It seems one triathlon a weekend isn’t enough for 80-year-old Bob McArtor who completed two in Cleveland, Ohio on Aug. 10 and 11. The Boothbay Harbor man competed in the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships. On Aug. 10, he competed in the Olympic distance which includes a 750-meter swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run. On Aug. 11, he competed in the Sprint event which included a 750-meter swim,  20K bike ride and 5K run.

McArtor finished fourth out of eight entrants in his 80-84 age group in both events. The top five entrants in each race qualified for a spot on the USA Triathlon National Age Group team. McArtor and four other competitors, in both Olympic and Sprint triathlon, will compete in next August’s International Triathlon National Age Group Championships in Edmonton, Alberta.

McArtor is a former marathoner who became a triathlete in 2007 after taking a Boothbay Region YMCA class. In Cleveland, his Sprint time was two hours and 12 minutes. In the Olympic distance, he finished in three hours and 53 minutes. 

McArtor qualified for the national competition by qualifying in both events in a race in Brunswick this spring. Originally, he planned on competing only in the Olympic event, but his training leading up to the Cleveland meet went well, so he decided to compete in both distances this month.

“I am humbled and honored to be representing the USA at the World Championships in 2020. Never, in my wildest imagination, did I think that I would have such an opportunity when I took up the triathlon. Eighty years into my life's journey, I continue to be blessed with new and unexpected adventures,” McArtor said.

In the world championships, McArtor will compete in both Sprint and Olympic triathlon distances. In August 2020, 3,500 athletes from 30 nations will compete in various age divisions in the triathlon competition in Canada.