Age-group triathletes from Team USA Ernie and Betty Janelle are extraordinary athletes in the multisport community, having trained and competed for over 40 years. Ernie Janelle has competed in a World Triathlon Age-Group Championships three times in Triathlon, Duathlon and Aqua-bike. The dynamic duo are heading to Abu Dhabi for the 2022 World Triathlon Age-Group Championships in November.
“Being part of the team is my podium.”
“The best part of Triathlon - it is so much a family. I have made so many good friends by competing in races.”
“My wife Betty is truly a special person and an inspiration to not only me but so many.”
How did you get into Triathlon?
Back in 1982, way before ESPN came about there was a sports show on ABC called “Wide World of Sports”, where they would show all these different sports. I was watching one Saturday and they were showing this thing called an Ironman Triathlon and I was fascinated by the three sports, and when I saw Julie Moss, I said “Who would ever want to do something like that?”, and not long after that I started training for triathlons as well as duathlons. I’ve been doing multisport events now for 40 years.
Have you been involved in a World Championship before?
I’ve been very fortunate and have been a member of Team USA multiple times in three different sports (triathlon, duathlon and aqua-bike). Some cities I have competed at are Auckland, Beijing, Ottawa, Pentiction and others. It is always such an honor and thrill to be part of Team USA. I will probably never be on a podium but being part of the team is my podium.
What would you consider your best achievement to date?
Wow, what a tough question. One that does stand out is when I did Ironman Arizona. I am not a good swimmer at all. When I came out of the water, I was 79th in my Age Group (AG). After the bike, I was 39th in my AG and after the run I was on the podium. My wife Betty and friend Brent Pease (who competes with his brother Kyle Pease, who has Cerebral Palsy), were on bikes and were surprised by how many I was passing during the marathon. While passing one person after another Brent started calling me “PacMan” and that name has stuck since. During the bike and run, I had passed over 1200 people.
What’s the best part about Triathlon?
It is so much a family. I have made so many good friends by competing in races. When I do unfortunately hear of an athlete dying in a race or being hit by a car, even though you might know the person, you feel you do and it really hits me. I love how much this sport has grown since I started competing, especially in the last decade with so many more kids triathlons, colleges and high schools having more teams. I also love how Ironman is now having separate World Championship races for women and men. It is so thrilling that the women have their own day to compete and shine.
What does your weekly training schedule look like and what’s your favourite part of it?
I try to get a couple of workouts in every day. I just recently retired after working for FedEx for 46 years and the last 30 being a Corporate Trainer so now I have a little more time to do so. My favorite workouts are when I bike then follow it with a run. I try to do 3-4 bricks a week.
Do you train solo or with a group?
I would say 90% of my training is done solo. I do enjoy going for bike rides with my wife Betty and several of our friends.
Who is the most inspiring person you’ve met through the sport?
That would have to be my wife Betty. She is an amazing athlete with so many accomplishments, some of which include being a 4-time US National Champion and one of those times was overall and at Worlds when she was overall champion at Nationals, she was 2nd overall and had competed being sick with food poisoning. She has also been first out of the water overall many times including Ironman races. At Ironman Canada one year she even beat all the female pro’s out of the water. In late 2019 she went through 4 months of chemo for her cancer then had a bone marrow transplant. All during her treatments she worked out every single day. At the hospital in which she was in for her transplant for 2+ weeks, she walked around the hallways and would do 10 miles! At first the staff thought she was a guest but they soon got to know her. After Covid shut down everything in 2020, she competed at US Nationals in Milwaukee and now cancer free, she had the fastest overall female swim time in the sprint distance. She has inspired so many people and is also the best cheerleader and has travelled around the US, Canada and South America to go and cheer when a friend would be racing. Truly a special person and an inspiration to not only me but so many.
How much does it mean to you to represent USA at a World Championship level?
Growing up I played and enjoyed a lot of different sports and always considered myself an “average” athlete. Almost every sport I played was a team sport. A road trip for me at the time was going to the next neighborhood, maybe 10 minutes away. Being at a World Championship and part of Team USA is truly a special and always memorable experience. I was born in Canada (moved when. I was very young) and became a US citizen when I was nineteen. So honored and blessed to wear the Team USA kit.
What makes the experience so special?
I will once again be competing on Team USA with my wife Betty. She went through more than 4 months of chemo for her cancer, then had a bone marrow transplant and is now cancer free. This all happened literally when Covid became a pandemic in the US. Her first race back was US Nationals in Milwaukee and she had the fastest overall female swim and earn a spot to be competing in Abu Dhabi.
What is your goal for Abu Dhabi?
To enjoy the whole experience. Having fun while giving my best is what I want to experience. Besides racing with my wife, we have some other good friends, Jim and Tracy Aust, who we met years ago while competing for Team USA that will also be racing. Not only will I be racing but playing cheerleader for so many. Watching the Elite Women and Men race will be a blast. Planning on seeing a lot of this gorgeous city when not racing or playing a cheerleader.
Which Elite athletes do you think will win the races in Abu Dhabi?
Female - Taylor Knibb USA.
Male - Kristian Blummenfelt NOR (why not, he wins almost everything else and is a good role model and real nice guy).
Review the Age-Group start lists and watch the races in Abu Dhabi over on TriathlonLIVE.tv, 24-26 November.
