Our Stories Archives * Senior Triathletes

Camping and Triathlon: Is It Worth It?

Terry L. VanderWert on June 5, 2026

Editor’s Note (June 2026): This article describes several of our experiences combining camping and triathlon. While we enjoyed many of these adventures, they also helped explain why Joy and I never became serious campers—a story I tell in the short video “Why We Never Became Campers.”

Over the years, Joy and I experimented with several ways to combine triathlon and camping. We tried tent camping, campgrounds near race venues, and even renting a motorhome. Some experiences were memorable. Others reminded us why we never became dedicated campers despite repeatedly giving it another try.

If you’re considering camping before a triathlon, here are a few lessons we learned along the way.

A Love-Hate Relationship

Growing up, I had a full range of camping experiences. My parents, my siblings, and I started with a tent, graduated to a pop-up trailer, and then to a pull-behind trailer. Actually, we camped in several pull-behind trailers, each longer than the previous one. I was fortunate to experience a lot of the USA during my youth in this way.

However, somewhere along the way, I fell out of love with camping. After marriage, Joy and I tried tent camping and camping from a conversion van with varying degrees of success. Allergies to tree pollen and almost guaranteed rain made camping a hit-or-miss experience.

But, I never gave up on camping completely.

Now, as I begin this post, I am sitting outside our rented RV in a KOA campground in northern Utah. It is 81°F with a light breeze blowing down the slopes of the Wasatch Mountains just to my east. Meanwhile, Joy, who came up with the idea for this latest run at camping, is sitting in the air-conditioned motor home.

Our Experiences Camping With a Triathlon

The idea of camping at or near the triathlon venue has been appealing. This was especially true if it meant less travel the day before and the day of the triathlon. Even without this benefit, camping meant being able to eat more ‘home cooked’ meals.

We had planned to tent camp at Lewis Creek County Park before the Best in the West Triathlon Festival outside Sweet Home, Oregon. However, as I reported in the post about this triathlon, we abandoned this idea because of the high temperature in early September.

Three years later, during our six-week road trip through the southeast part of the USA, we did camp using a tent.

Not surprisingly, it rained during the two-night stay at our first destination, outside Logan, Ohio, where I did my Ohio triathlon. To be fair, we followed this with two lovely nights of camping in Kentucky. Okay, it doesn’t always rain when we camp.

However, given the high temperatures in late September and early October further south, we left the tent in our van for the rest of that trip.

Our tent at the KOA Campgrounds outside Logan, Ohio, location of the Hocking Hills Sprint Triathlon. Our tent included two blow-up beds, a fan, and Joy’s special toilet, complete with a ‘Dora the Explorer’ seat. Let us know in the Comments below if you want more details. Joy will be happy to share these.

A Newer Experience – Motorhome Camping at a Triathlon

Our latest adventure of camping around a triathlon occurred last summer. This time, we rented a 24 foot Class C motorhome from a private party in Logan, Utah. For two weeks, the motorhome was our home.

From Logan, we drove to Truckee, California, for the Donner Lake Triathlon. It was at this triathlon that we stayed (for free) in a grassy parking area within a hundred yards of the transition area for the race. We both really enjoyed this.

After the race, we drove back to southeastern Idaho for the Preston Triathlon and Seeley Lake, Montana for the Seeley Lake Triathlon. You can read more about our camping adventures in the posts for these two triathlons.

What We Have Learned About Camping and Triathlon

Here are three things we have learned in our efforts to combine racing in a triathlon and camping.

1. Camping at the location of the race is convenient

Most triathletes become accustomed to early mornings. I am an early riser; my wife, not so much.

Rising, checking out of the hotel, and driving to the race location, all in the dark, is what we do. And, it is the cross my wife willingly and cheerfully bears for being married to a triathlete.

Arriving at the start line rested is especially important for older athletes. Learn more in our articles on recovery after 50 and sleep for endurance athletes.

It was incredibly convenient to awake on race day at the race venue. After setting up my transition area, I went back to the motorhome and enjoyed a protein smoothie and coffee while counting down the time for the race to begin. Meanwhile, Joy slept.

After waking, she watched through the back window of the motorhome while lying comfortably in bed as we completed the swim leg of our triathlon.

Camping at West End Beach in Truckee, California, in a rented RV. Joy watched the swim leg of the Donner Lake Triathlon from the comfort of our bed while peering out the back window of the motorhome. She was a ‘happy camper’.

2. You won’t necessarily save money

We paid for the tent through savings in the cost of hotel rooms while traveling to compete in the Ohio triathlon. The story is much different for the motorhome.

Motorhome camping is clearly more comfortable than tent camping. With air-conditioning, we slept well in the motorhome no matter the outside temperature. Since arriving well rested on race day is important, this is a plus.

There is also the benefit of eating food that we prepare. This is both more healthy and less costly. The gas stove and refrigerator in the motorhome made this convenient.

On the other hand, motorhome camping is expensive. The unit we rented averaged nine miles per gallon (mpg) compared to 25-30 mpg for our van. This was when gasoline was $5 to over $6 per gallon.

Add to the cost of the additional fuel, the costs of renting the unit, and parking it at campgrounds with electricity and water hookups, and we spent $250 to $300 per day for the convenience of a motorhome.

3. Camping leads to a new triathlon experience

One of the joys of triathlon is that it can become a vehicle for adventure, travel, and exploration long after our fastest racing years are behind us.

If you’re new to triathlon after 50, this guide on how to start triathlon after 50 will help you take the first step.

Even though most triathlons do not offer an option of camping at the race venue, there are still wonderful benefits of camping nearby. It is a treat to be outdoors, exploring new areas of nature with its diverse fragrances, sounds, plants, birds, and other animals.

Once we get away from the city lights, it is wonderful how vast the night sky appears.

Camping along with a triathlon is another way to see God’s handiwork up close. I took this picture from Salmon Lake State Park (Seeley Lake, Montana), where we camped three nights before the Montana triathlon.

Who Should Consider Camping at a Triathlon?

Camping may be a good option if:

You enjoy the outdoors.
The race venue offers camping nearby.
You are traveling with family members.
You want to reduce race-morning driving time and/or stress.

A hotel may be a better choice if:

Sleep quality is your highest priority.
Weather is unpredictable.
You are traveling only for the race.
Comfort matters more than convenience.

Final Thoughts

Camping and triathlon turned out to be neither a complete success nor a complete failure for us. We enjoyed some wonderful experiences, especially when we could stay close to the race venue and spend extra time exploring places we might never have otherwise visited.

We also learned that camping is not always cheaper, easier, or more comfortable than a hotel. Like many aspects of triathlon, the best choice depends on your goals and personality.

If you’ve never considered camping around a race weekend, it may be worth trying once. You might discover a new way to experience the sport.

Most race directors will be happy to tell you about options for camping near the race, especially those held in city, county, state, and national parks.

Thinking about your next triathlon adventure?

Explore more resources for senior triathletes::

Triathlon Training Groups Over 50

Learn how other senior triathletes find and become part of a training group

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Learn how to train smarter, recover better, and improve performance after 50.

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Have You Combined Camping and Triathlon?

Have you camped at the triathlon venue before the race? What has been your experience with camping while traveling for a triathlon?

Please share your thoughts and experiences with us in the Comments section below.

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What If I Want to Do An Ironman Triathlon? – Tom Lipp’s Story

Terry L. VanderWert on June 3, 2026

Editor’s Note (2026): When I first published Tom Lipp’s story in 2016, SeniorTriathletes.com was still in its first year. A decade later, Tom’s experience remains relevant because it illustrates a lesson many older athletes discover for themselves: big goals are achieved one step, one workout, and one race at a time.

Senior Triathlete Tom Lipp took the plunge and competed in his first full Ironman triathlon. Is an Ironman triathlon on your ‘bucket list’?

Its Starts With Inspiration

Track anyone’s start in triathlon or ask them about it. I am sure you will find ‘inspiration’ or some form of the word among the reasons they took part in their first race. Someone inspired them.

For the new Senior Triathlete Tom Lipp of Aberdeen, South Dakota, the inspiration came when he first watched his daughter complete the Fargo, North Dakota half marathon. The next year, he ran this race with his daughter and “was hooked”.

His first triathlon, one completed in 2012 with his uncle Kirby Martz, was the sprint distance Bismarck Triathlon in Bismarck, North Dakota. Later that year, he completed his second triathlon, an Olympic distance event, at the Young Life Triathlon in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Ironman-triathlon-Wisconsin-swim — Exiting the water at Ironman Wisconsin

There are many stories of those for whom triathlon has become part of an active lifestyle. Training for the first race leads to more training. A second triathlon leads to a goal of improving performance “just a little”. For many, these early triathlons lead to longer distance races.

While I have only completed sprint distance triathlons until now, I have certainly wondered about completing what I consider the ultimate triathlon—the Ironman 140.6 comprising a 2.4 mile (3.9 km) swim, 112 miles (180 km) bike, and 26.2 miles (42 km) run. I am sure that I am not alone.

So when I learned Tom was planning to complete Ironman Wisconsin, I asked him to record and share his experience with other Senior Triathletes.

The rest of the post is based on Tom’s comments about his experience in preparing for and competing in his first Ironman 140.6.

As a preface to his comments, Ironman Wisconsin consistently ranks as one of the most difficult. In 2016, Ironman Wisconsin ranked 9^th in difficulty, according to Ironindex™.

My point? Tom did not only take on a longer distance, but he did so in one of the more difficult triathlons.

Why This Story Still Matters

Tom didn’t start with an Ironman goal. Like many triathletes, he began with a Sprint-distance race, became curious about what might be possible, and gradually worked his way toward a longer challenge.

Whether your goal is your first Sprint triathlon, an Olympic-distance race, a Half Ironman, or a full Ironman, Tom’s story demonstrates the value of patience, planning, family support, and consistent training.

Why Did You Choose An Ironman?

“The inspiration for Ironman came almost immediately after I completed my first triathlon. I set the goal in 2012 after becoming aware of the sport and its history. There are so many motivating and inspirational stories, and I enjoy the lifestyle it requires and the challenges it offers.”

Ironman-triathlon-Wisconsin-bike — A flat piece of the bike course at Ironman Wisconsin

How Did You Train For Ironman Wisconsin?

“I started training about one year before the race when a co-worker (a 2X Ironman) asked me to join a group of three others in training for Ironman Wisconsin (IMWI).

I really enjoyed training with the others in the group. Training with one of the guys, in particular, made the hard workouts not only easier but enjoyable. Unfortunately, our schedules made training as a group difficult. In fact, about 90% of my training was alone.

Training plan

In hindsight, I am sure that a coach would have been a great asset. However, I used a free 36-week training program that I found at trifuel.com.

I didn’t follow it perfectly—I did not do all the speed workouts—though think I should have followed the plan more closely.

Dealing with injuries

Full of motivation, I quickly and dramatically increased my running and biking. Within two weeks, I acquired a sore left knee that would ‘pop’ and sore Achilles tendons. I spent the next few weeks stretching, icing and working out at a reduced level.

After my initial burst, I was careful with injuries. It is hard to know if the pain was something to push through or something that needed rest. If I felt a strain, I leaned on the side of caution.

I used a foam roller and cups of ice to massage the sore or strained areas.”

Tom’s Tip: To apply ice to sore areas, fill a frozen Styrofoam cup with water and freeze the water. Cut the bottom one inch (25 mm) of the cup to expose the ice. Rub the ice on sore or strained areas.
Tom Lipp, Ironman Senior Triathlete

What Was Your Experience From Ironman Wisconsin?

“I was first struck by the number of participants, nearly 3,000. Compare this to the hundred or so for the shorter distance events I had previously done.

Then there was the course. The hills in Wisconsin are VERY different from the hills in northern South Dakota. I was not prepared for them and the bike course took a little more out of me than I had planned, which increased my run time.

The other thing that struck me was the support that the spectators gave us. Ironman events aren’t like the normal triathlon. The crowds are huge and fan support along the bike and run make the race something to remember.”

Ironman-triathlon-Wisconsin-run — The ‘home stretch’ at Ironman Wisconsin. The spectators, especially family members, make a huge difference.

What Have You Learned From Triathlon?

“Triathlon is the same as work or life. You need a goal, you need a plan, you need a reward, and most of all you need family support.”

It’s a family affair

“My family support was awesome and my wife Kami was incredible over the year of training. She had more than enough reasons to be upset with my lack of participation in chores, my going to bed early on a beautiful summer night, and my general absence. Instead, she picked up my slack.

Having my kid’s support throughout the summer and having them at the event meant a great deal to me. It would not have been the same without them.”

Our bodies and mind adapt

“This experience has taught me I should never stop challenging myself. Our bodies and mind are incredible and able to adapt to whatever we throw at them.”

Advice For Other Senior Triathletes

What advice do you have for Senior Triathletes who have completed a shorter distance triathlon and are thinking about the Ironman distance?

Discuss it with the important people in your life who will be affected by your training. Their support and understanding will be vital.
Complete at least one half Ironman distance race.
Commit, commit, commit!
Find a plan or coach to guide you through the training.
Increase slowly and take care of anything that seems like an injury.
Enjoy the journey—-It is worth it!

What Today’s Senior Triathletes Can Learn From Tom

Big goals are achieved one step, one workout, and one race at a time.
Training plans matter.
Injuries require patience.
Family support is invaluable.
Our bodies can adapt to challenges at any age.

Whether you dream of completing an Ironman or simply finishing your first Sprint triathlon, the principles are remarkably similar.

How Far Do You Want To Go?

Not every senior triathlete dreams of completing an Ironman. Some want to improve their Sprint time. Others want to complete an Olympic-distance race, a Half Ironman, or simply stay active and healthy.

Tom’s story reminds us that the question is not whether you should do an Ironman. The question is what challenge inspires you to keep moving forward.

What Have You Learned From Training for an Ironman Triathlon?

Many readers have completed Ironman or long course triathlons. What is the one piece of advice you can offer senior triathletes who are thinking about longer distance races?

Exploring the USA Through Triathlon

Terry L. VanderWert on April 14, 2026

Terry VanderWert, author of Triathlon Adventures Across America, and his wife Joy before the New Jersey triathlon

Above: One stop on a 12-year journey across all 50 states—now told in full in Triathlon Adventures Across America.

After completing my first triathlon in 2011, my wife, Joy, and I looked at each other and said, “Why not?”. Why not travel across the USA and complete a triathlon in each state?

Triathlon Adventures Across America book cover

From Blog Posts to a Complete Story

What began as a simple idea—“Why not?”—became a 12-year journey across all 50 states.

While these posts capture moments along the way, the full story—including deeper insights, challenges, and reflections—is told in my book:

Triathlon Adventures Across America

Discover the complete journey here

I was hooked. On triathlon, that is.

At that moment, we joined our love for road trips with my interest in triathlon. We called this “Triathlon Across the USA”.

Triathlon Across the USA

In this quest, our goal was for me to complete a triathlon in each of the 50 states of the USA. It was more rewarding than we imagined.

This adventure took us to many out-of-the-way parts of the United States, places we would probably never have visited. For example, many people who live in Oregon don’t know about Sweet Home. We have eaten, slept, and raced there.

These ‘race-cations’ also provided opportunity to visit family and friends, several who have since passed away. We are grateful for the memories of extra time with them.

Through these travels, we met people across the triathlon community with a connection to family members. We have met people hundreds of, even more than a thousand, miles from home who have friends or family near where we were living or have lived.

In one case, the race director of a triathlon in a southern state had run near our house while visiting in-laws in Minnesota. We also met a young lady in Alaska who was on our daughter-in-law’s high school swim team.

Encounters like this became commonplace.

More Than a Race—A Life Chapter

Over time, this journey became about more than triathlons. It became about marriage, family, loss, friendships, and discovering what’s possible later in life.

That deeper story—what it meant to us and how it changed us—is captured in:

Triathlon Adventures Across America

Diverse Experiences With More To Come

We also learned a lot about this country. Through our travels, we experienced differing terrains, altitudes, race courses, weather, race types, scenery, and, of course, food. We learned to deal with the unexpected.

I learned so much. We identified at least one new experience in each triathlon. I listed these new experiences under the ‘Race Firsts’ heading near the end of each post.

On May 20, 2023, nearly twelve years after finishing my first triathlon, Joy, our three children, and I visited West Virginia for a triathlon in the 50th state. This moment ultimately led to the writing of Triathlon Adventures Across America.

I am grateful to the Lord for giving me a supportive and fun wife, resources, and physical strength to complete this goal. We enjoyed our travels around the beautiful USA.

We met many incredible people, young and old, who share my love of triathlon. You will find some of their stories on this website under the Our Stories menu.

Terry & Joy VanderWert

The Villages, Florida

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Finding a State in the “Triathlon Across the USA” Story

Start Anywhere—Then See the Whole Picture

You can explore each state individually below.

But if you want to experience the journey as it was meant to be understood—from beginning to end—the book brings it all together in one continuous story.

View the full journey here

Below the picture you will find a list of the states in the USA. Click the link with the name of the state. The story about our time in it will appear.

completed Triathlon Across the USA goal on May 20, 2023 — We completed our Triathlon Across the USA journey on May 20, 2023. The last race in this quest was the Parsons Volunteer Fire Department Cheat River Triathlon in Parsons, West Virginia.

Please note the region names and grouping of states below follow the standard used by the US Census Bureau. I didn’t just make them up.

Northeast

New England
Mid-Atlantic

Midwest

East North Central
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Wisconsin
West North Central
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- South Dakota

South

South Atlantic
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- West Virginia
East South Central
West South Central
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Oklahoma
- Texas

West

Mountain
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Utah
- Wyoming
Pacific
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Oregon
- Washington

What Is Your Favorite State for Triathlon?

I am often asked about my favorite state or favorite triathlon.

This question is difficult to answer. Each of our experiences has been so different and remarkable. That may not be your story.

From 50 Races to One Story

Each state holds a piece of the journey.

The book connects them all—into a story about endurance, adventure, and what’s possible after 50.

Explore Triathlon Adventures Across America

What is your favorite state for triathlon?

Let us know in the Comments section below.

‘Gotta Tri’ – Triathlon in The Villages, Florida

Terry L. VanderWert on April 10, 2026

members of The Villages Triathlon Club for senior triathletes

The Villages, Florida, located between Orlando and Ocala in central Florida, is a 55+ community like no other in the USA. To say that residents and visitors of every age and ability are required to stay active is no stretch.

Thanks to The Villages Triathlon Club, triathlon is one of the sports growing here.

The Villages Triathlon Club Builds on an Active Lifestyle

If I were to pick one word to describe The Villages, I would choose ‘active’.

As just one example, consider that from 5 to 9 PM, 365 days per year, each of the three Town Squares has live music with residents and their guests filling the dance floors.

To prepare for the evening, one needs to take afternoon dance lessons. That is, unless you are golfing on one of the more than 50 courses, biking, doing water aerobics, playing pickleball at one of the roughly 150 courts, swimming in one of the 102 pools, or involved in any of the other hundred or so activities.

Triathlon-friendly ‘Biker Shuffle’ with Scooter The DJ at Spanish Springs Square in The Villages, Florida .

My Introduction to The Villages Triathlon Club

Reading the sports section of the daily newspaper of The Villages, The Daily Sun, has become a ritual when visiting the area. Articles in the paper often highlight accomplishments of active seniors. These stories never fail to encourage, inspire, and even amaze.

One article that especially grabbed my attention was that of a resident who had restarted swimming after quadruple bypass surgery.

Wanting to learn more about the story behind the story, I contacted the article’s author. He eventually introduced me to Donna Maguire, founder and president of The Villages Triathlon Club.

members of The Villages Triathlon Club preparing for the swim — Members of The Villages Triathlon Club often race together at sprint to Ironman distance events.

Beginnings of The Villages Triathlon Club

Donna Maguire started The Villages Triathlon Club in April, 2015 after venturing back into the triathlon world following her and her husband’s move to The Villages. While in central Florida, she learned about nearby Clermont, the so-called ‘Triathlon Capital of the World’.

While The Villages had groups for almost every activity and interest imaginable, there were no running or triathlon clubs. However, that changed through a ‘chance’ encounter between Donna and another ‘Villager’, Pat Johnson.

“One day, I met Pat while we were both playing pickleball. She told me that she had just signed up for her first triathlon at age 70. Pat had no idea what she was in for,” said Donna with a smile.

“She had less than three weeks to prepare for the race. So, I took her under my wing and shared my limited experience and some of my equipment. Helping her helped me. And with that, the idea that would lead to the triathlon club was born.”

Donna started sharing her vision with other triathletes.

“Many of them encouraged me to start a triathlon club. All I wanted to do was find people to train and play with. Did I ever!

“We now have both a triathlon club and a running club”.

The Villages Triathlon Club Today

The Villages Triathlon Club’s mission is “to provide, for all levels of athletic ability, a network of information, support services, training, racing, and social activities in a friendly and supportive environment”.

Membership is open to residents who are currently participating in triathlons or have completed races in the past and have a desire to get involved again. Also welcomed are first-timers who want to learn about and prepare for a multi-sport challenge.

She and many of the club’s members have become ambassadors for triathlon throughout The Villages and beyond. Members often attend triathlons as a club, complete with t-shirts, warm-ups, triathlon suits, and other apparel bearing the club logo which was designed by Donna.

Donna’s support for triathlon even shows in her e-mail signature which includes the words ‘Gotta Tri’.

Many of these athletes also emphasize recovery. You can explore these insights further in our post on recovery strategies for triathletes over 50.

Sharing Triathlon Information Among Club Members

Both the triathlon and running clubs have Facebook pages to foster communication and support among members. “We encourage all club members and meeting attendees to try to do a triathlon.”

“I’m not an expert and although I share my experience, I also want to be sure that members have a variety of levels of expertise and experience on which to draw.”

Monthly educational meetings are another way the club promotes triathlon for its members and anyone interested in competing in the sport. These meetings are a time for sharing “tons of information”. Many include guest speakers to discuss topics related to training, rest and recovery, nutrition, and racing.

Triathlon Training Events

The Villages Triathlon Club also regularly organizes training events for its members.

The club has group runs on Sunday mornings. During the week, members regularly get together for 60+ mile bike rides at one of the local trails.

The Villages Triathlon Club holds groups swims two mornings per week — The Villages Triathlon Club holds group swims two times per week in one of The Villages’ sports pools..

The club also has standing Tuesday and Thursday morning reservations at one of The Villages’ sports pools. During this time, swimmers of all levels, from beginner to experienced, meet to build their swim fitness and improve their triathlon-specific swim technique.

For example, the group works on swimming close together and drafting, to become accustomed with the contact that often occurs during the triathlon swim.

Club members have also met for group swims and practice triathlons at nearby Lake Minneola and Lake Weir. One of these events included a triathlon swim lesson from a professional triathlete.

The Villages Running Club also hosts group runs on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s morning that leave Lake Sumter Square at 6:30 AM during the summer months.

Before COVID-19 shutdowns, the club reserved Lake Sumter Square (one of the three Town Squares mentioned earlier) on Friday mornings for a free Boot Camp.

Attendees would gather at 7 AM for a 4-mile run that included interval training. Then at 8 AM, the Boot Camp session was led by one of the club’s members. Finally, a yoga class was held at 9 AM for the most ambitious members. A priceless start of the day.

Why Do A Triathlon?

Why should someone in or approaching retirement age participate in triathlon?

According to The Villages Triathlon Club members, there are many benefits from training in the three different sports. There are health benefits from being stronger, more fit, and, for some, losing weight.

Training in swimming, biking, and running helps avoid overuse injuries by working different parts of the body. It also prevents boredom, which can lead to inconsistency.

There are also social benefits; meeting new people, developing friends with whom you can share successes and struggles as well as learn, or go golfing.

For Donna and many other club members, triathlon has also helped build confidence and mental strength.

Not learning to swim until later in my adult life, Donna had always had a fear and discomfort in the swim portion.

“Little by little I’ve started to overcome that fear, something I never thought I’d be able to do. I keep reminding myself – ‘Just breathe’.

“We all have something that is scary and out of our comfort area. We can take the easy route and just avoid that situation or tackle it and feel confident.”

Donna Maguire, founder of The Villages Triathlon Club for senior triathletes — Senior triathlete, Donna Maguire celebrating her age group win at the 2015 Great Floridian GFT 1/3 Ironman Triathlon

Have Questions for The Villages Triathlon Club Members?

The Villages Triathlon Club highlights the value of the encouragement and camaraderie that comes from being part of a group that shares common goals and interests. For example, Donna has gone from ‘considering quitting triathlon’ to a 2x Ironman finisher during her time with The Villages Triathlon Club.

Feel free to post questions and comments for Donna and The Villages Triathlon Club members in the Comments section below.

This post was originally published on March 25, 2016. I updated it after Joy’s and my visit to The Villages during April 2021 and again in April 2026. In September 2021, we became residents of The Villages, where I am currently am a member of The Villages Triathlon Club.