by Mary Jimenez

This feature is a continuation of the USAT Age Group Nationals coverage in the November 2003 issue of Runner Triathlete News. For a complete recap of the race plus results and lots of photos, pick up a copy of the November issue of Runner Triathlete News. Subscribe to RTN today!

Writing a race story is tough. I never seem to say what I really saw or felt. There is always so much more going on then who won or what times were recorded. At the 2003 USA Triathlon Age- Group Nationals held in Shreveport, Louisiana I talked to racers from all over the U.S.

As I stood at the finish line and listened to Tim Yount, Deputy Director of USA Triathlon and the announcer for the race, call out finishers, Marilyn Benkelman, 50, crossed the line and Yount congratulated the athlete who as dealt with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis throughout her racing career. I followed the perky, lean, and smiling triathletes to a shady spot.

"I was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 5," said Benkelman, whose father Bernie Crimmins, coached football at Notre Dame and Purdue. "My dad put me into swimming and dance team - anything to keep my joints moving. He (my father) was really my inspiration. I was never supposed to run."

Benkelman was pushed to challenge herself with the encouragement of her All-American father and during her years as captain of the rowing team at Notre Dame, Benkelman begin to run.

"Running was part of the training," she said, "So it just peer pressure. I wanted to belong."

There is a lot of pain involved with the disease and Benkelman has almost completely stopped running outside of competition and instead compensates with speed on the bike. Living in North Palm Beach, Florida, where overall winner John Reback lives, has helped that process.

"John took my bike from nothing to what it is today," said Benkelman, who posted a 1:05 and change for the 40K at Nationals. Her best time for a 40K is near a 1:02. "I ride with some amazing guys and it just pushes me."

There's not much chance of Benkelman quitting the sport anytime soon, regardless of the pain. The reason, she says, is not only the pride of being a member of the US Team for 10 years but the social aspect.

"I have three children and a wonderful husband, but you have to find a balance in life and find something you really enjoy for yourself."

North Dakota really does have triathletes

Melanie Carvell, 42, a physical therapist from Bismark ran across the finish line for a time of 2:20:14, proving N.D. does have triathletes.

"There's not too many of us," said the mother of three. "If Dakotians want to go to any big races we usually have to travel a long distance, which is really our biggest battle."

Carvell came to the sport of triathlon by way of injury.

"I ran in college and a bad case of Achilles tendonitis got me riding and swimming as a way to keep training. I tried my first triathlon 20 years ago."

Seven US Teams later, Carvell still loves the sport.

"I won the bronze medal in my age group at the Worlds in Germany and that was great, but now that I think my best times are behind me the fun part is trying to get other people started in the sport."

As a mom and full time professional, Carvell says it's not always balanced like she would like.

"My seventeen year old son was up for homecoming king yesterday and I missed it. I was hoping he wouldn't get it so I wouldn't miss out, how bad is that," said Carvell with a reluctant admittance to being a little selfish. "He didn't get it." She smiled. "My children and my husband of all been so supportive, it's really been a blessing and this is my last race of the season."

If you're ever in N.D. you can find Carvell at Med Center One. Racing in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.

Age is a terrible thing to waste

Molly Hayes crossed a triathlon for the 127th time at Nationals. Closing in on 71 years old, Hayes found herself drawn to the sport at the age of 52.

"I'd run four marathons and I was getting kind of old and creaky. I like swimming and this sport was actually easier on my body," said the Bozeman, Montana bred triathletes, who works as a nurse with Alzheimer patients. "I've never been able to retire. Mainly because I love to do this and it takes a lot of money."

Hayes and her husband usually drive a camper to her races, but this trip she came funded by the Judy Flannery Memorial Fund, a triathlete who was killed by a drunk driver.

"I though of her during the race," Hayes said. "You think of everything when you race. But I applied for the funding because I really want to go to Portugal for the 2004 Worlds and low and behold they gave me the money."

Hayes runs seven miles a day (in the winter that includes wearing chains on her running shoes to prevent slipping on ice), cycles about 15 miles a day with her husband and with asthma that's aggravated in the water, she generally saves the swimming for competition.

There's no question in Hayes mind that staying physically active is great for the aging population.

"It's good for an old mind; you have to figure a lot of things out in transition and how to pace your body. It's not easy," admits Hayes. "In the morning I'm so stiff, but you just start moving around and stretching. I also take glucosomine (good for the joints) and take supplements."

With three women in the 70+ category, Hayes wasn't too worried about her times, just happy that she's still moving her body..

"Fresh oxygen to the brain," said Hayes with a smile.