Bentson Pedals to Medals

Over 10,000 athletes competed at the Summer National Senior Games August 1-15 in Palo Alto and among them were Pacific Palisades cyclists John and Sheridan Bentson. Both qualified at the California Senior Games last June in the first races ever for both of them. John competed in the 70-74 age group of the 20K Road Race and 40K Road Race while his wife competed in the 65-69 category in both of those races (placing fifth in both) as well as the 5K Time Trial (in which she won the gold medal) and the 10K Time Trial (in which won the silver medal). Sheridan worked with a coach and had to follow a specific training plan that included biking exercises, gym workouts, nutrition, and deep rest periods. Both John and Sheridan belong to Velo Club La Grange, a cycling club which sent 12 riders to the Senior Nationals. Sheridan’s first race was on a Thursday and she blazed to the finish of the 20K in 40 minutes and 38 seconds. The 40K was the following afternoon. At an average speed of 22.6 miles per hour, Sheridan took first place in the Monday morning 5K Time Trial with a time of 8:13, a full 12 seconds faster than runner-up Beatrice Burns of Hamden, Connecticut. She then averaged 21 miles per hour in capturing the silver in the 10K in 17:45 later that afternoon. The races were held on out-and-back courses along Canada Road, with riders starting at 30-second intervals. “Time Trials are called the ‘Race of Truth’ because it’s just a rider against the clock, without any strategies or help from teammates,” said Sheridan, who turned 66 on August 12. “Being part of a whole La Grange Grand Masters Team made it an especially exciting and rewarding set of races. The 5K is really short and intense, and the whole race flew by smoothly. It felt good. In fact, I went faster than I have gone anywhere ever.” Meanwhile, Sheridan’s husband John, 72, completed the 20K in 43:11 and raced the 40K in one hour, 32 minutes and 49 seconds, good enough for 17th place.