Lolly Rodgers: A Truly Amazing Kona Champion!

Fran Arfaras profiles 2007 Women's 65-69 Age Group Winner Lolly Rodgers, Sonora, CA USA

Lolly Rodgers is a prototype for our Amazing Age Group Winners. A youngster in her age group at 65, Rodgers pushed through multiple problems to win her age group in 15:55:30, six minutes ahead of her closest competition.

Rodgers and her husband have a ranch in Sonora, CA, near Yosemite National Park where it’s hilly and the weather is very hot in the summer and cold in the winter. She tries to get her training in while doing her real job as a shepherd, rancher, and working horses. She also has grandkids and ageing in-laws that need help, “now and then”. If the sheep have problems, or pipes break, or the well has a leak…those things need repair and training is put aside. No training those days. Her philosophy…you do what you can, when you can.

Fortunately she leads a very active life on the ranch. “I like the outdoors,” she said. “I have a twin brother and an older brother who played sports when I was young, so I went along and played too. Now I raise sheep and a couple of cutting horses. Training cuts into working with the horses but I’ll ride again next year.”

Rodgers started doing triathlons because her husband David was in to it and she went along for the ride. Her first triathlon was in 1995. She was almost 52 and did an Ironman 70.3 distance event. “I don’t recommend that,” she said, “it’s way too hard for your first one – you may never do another one, but I did.”

She’s done the Ford Ironman World Championship four times now, and Ironman New Zealand and Ironman Australia with her husband.

Rodgers’ training is pretty steady. She bikes three times a week – two short rides and a long ride on Saturday – and swims twice a week at the local master’s pool. Last year she had a knee injury followed by a stress fracture in her foot and wasn’t able do much running. It was also painful to bike.

This stress fracture was part of her problem in Kona. She got off the bike with a big lead and, usually, running is her strongest leg, but Rodgers walked most of the marathon. It was with sheer determination she was able to keep ahead of her rivals, in spite of having stomach issues and the foot injury. “I saw them coming,” she said, “so I walked as fast as I could almost all the way. I wanted to quit but struggled through it.”

Her struggles ended up with an age group win and a slot for the 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship. She was no way close to her target time, though. “I was very lucky I was able to finish,” she conceded. “I even ended up in the medical tent…I needed an IV…I never do that. I was sick for a few days after. It was not much fun for me last year. I’m one of those who, if it’s not fun, I’m out of there.”

The Rodgers live in Kona four or fives months a year, which is where the defending champ is right now. “I do better with training when I get back here in Kona,” she said.

So she will be back at Dig Me beach for the swim start this year. “But just for fun,” she said. She would like to win her age group again, but will retire for a few years after that so she and her husband can travel.

Our Amazing Age-Group Winners are the backbone of the Ironman race and bring excitement and incredible stories of courage and determination with them. Stay with us throughout the year as Ironman.com’s Fran Arfaras introduces them to you. You can reach her at fran@ironman.com