BY CAMI KOONS
This story is adapted from the Eudora Times Podcast. Listen to the episode here.
Maribeth Orr finished her third Ironman triathlon last November, but nine years ago she could barely run a 5K.
Orr found physical exercise a cure for her physical and mental health.
“My heart was full and I felt like I was starting to heal,” Orr said about finishing her first ever triathlon. “It gave me some purpose, made me feel like I was probably going to be a better mom and a better wife.”
Orr raced her first triathlon on a cheap bike from Walmart. She said she had no idea what she was doing and only focussed on reaching the finish line. Her first triathlon was a sprint distance, which has a 0.46-mile swim, 12.5-mile bike ride and a 5-kilometer run. The Ironman distance is much longer at 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run.
When her dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, Orr said she knew she needed to do something to stay strong for him. At the time, Orr said she felt as though she was living as a mom and a wife, but had nothing for herself.
“I found myself one of those moms with young kids at home, feeling sorry for myself, thinking that I couldn't do anything,” Orr said. “I just had to stay at home and take care of these kids all the time and eat crappy food, absolutely do no exercise because it’s just impossible. I knew I needed to do something, to get out.”
She started training with the Underground Lab, which came to Eudora several times a week for a six-week bootcamp program. Orr still trains with the Underground Lab in Lawrence and said she wouldn’t be where she is today if it weren’t for her trainer, Fernando Rodriguez, the gym’s owner.
“Right when I met her, she was very motivated, very self sufficient,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve met so many people throughout this time. You can just tell when someone is going to achieve every goal that they’re going to set for themselves. Instantly, that’s the vibe that I got from her.”
In addition to Orr’s three Ironman races, she has competed in national triathlon events. Many of these are invitation-only events open to those who place in their age groups. Orr said she loves the competitive nature of triathlons, but also loves that she can race among the serious, national athletes and people on Walmart bikes.
“Anybody can do it,” Orr said, “And then if you get into it enough and you get to that level of racing, you have that opportunity. They’ll invite you to go big.”
When she’s not training, Orr is a family doctor at Eudora Family Care. She has four similarly active kids and likes to attend their events or bring them along to the gym. Orr also works as the women’s advocate for Trek Bicycle in Lawrence. There, she helps organize events and tries to get more women on bikes.
“I’m an advocate for everybody though,” Orr said. “I think more people on bikes more often.”
John Flynn, the manager at Trek, said Orr is, “a very valuable asset to the shop.”
Orr is currently ranked third in the Kansas for triathlons and 349th in the nation for her age group of 45-49.
Reach reporter Cami Koons at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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