Ann Gilbert turned her love of healthy living into a Montana triathlon that brought together women from across the country. Gilbert is a longtime Helena resident and a retired nurse who worked at Saint Peter’s Hospital for 34 years. She created the Montana Women’s Triathlon to help women build healthier lifestyles through sports.
Ann Gilbert turned her love of healthy living into a Montana triathlon that brought together women from across the country. Gilbert is a longtime Helena resident and a retired nurse who worked at Saint Peter’s Hospital for 34 years. She created the Montana Women’s Triathlon to help women build healthier lifestyles through sports.
Helena, Mont. — Ann Gilbert turned her love of healthy living into a Montana triathlon that brought together women from across the country.
Gilbert is a longtime Helena resident and a retired nurse who worked at Saint Peter’s Hospital for 34 years. She created the Montana Women’s Triathlon to help women build healthier lifestyles through sports.
"I got into it pretty quick. And I eventually started doing longer races and then once I quit doing the longer races I got tied into one to share with other people," Gilbert said.
Gilbert said the idea took shape in 2013 while she volunteered as a representative for USA Triathlon in Anchorage, Alaska. She said that experience convinced her to bring a similar event back to Helena.
"They asked me to go up there and be a representative for USA Triathlon and I went up there and the power of that race was amazing. Just the power coming off the transition area and it was impressive. Then I just thought I got to do this when I go back to Helena," Gilbert said.
It took two years to launch the race. Gilbert worked through fundraising, city permits, law enforcement scheduling and volunteer recruitment to get it started.
"Just having that support behind me was crucial," Gilbert said.
The first women’s triathlon was held in 2015 with nearly 80 athletes. In 2026, the event drew 300 women from Montana and 21 states.
Gilbert said her nursing background still shapes how she runs the event and how she encourages participants.
"What I like is to use my nursing skills to encourage people to get healthier about their lives so they don’t end up in the hospital as much or at all. So those two things come together. Nursing and helping other people feel healthier about their lifestyle choices," Gilbert said.
This year’s youngest athlete was 9-year-old Gannett Bertalot of Whitefish. She joined after watching her sister and mother take part last year.
"Well Olivia really liked it and I’m like I want to do bigger races too and I don’t want my sister to get ahead of me on it," Bertalot said. "I like how everyone is so kind and encouraging and I just love doing it with friends."
The oldest participant this year was 80-year-old Marge Kuchynka of Weippe, Idaho. She said her daughter first encouraged her to enter nine years ago and she has returned each year since.
"There was a woman that was partaking that year in 2017 when I did it who was close to 90-years-old and I was so inspired by her," Kuchynka said.
For Gilbert, the event’s broad age range stood out as one of its most meaningful parts.
"Everyone is smiling and everyone has had a good time. Then I hear the stories about what it means to people and that’s just huge. It’s very rewarding," Gilbert said.
(The Center Square) - Octogenerian U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., overcame an intense primary challenge from a candidate who said he was too old to serve the people of Massachusetts.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Post a comment as Guest
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.