by the school would need approval from members of the Siouxland league.
The Sheldon school board meets at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the high school library.
Winners
Darin Wadley from Vermillion, S.D., won the men's division in 58 minutes, 18 seconds. He edged 17-year-old Jourdan Clark of Fremont, Neb., by two seconds.
Mary Kummerfeld of Orange City, Iowa, won the women's division in 1:04.02.
Why? "He beat me," he said, chuckling. "But he should have. He's younger."
Carroll Marty of Ames, Iowa, is 73. Wayne Marty of Le Mars is 76. The younger Marty toured the course in 1 hour, 37 minutes and 50 seconds. The elder Marty took 1 hour, 41 minutes and 29 seconds.
The race featured a 300-meter swim, an 11-mile bike ride and a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) run.
I know 70-somethings who have a hard time getting to the kitchen and back. These guys swim, run and cycle all over Plymouth County. And all before noon!
"When Dr. Marty (he was a biology professor at Westmar College for 35 years) finished last year in our first triathlon, it gave me goose bumps," said Angela Loutsch, the aquatic director at the Le Mars YMCA and the organizer of this event.
Marty had such a good time a year ago, he decided to invite family members to join him in the 2008 race. His daughter Lynnae Hentzen and her husband Rob Hentzen of West Des Moines, Iowa, made the trip and competed Saturday. Lynnae, 49, finished just ahead of her uncle and father. Rob was 10th overall out of 154 competitors.
The race attracted 40 more athletes than last year. And this year they came from six states: Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas and Missouri.
Next year, there should be even more. Wayne Marty said his grandson, Stijn Hentzen is a freshman at Valley High School in West Des Moines and is running on the high school cross country squad. He'll be 15 by this time next year, old enough to qualify for the triathlon in the Ice Cream Capital of the World.
"If I'm still around, we may try to have three generations from the same family running," said Marty.
What does he mean, if he's still around? The man has no heart trouble, back issues or knee pain. (Some might wonder if a triathlete at 76 needs his head examined, though.)
Marty celebrated his showing Saturday by taking it easy the following day. He biked, but only a short distance. He hopped on the cycle Monday morning and trekked downtown to listen to congressional candidate Rob Hubler deliver a talk.
"For many years I've had a rule: I never do it two days in a row," said Marty, who came to Westmar in 1959. "I always train every other day or less. I think you need the time to heal."
By my calendar, he's got about 362 days.
Sheldon to leave Lakes?
The school board serving the Sheldon Community School District may decide to stay in the Lakes Conference, or it may apply for admission to the Siouxland Conference.
A move from the Lakes to the Siouxland could allow Sheldon to save on transportation costs. Gone will be regular trips to Storm Lake and Emmetsburg, replaced by conference visits to nearby Orange City, Hull and Rock Valley.
An application by the school would need approval from members of the Siouxland league.
The Sheldon school board meets at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the high school library.
Winners
Darin Wadley from Vermillion, S.D., won the men's division in 58 minutes, 18 seconds. He edged 17-year-old Jourdan Clark of Fremont, Neb., by two seconds.
Mary Kummerfeld of Orange City, Iowa, won the women's division in 1:04.02.
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