Terence Purcell, 51
Springfield, Illinois
Top Male overall time: 21:59:55
What made you want to try the National Senior Games?
“Because I turned 50 last year, and I’m at an age where I’m proud of my age. I heard about the Illinois state senior games through Facebook, I did those and qualified for nationals.”
How long have you been cycling? How’d you get started?
“About four years. I used to be a champion stair climber, I was the world champion 24 years ago. It might sound strange, but when you’ve been in a sport a long time, as you get into your 40s and 50s, you’re not as fast as you were in your 20s and 30s, and it’s a little bit of a hit to your ego..[cycling] is a new sport, so I can excel at something else and try not focus on the fact that I’m getting older.”
Did you expect to win today?
“…Because I had done well on the time trials on Wednesday and Thursday, I did have a plan to try and break away from the group. I knew I was racing against mostly the same people, I knew that I could power away from them. So I wasn’t expecting to win, but I had a plan that if I was able to get away, I was strong enough to stay away.”
Did you do any specific training for this race?
“I’m riding six days a week, anywhere from 1-3 hours of training each day…I ride a lot on my gravel bike, which is heavier than my road bike and allows me to build a lot of strength. It also allows me to ride on not perfect roads.”
Elizabeth Foxx, 57
McLean, Virginia
Top Female Overall Time: 31:06:02
What made you want to try the National Senior Games?
“I have a coach, Mark Holt, who has been doing this for many, many years. He got me trained up over the last couple years, with COVID and such this has been my new passion. He said, ‘this is your goal,’ and that’s how I ended up here.”
Did you expect to win today?
“I always want to do my best, and you just don’t know. I’ve competed with a couple of these ladies a couple years ago when I first did a time trial in Florida, so I knew there were some good people out there. You never know!”
How long have you been cycling?
“I started cycling when I was a little over 40 to do triathlons. I did it as a “get back in shape” fitness goal after kids and career. I had a wreck and hurt my shoulder and couldn’t swim very well anymore. Someone steered me to cycling, and I love it.”
How is the National Senior Games different from other races you attend?
“It’s a lot bigger than a lot of the other races I’ve been in and just racing with different people. At home I know the people, I know the racers, so it’s been exciting to get to meet a bunch of new people from around the country.”
Did you do any specific training for this race?
“My coach has had me on a pretty strict training program. We’ve ridden for the last couple years, but since January we’ve been doing a structured training program with a few races thrown in there to help with the training process.”
