82-Year Old Bob Gralley to Take VO2 Max Assessment To Begin Training for Columbia Triathlon; He Will be Event's Oldest Ever Participant.

Oak Crest Retirement Community Resident Has Run More Than 47,000 Miles during His Lifetime

PARKVILLE, Md. -- Oak Crest retirement community resident Bob Gralley - age 82 -- will take a VO2 Max Assessment on Wednesday, March 26th at Total Performance in Lutherville, MD to prepare for his record-setting participation in the upcoming Columbia Triathlon in Howard County, MD. Gralley will be the oldest participant ever in the annual event, which will be held this year on Sunday, May 18th. Gralley, who has run more than 47,000 miles in his lifetime during his competitive running career, will be a member of an Erickson Retirement Communities Relay Team and will participate with Erickson employees half his age.

The VO2 Max Assessment tells an athlete how efficiently they are working at different levels of intensity. Almost all elite athletes perform a VO2 Max Assessment to gauge their training intensity. This test will also tell exactly what type of physical condition Gralley is in for his age. Training too hard for a triathlon can cause the break down of healthy muscle tissue for energy; training at too low of an intensity can limit progress and minimize the cardiovascular benefit.

Gralley has been a competitive runner for decades. "Bob Gralley's participation in the Columbia Triathlon demonstrates the connection of people within the Erickson team who share the same interest, passion and excitement for a commitment to fitness and wellness," said Debra Doyle, executive vice president for Erickson.

Members from the Erickson Relay Team knew Gralley was an active, competitive runner and they approached him with the idea of joining the team. "He was more than happy to be a part," said Erickson senior vice president of operations, Kerry Jones, himself a competitive runner. "Bob is a role model for people of all ages."

The Columbia Triathlon Association (CTA) promotes the Columbia Triathlon each year and is a 501 c(3) organization that supports a number of charities. The goal of The Columbia Triathlon Association, Inc (CTA) is to produce and direct high quality, safe events in the community and to provide support for those within the community who help and support us. The course is centrally located at Centennial Park, which is between Ellicott City and Columbia. The swim is the first event and takes place is the crystal clear water of Centennial Lake. The racers then exit the water on the south side of the lake to begin the bike course which rambles out Route 108 towards Clarksville, then loops back to the lake for the transition to the run which goes through Centennial Park.