For Wichita triathlete, starting competition at age 50 has had its benefits

Are you still going through Olympics withdrawal? You’re not alone. I watched every chance I got and was continually amazed regardless of the sport. The athletes couldn’t hear through the TV but that didn’t mean we weren’t cheering them on loudly.

It was great seeing the women getting as much attention as the men. And those of us past the age of 50 rolled our eyes when the commentators talked about athletes past the age of 30 being “older” than most members on the team.

You can bet someone who scoffed the most was Wichitan Karlene Ivy, 67, who can cover her dining room table and then some with medals she has won in more than 100 races. Yes, she is 67.

The 5-feet 1-inch, 110 pounder has traveled the globe to compete including the World Ironman in Kona, Hawaii, where she placed 8th. Now she is training with her coach and trainer, Sharyn Carder, for a run up Pikes Peak in October and a half Ironman in New Zealand in December.

Some people at age 50 are shopping for a recliner to sit and watch athletes on TV, but Karlene started competing at age 50. And let me tell you, she displays more energy just talking about races than most would exert in a 50-yard dash.

She has competed in a total of 102 races. Among those are eight full Ironman competitions, 21 half Ironman competitions, four of which were world championships. Other races, 5-K and 10-K sprints and triathlons makeup the rest.

Let’s remember a full Ironman competition is swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running a marathon, which is 26.2 miles. All in one day.

A half Ironman is all three of those activities but half the distances. “I didn’t learn to swim until I was 50 years old but I had to learn because I wanted to be a triathlete,” she said laughing.

“I love it! I always place in my age group,” she said. Will she keep on keepin’ on? “Oh God yes!” she said, adding while laughing, “I’m going to outlive everyone!”

Working out six days a week and sometimes twice a day keeps her busy, but she makes time for her son Cody and his wife, Laynie, and five grandchildren, ages two to 12. Not to mention four stepchildren, eight step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and six foster children.

Karlene also finds time to help her sister, Dana Ehrmann, who is a pet groomer in Derby. “Yep, I stay busy, keeps me out of trouble,” she said. From another room, Virgil, her husband of 29 years, said, “Not always.”

It’s not surprising many triathletes have joint pain, but except for one knee that aches sometimes Karlene has no complaints. “I’m so lucky, I think I don’t have much trouble physically is because I started when I was older,” Karlene said.

“It’s never too late. I believe motion is lotion,” she said explaining that joints have to be lubricated and if you keep moving it helps. “Just like lotion lubricates the skin,” she said.

After interviewing such an exuberant, joyful person for an hour I smiled all the way home and being somewhat inspired decided to take a walk when I got there.

After all, motion is lotion.