Ageless Adventure – Point of Vue January 2024

George Robichaux of Houma is proving that an active life is something you can accomplish at any age, one achievement at a time. The 66-year-old athlete recently gained the attention of thousands of readers when the news broke that in fall of 2023, he kicked off his recent retirement by biking 3,107 miles across the USA in just 58 days– but his love for all things active started long before then.

George was born and raised in Thibodaux as the fourth of nine children, and recalls always having an interest in sports and athletics– despite all the challenges that came along with them. “I was very interested in sports, but not any good at them, to be quite honest with you,” said George. “I was small and a bit of a late bloomer. So while I was active as far as being involved, I was the kid on the sidelines, and I rarely had the chance to actually participate other than in practices.”

After graduating from E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux, George went to Louisiana State University and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Commercial Banking and a Master’s degree in Finance, and recalls his love for sports turning into something more serious during this time. “When I got to LSU, I was able to participate in intramural sports which was a lot of fun and kept my interest alive,” said George. “But during my graduate program, things began to change with just one P.E. running class, when I began to learn more about the benefits of running and aerobics for your heart. My grandfather died of a heart attack in his late fifties, which was something that inspired me to really commit to running and fitness.” George continued his P.E. running class, and discovered his love for the sport.

Within just 18 months of running experience, George completed his first marathon in December of 1980. “Things were different back then– we didn’t have water stations, it was a warm day, and I dehydrated fast,” said George.

“But I finished and I had a great time, and continued to run as much as I could.” George ran his next two marathons in 1983 and 1984, before suffering a foot injury that forced him to stop running for a while. George recalls seeing his foot injury as potentially ending his interest in fitness, as he was sure that he would not be able to properly run again. Although he was eventually able to return to running, this injury sparked his interest in cycling and later, swimming.

“I got a flier in the mail about the MS 150 Charity Bike Ride, which was 75 miles from Hammond to McComb as a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis,” said George. “I thought that would be interesting, signed up, and had a lot of fun completing it. A little while after that I was in New Orleans talking to someone about biking and running, and they suggested a triathlon– but I couldn’t swim. They said, ‘how do you know you can’t swim?’ and I thought, okay, maybe I should give it a try.” George went on to complete a master swim class at YMCA to improve his skills, and before long, had added swimming to his list of athletic skills, and completed his first triathlon in 1987.

George took a break from vigorous exercise and competition during the 1990’s and early 2000’s after getting married in 1989 and having three young daughters. “I was still exercising a bit when my girls were young, but not like I had been before,” said George. “I was trying to be reasonable about what I was doing and wanted to ensure they got all the attention they deserved. I was very happy with just a small bit of exercise, but in 2007, I slowly began to get back into competition.” George finished his 4th marathon in 2008, 24 years after this last one. Over a several year period, George completed seven marathons, his first Half Iron Man in 2010, a 100 mile bike ride, and countless other small races. George finished his first Iron Man in Cozumel, Mexico in 2014, finishing with a time of 13.5 hours (Iron Man races consist of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, and a marathon), and in January of 2022, George qualified for the Boston Marathon, and ran it in April of 2023.

With countless athletic accomplishments under his belt, George decided to take on his biggest challenge in September of 2023, 18 months after his retirement from South Louisiana Bank– a 58 day biking journey across the southern U.S. “Riding my bike across the country has been something I have always wanted to do,” said George. “Ever since junior high I had heard about people doing it and thought it would be really cool– but I had to wait until retirement because you need to take ample time off. I was very excited to challenge myself.”

George’s journey began in San Diego, California on September 24, 2023, with 3,107 miles and 86,594 feet of biking ahead of him. His trip took him from California, to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, before finally finishing in St. Augustine, Florida on Monday, November 20, 2023. “I think the biggest challenge of this ride was the heat in the desert and the uphill days,” said George. “One day we reached an 8,100 foot elevation which was really difficult. We also had several days where we climbed 4,000-6,000 feet– in total over the trip, we climbed 86,594. We were biking through rain, heat, cold, wind, and more– it was not easy, but so worth it.”

With a total of 14 marathons, 3 Iron Man Races, a 58-day bike trip, several cycling races, and countless small competitions, George has no plans to stop his activeness, and encourages others to do the same. “To me, the biggest advice I can give people about starting to exercise is the commitment– people think it has to hurt, but it doesn’t have to hurt,” said George. “You don’t have to go at a pace or effort level that is going to hurt. You can get better with consistency, while trusting your body’s ability to adapt and improve. The main thing is getting yourself out the door, and getting rid of the excuses. I find that even on days I don’t want to exercise, if I still go out, within five minutes I am so glad I’m there. Find your people who will hold you accountable, and get to it!”

In the world of athletics, where determination meets dedication, George’s unwavering spirit and commitment shine as a testament to the triumph of hard work and perseverance– and everyone in Houma can’t wait to see what he will accomplish next!