ZELIENOPLE — Thomas R. Murray has run his last triathlon, but he hopes to help others keep up the pace.

Murray, 80, who has participated in seven Ironman World Championships and more than 300 triathlons, will be selling his bicycles and equipment during a one-day sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, at 1 Parkedge Drive.

“I’m 80 years old. What am I going to do with that stuff?” asked Murray, who participated in his last Ironman competition when he was 70 and his last local triathlon when he was 75.

“I’ve had health problems. We all get to the point where there’s something that will hold you back,” he said. “Mostly it was my eyesight that was compromised, but I’m doing OK now.”

Still, he doesn’t have any more use for the five triathlon racing bikes, a mountain bike, a road bicycle, wetsuits, bike shoes, helmets, bike tools, tires, inner tubes, clothing and three sets of triathlon racing wheels.

“The wheels make the bike more aerodynamic with fewer spokes and a harder surface that knocks the wind away and makes your bike go faster depending on what type of course you are racing on,” Murray said.

The money raised will go to Get Fit Families to help youths attend triathlon camps in Zelienople Community Park.

Murray said Joella Baker, the group’s founder, trains would-be young triathletes in summer camps at the park that last six to seven hours a day.

Baker said she’s been running the camps either at the park in the summer or at Rose E. Schneider YMCA in Cranberry Township in the winter for youths and adults since 2009. This summer she’s had 54 youths in the summer camp.

“I know him very well,” she said of Murray. “He’s been a huge supporter of the camps.”

Baker said the camps offer a scholarship program for some of the participants.

“It’s very expensive, so it’s really important to have a scholarship program,” Baker said.

Baker said she’s been running triathlons since 1988 and lost count after 300 of the number she’s participated in.

“It’s really a lifestyle,” she said. “Once you start it, it becomes part of your life. The three disciplines are challenging and it keeps you fit and active.”

The best part she said that if you’re injured, say while running, you can keep up with your training in the cycling and swimming parts until healed.

Murray said triathlons can be of differing length but they all start with a swim, then a bike ride and finally a race.

An Ironman Triathlon is more uniform. It starts with a 2.4 mile swim, then a 112 mile bike ride and ends with a 26 mile marathon.

“So, that’s all day,” Murray said. “The pros do it in nine hours. My best time was 10.5 hours.”

“The hardest part would be the run because you are at the end. You’ve already done the swim and the 112-mile bike run. You are kind of pooped by then. You really have to be in shape to run 26 miles,” he said.

He said he was fortunate that he ran his own real estate management business. His son and daughter could take up some of his duties while he trained for the races.

Murray started out as a marathon runner participating in the Boston Marathon three times when he was in his 40s.

When triathlons became more popular, he participated in his first one at Moraine State Park in 1983.

He decided to concentrate on triathlons. In the course of 30 years he estimated he participated in 10 a season.

“I don’t think that’s a lot,” he said. “I just love the sport. I was never injured, never had hip or knee problems. Biking was my strongest suit. ”

Out of the 300 triathlons he competed in, Murray said he came away with100 wins. “I didn’t always finish in the top three, I had some bad races,” he said. He finished second or third in his age group in the Ironman events.

The Kona Ironman was his favorite despite some punishing conditions.

“You get very tense, very nervous. It’s covered by NBC,” he said. “You’re hoping you don’t drown. You get pushed and kicked. You try to get clear of other people.”

The marathon section which is around the seashore, he said, is very difficult.

“The run is very steep. There’s no trees and no shade. It’s 26 miles through lava fields on the big island,” he said.

Now, Murray said he spends his time hiking around the trail system around Zelienople which is why he’s decided to pass on his equipment to younger competitors.

"I know I will never use this stuff,“ he said. ”It is really good equipment and someone should take advantage of it.“