“Never say never”: 79-year-old TriWaco winner shares her secret to success

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - The oldest competitor in TriWaco who finished first place in her age division says her secret to an active lifestyle as she approaches 80 is simply to keep on moving.

Austin resident Mary Ruth Corley, who turns 79 in August, drove up to Waco to compete in TriWaco Sunday morning, an event she’s done many times in the last decade.

“I would encourage people to keep moving,” Corley said.  “That’s what I think is most important is to keep moving.”

Corley said she works out daily and loves to swim, bike and run, which are the three disciplines in a triathlon.

She does say these days she walks more than runs and she isn’t too impressed with her swim times in competitions.

Days before the race, TriWaco organizers canceled the swim portion of the triathlon due to high water and debris in the Brazos River from recent rains.

Mary Ruth laughs that the swim cancelation contributed to her entering the race.

“I’m doing this race because actually the only reason I’m involved in it is they took the swim out,” she laughed.  “I am a very slow swimmer, never don’t finish but I am very slow so when it was taken out, well, why not?  I bike all the time. I don’t run anymore. I walk and so consequently I thought this would be a fun thing to do.”

Mary Ruth entered the Sprint distance competition which on Sunday consisted of a 16-mile bike ride and 3.2 mile run.

She finished first place in females age 75-79.

“I’m pretty much addicted to exercise,” Mary Beth said.

Mary Ruth said staying active is a lifestyle for her.

On her 70th birthday, she biked with a group of friends 320 miles from Austin to her hometown DeRidder, Louisiana.

Mary Ruth just competed in her 44th consecutive annual Statesman Cap 10K race in Austin.

She entered her first triathlon in 1999, and says Waco has always hosted one of the best.

“This is a really good race,” she said.  “They treat you well.  Safety is a big concern and they take care of you.”

Mary Ruth’s son Michael, 49, also competed in Tri Waco but entered the Olympic distance race which is double the distance.

Mary Ruth was at the finish line to cheer for her son.

While the Austin athlete says her time in triathlons is winding down, she’s not certain this will be her last Tri Waco.

“Never say never,” the triathlete said.

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