Competing at all ages

Saying 72-year-old John Ytzen of Creston is more active than most his age is an understatement. In 2025 alone, Ytzen competed in 25 total events, which included triathlons, road races and specialty challenge races. In these competitions, Ytzen consistently wins his age group and said even when he’s not at his best, he’s still having fun.

“If I place in my age group, which I generally do, that’s fine,” Ytzen said. “But if I don’t, that fine too because I’m out there doing it; I’m out there enjoying it. It’s just fun to do!”

Ytzen said he first started running in high school to lose weight, eventually becoming a member of the debut cross county team at Creston High School in 1971, his senior year. However, he didn’t start competing in races in the community until 1980.

“Back then, well, you showed up and you ran; everything was hand timed. I just kind of kept running off and on and I tried to get serious about competing probably when I was about 40,” Ytzen said. “By then, races got better. I say better because back when I started running, it was the fast people. I mean, if you weren’t fast, you didn’t run. If you weren’t fast, you finished toward the rear. Then some races started becoming more walker friendly and they started growing.”

His first triathlon was indoors in Winterset in 1982. Ytzen said he tried a couple of these competitions but didn’t do them for long because he didn’t enjoy the biking portion. While no longer biking, he did continue on with running.

Though Ytzen said his 40s were when he got serious, it wasn’t until he reached his 50s that he began earning awards.

“When I was in my 50s, I started placing in some races. And as I got older, the really fast people that were my age were quitting; I just kept going,” Ytzen said. “So now, I mean, basically last year I placed in about every event I did.”

Some of his winnings involved more than just running. At least one a year, Ytzen competes in a costumed race to honor his sister Nancy. Before she passed away in 2024, Nancy was a prolific seamstress.

“That’s why I try to do costume runs, to honor her,” Ytzen said. “She made me a snowman outfit, Christmas tree, gingerbread. One year she made me a ghost, a wolf.”

Even outside of costumes, Ytzen has made staying active a family affair. Though he spent many years sticking to road races only, Ytzen said he began doing triathlons again about five years ago in order to spend more time with his niece and her husband.

Just like with his running, Ytzen usually places in the triathlons he participates in. However, that’s not necessarily the goal.

“I don’t go out to try to win. I try to go out and do my best but if I don’t feel great, I say, I can’t run faster, and I slow down,” Ytzen said. “I’m 72 years old. I just want to keep going as long as I can. I’m going to keep going next year and the year after, as long as I’m still here.”

Now a senior athlete, Ytzen has seen many changes in his time competing. From the changes in popularity and demographic to the addition of new equipment, there always seems to be something new. Even his training has had some major changes.

“I lived by the watch. The Garmin was everything. [Now], one day a week I might not do anything; I just go on and walk. I’ll do my training runs at a slower pace,” Ytzen said. “Sometimes I’ll just go out and run. I won’t even put on my Garmin. I don’t know how fast I ran. I don’t know how far I ran, but I went out and ran.”

Though he knows he competes at a much slower pace than he used to, Ytzen said he makes sure not to compare his current times to his past times.

“I had a friend here, he doesn’t compete anymore because of his hip replacement, but he always complained about ‘my time wasn’t as good as years before.’ But I said, ‘yeah, but you’re older now.’ I don’t compare my times to 10 years ago or even five years ago. And you have to rest more as you get older, which I do.”

He encouraged other seniors to stay active, even if it isn’t to the extent of their youth.

“You don’t have to go out and run. Walking is fine,” Ytzen said. “Join the fitness center, join somewhere. Just go out and do something.”