Peggy Crome: How to be successful in triathlon into your 80s

Peggy Crome is an 80-year-old great grand-mother from Devon, who has been taking part in triathlons for 38 years and has represented the Great Britain age-group triathlon team 50 times. With 31 podiums and 17 victories, she is one of the most successful age-group triathletes in the world. Over to Peggy…

I am a proud Devonshire Dumpling, a title only claimed by those having both parents born in Devon. I was one of seven children brought up on a farm near Chulmleigh, Devon.

I have worked all my life. I taught Maths and PE in Tottenham and moved back to Devon in 1970 where I taught children with little or no sight, in Exeter. After retiring, I moved to Westward Ho!, my favourite north Devon village.

I have represented GB 50 times with 31 podium finishes, of which 17 have been gold [Ed: putting Peggy in the top 10 in the world for the most appearances, and the leading British woman for golds]. I also won the female veteran title in the Europeans in Milton Keynes in 1987, before the records began.

I first got involved in triathlon in 1985. Having smoked for over 20 years, I gave up smoking in 1982 and started to jog. In the beginning, I couldn’t run more than 100m without stopping for a rest.

In the early 80s I managed to achieve a good endurance base and ran many marathons and half marathons. When triathlon first came to Great Britain, I was ready for a new challenge.

My first triathlon was in Barnstaple in 1985: a one-mile swim, 26-mile cycle and a 10-mile run. There were 57 men and just me and one other woman taking part. How women’s triathlon has progressed from those early days.

“I plan to continue taking part in triathlon until I am the last to finish in a race”

My favourite race experience was winning my age-group in the Ironman 70.3 in Aix-en-Provence in 2015 to qualify for the 70.3 world championship, because earlier that year I broke my arm and had to train around it. I stuck a picture of Chrissie Wellington on the wall, she was training with a similar injury, which encouraged me to carry on.

The thing I love most about triathlon is the camaraderie of the GB team. Everyone is so helpful and friendly. We help each other through the tough times when things don’t go to plan. I love the massive support we get when we manage to podium.

My secret to having longevity in the sport is that we are age-groupers and there is always another age-group waiting for us. I love the fact that, at 80, I can still compete and represent my country. Everyone needs something to get up for in the morning and for me it is to swim, bike or run.

I also feel more mentally alert and can deal with the everyday problems that life throws at us. I plan to continue taking part in triathlon until I am the last to finish in a race.

Outside of triathlon, I like to spend my time solving cryptic crosswords, sudokus, re-learning French, painting and creating models with stained glass on driftwood.

My advice to those who are thinking about taking part in their first triathlon is not to be fazed by other triathletes with ‘all the gear’ but to just do it with basic kit. Make sure you are able to complete each discipline and practise that quick change in T1 and T2. You will never look back. Triathlon is a sport for life.

Top image credit: Glyn Brackenbury