Sunday, May 03, 2009
More tales to tell a decade later at the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon
What's better than a morning of treacherous triathlon competition to cap a family reunion? For the Ryan family, nothing. And some traveled a long distance to prove that point.
Sue Montgomery went without a wet suit for the swim leg of the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon on Saturday. She finished 101st overall.
Siblings David Ryan, Kathie Krempels and Jeff Ryan wait for David's name to be called during the awards ceremony for the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon.
Photos by Mark Taylor | The Roanoke Times
David Ryan, in the blue and silver wet suit, sprints into the water at the start of the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon on Saturday. Ryan, a 54-year-old from Radford, was the oldest of four siblings in their 50s who all competed in the 1999 race and did it again on Saturday. Ryan, who competed in the 55-60 age group, was second in his age group.
Mark Taylor is outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times.
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HUDDLESTON -- In his years of reading results for the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon, Mike Morris has seen just about everything.
But even he was surprised late Saturday morning when he got to the women's 50 to 54 age group.
"In second place, Kathie Krempels from Cheyenne, Wyoming," said Morris, who then paused. "Cheyenne, Wyoming?
"Wow."
The Smith Mountain Lake is known as a great sprint-distance event, but to draw an athlete from Wyoming? There's must be another reason.
In fact, Krempels had three -- her sister and two brothers.
The four siblings, who are all in their 50s, met at the lake to reprise a family challenge they took on together 10 years ago.
"It's my fault, really," Krempels said with a laugh before the race.
She had been pulling out old T-shirts for a quilting project when she found the shirt from the 1999 race. Why not try again?
"I sent out a save the date e-mail," said Krempels, a physical therapy assistant who just turned 50.
Her siblings quickly agreed.
Sue Montgomery would come in from Tuscon, Ariz., bringing along mom Marilyn. Jeff Ryan would drive in from Greer, S.C.
Oldest brother David Ryan had the easiest trip. He lives in Radford.
They were among about 450 athletes -- nearly double the number who competed in 1999 -- to tackle the course featuring a 750-meter swim, a 12-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run.
On the day thoroughbreds were running for the roses in his home state, Lewis Jackson of Lexington, Ky., had the day's fastest bike split to secure a 27-second win over Samuel Dannenbring, a Navy petty officer whose hometown is Yankton, S.D.
In the women's race, Crystal Pruitt of Poquoson finished in 1 hour, 8 minutes, 42 seconds for a 37-second margin over Nicole Kelleher of Charlottesville.
The Smith Mountain Lake race has special appeal to the Ryan family because of their roots in the region.
Father John Ryan worked for Corning, and was transferred from New York to the company's facility in Christiansburg in the 1970s.
The girls were in high school, where they played sports for Christiansburg High School.
Marilyn and John stayed in Christiansburg even after most of the "kids" -- as Marilyn still calls them -- moved away and after John retired.
Photos by Mark Taylor | The Roanoke Times
David Ryan, in the blue and silver wet suit, sprints into the water at the start of the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon on Saturday. Ryan, a 54-year-old from Radford, was the oldest of four siblings in their 50s who all competed in the 1999 race and did it again on Saturday. Ryan, who competed in the 55-60 age group, was second in his age group.
Sue Montgomery went without a wet suit for the swim leg of the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon on Saturday. She finished 101st overall.
Siblings David Ryan, Kathie Krempels and Jeff Ryan wait for David's name to be called during the awards ceremony for the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon.
But when John died unexpectedly 17 years ago -- during a training swim -- she eventually move to Tuscon. Sue said one of the reasons the siblings first tackled the race in 1999 was to honor their dad.
"He always said the four of us should do the Ryan family relay," she said.
A relay wasn't necessary. The siblings are all athletically inclined, though 54-year-old David and Kathie are the more serious athletes.
Jeff, a 52-year-old quality engineer, said having the race on his calendar provided a good goal for him, and that his training helped him improve troublesome cholesterol numbers.
He had a little extra motivation this time, too.
"I did terrible on the swim last time," he said, cringing slightly.
David, a serious triathlete, smoked him. The girls beat him, too.
"It shouldn't be that way," he said jokingly. "I think I'm going to get them this time."
Friday evening, while the family enjoyed their reunion in the Mariner's Landing suite where they were staying, Jeff even pulled out his secret weapon -- a huge swim mask.
That got a good laugh, which was the intent. He was only joking.
As the four got ready, they got pretty serious, organizing their equipment in the transition area before heading down the beach for the swim start.
Sue, a 52-year-old paralegal, was among the few to brave the chilly 66-degree lake without a wetsuit.
"The water is fine," she said with a smile.
She was right, her 13:50 swim time the 29th best out of 142 women. Fighting the hills on the run and hampered somewhat by an unfamiliar rented bike, she finished 101st overall with a time of 1:48:22.
Kathie's 12:33 swim was the 13th fastest in the field and a key to her finishing 25th overall with a time of 1:26:04.
Jeff's work in the pool this winter paid off, too. He hit the beach in just under 16 minutes, a vast improvement over his performance in 1999. With a strong bike and run, he was able to finish 128th overall in 1:25:24, just 40 seconds faster than Kathie.
David was his normal fast self, his 1:12:35 good for 32nd overall and second in the men's 55-60 age group.
As her kids swam, biked and ran, Marilyn watched proudly near the transition area.
"I just think it's great that they're active enough and happy enough to do this," said Marilyn, who continuously sprang from her cozy camp chair to cheer on her kids. "They're already talking about doing it again in 10 years. I don't know if I'll be around then.
"But, who knows?"
If the kids have anything to do with it, she'll be right there in her spot, cheering them on as they continue the tradition.
