Island senior heading to Quebec to compete in Ironman competition

An Island woman is heading off to Mont-Tremblant, Que.,to take partin anIronman competition.

Nancy Ripley started training for triathlons five years agoand nowat age 65, this Sunday'seventwill mark her second time competing.

"I did Lake Placid last year and I enjoyed it and was foolish enough to sign up for another one this year," she said.

The event consists of a 3.8 kilometre swim, a 180 kilometre bike ride anda 42.2 kilometre run.

Ripley said her training regimen has been tough and she completes10 to 12sessions per week.

'Anything is possible'

Last year, Ripleyfinished the event in15 hours and 13 minutes.

This year, she's focused on strength training and paid greater attention to her nutrition in the hopes ofshavinga few minutes off her time.

On race day, she'll be up just after 4 a.m. to eat breakfast and then will head to the lake for the competition to start.

Ripley isone of two people competing in the 65 to69 age category, butsaid she's not letting that affect her.

"The Ironman motto is anything is possible and that's just it," she said.

"The beauty of this race is that I've moved up to the older age group. Fewer people in my category!"

It'll be wine and Miss Vickie's chips! Nancy Ripley

Ripley said she wasn't a runner or a swimmer before herintroduction to triathlons, buthopes her story encourages other people to dive right in like she did.

"I'll keep doing them as long as I can," she said.

To keep her energy up throughout the day, she said she'll be sustaining herselfwith peanut butter and honey sandwiches.

But once she crosses the finish line, she said she's planning to celebrate.

"It'll be wine and Miss Vickie's chips!"

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