Some athletes find triathlon through a coach, a training group, or a lifelong love of sport. Brad Kirley found it through a newspaper ad, a rented bike with a kickstand, and a stubborn refusal to give up his afternoon candy bar.
At 81, Brad has now crossed 295 triathlon finish lines, 18 of them this year alone. He has his sights set on number 300 next season. His story isn’t about perfect training blocks or fancy gear. It’s about showing up, laughing at yourself, and falling hard for a sport that keeps giving back.
A Coke, a Candy Bar, and a Wake-Up Call
Rewind to around 1980. Brad was 35, busy with work, and eating the way he always had. That meant a Coke and a candy bar every afternoon and a snack every single night in front of the TV.
Then he noticed a small belly and the first hint of love handles.
So he started running. Not to overhaul his diet, mind you. In Brad’s own words: “OK fine, eating habits can continue as normal, my normal anyway.”
That line will make plenty of endurance athletes smile. Many of us started moving for the same reason, and many of us still run partly to enjoy dessert.
Brad’s first race was a Turkey Trot on November 27, 1980. It was the kind of low-key holiday event that pulls in first-timers every year. For Brad, it was the start line of a 46-year journey.
The Weekend Warrior Years
Work kept Brad busy, so he trained only on weekends. His hips and knees let him know they weren’t thrilled.
Anyone who has crammed all their mileage into Saturday and Sunday knows that feeling. It’s a lesson that still holds up today: consistency beats volume. Spreading your training across the week, even in short sessions, is far kinder to your joints than piling it all into two days.
Still, Brad kept at it. He ran a string of 5Ks and 10Ks, then stepped up to the marathon. On November 3, 1991, he tackled the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., with his friend Mildred helping him through the tough miles.
The next year, Mildred ran it herself, and Earl helped her finish. That small detail says a lot about endurance sports. The finish line is personal, but getting there is often a team effort. Somebody pulls you through, and later you get to return the favor.
The Accidental Triathlete
In the spring of 1992, Brad was 46 and serving a two-week active duty stint at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He spotted an ad for a pool-swim triathlon at nearby Fort Ord on May 2, right in the middle of his stay.
He had no tri bike. No wetsuit. No real plan. He signed up anyway.
Here’s what race day looked like:
- The bike: A rented cross bike, complete with a kickstand, a license plate, and flat pedals.
- The shoes: Sneakers, with laces that caught in the chain within the first 100 yards.
- The swim: He did it with his head out of the water the entire time.
- The race number: 69. Athletes lined up for the pool based on how fast they thought they’d swim. Brad had no idea, so he just got in line. He ended up 69th, and that became his number.
And the result? He finished third in his age group.
“I was hooked,” Brad says.
It’s the kind of debut that should encourage every nervous beginner. You don’t need carbon wheels, clipless pedals, or a flawless freestyle to start. You need the courage to line up. The gear and the skills can come later.
Charlottesville and “the Rest Is History”
Brad came home from California and went looking for his next race. He found it in Charlottesville, Virginia: a Bud Light triathlon on September 27, 1992. It came the day after his birthday, so he toed the line, having just turned 47.
That second race sealed it. “The rest is history,” as Brad puts it.
295 Races and Counting
Since that first splash at Fort Ord, Brad has kept a careful count. Fort Ord is number one. Charlottesville is number two. He completed his two most recent races on a single weekend this year, numbers 17 and 18 of the season and 294 and 295 overall.
Let those numbers sink in for a moment. Eighteen triathlons in one year. At 81. Many athletes a third his age would call that season ambitious.
Now Brad has just five more to go before he hits 300. He hopes to get there next year, and nobody who knows him would bet against it.
What Brad’s Journey Can Teach Every Triathlete
Brad’s story is fun to read, but it also carries some real wisdom for anyone who swims, bikes, or runs.
Start before you feel ready. Brad raced his first tri on a borrowed-style rental with a kickstand. Waiting for perfect gear or perfect fitness can mean waiting forever.
Train smarter, not just harder. His years of weekend-only running taught him that joints need regular, steady work. Spread out your training, build gradually, and listen when your body pushes back.
Lean on your people. From Mildred at the Marine Corps Marathon to Earl a year later, the endurance community thrives on helping one another finish. Find a training partner, join a local club, and pay the support forward.
Keep it fun. Brad remembers his race number, his tangled laces, and his head-up swim with a grin. The athletes who last decades usually never stop enjoying the ride.
Track your journey. Brad knows every race by number. Logging your races and training does more than measure progress. It builds a story you’ll be proud to look back on.
Age is a number, not a limit. Brad did his first triathlon at 46 and is racing more than ever at 81. It’s never too late to start, and there’s no reason to stop.
Here’s to Number 300
Brad Kirley didn’t set out to become a triathlon legend. He just wanted to keep a belly at bay without giving up his snacks. Along the way, he discovered a sport that has carried him through more than three decades, nearly 300 finish lines, and countless memories.
So the next time you’re dreading an early swim or doubting whether you belong on the start line, think of Brad. Think of the kickstand, the flat pedals, and race number 69.
Then lace up (carefully), clip in (or don’t), and go chase your own next finish line. Brad will be out there chasing his, and we’ll be cheering when he crosses number 300.