Wayland Town Crier 10/25/10: Charlotte Russell: First triathlon at age 79!. Russell’s Garden Center’s Charlotte Russell completed her first triathlon on Sept. 26. At 79 years young, her accomplishment makes her a local inspiration. We’re all familiar with the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, and its celebration of peak athletic performance. But athleticism isn’t just about top finishers. At 79, Russell finished in the back of the pack, but came in first in her age group, and in the hearts of her family and the community. Russell raced at Webster Lake in Webster, Mass., in the well-known Danskin women’s-only triathlon series. The race, a sprint-distance triathlon, consists of a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike ride and 3-mile run.