On land or by sea, Michael Lorne has proved over some 56 years of sporting life that the benefits of regular exercise are a harvest that never ends.

And never has that harvest been more fruitful than over the past year as Lorne, a health physicist at Pearl Harbor, has garnered an impressive and likely unprecedented wealth of age-group accolades in a variety of recreational sporting events.

Over the past 12 months, the Pupukea resident has finished in the top five in his age group in triathlon, biathlon, swimming, paddleboard, bodysurfing and surfing competitions.

He is believed to be the only local athlete to win his age group in both triathlon (the Honolulu Sprint Triathlon and North Shore Sprint Triathlon) and surfing (Steinlager Shaka Long Board Series at Sunset Beach).

Lorne's run of success began three years ago when he entered his first bodysurfing contest after a 34-year hiatus from athletic competition.

"My youngest kid (Marin Lorne) is 17 and I found that I had more time," Lorne said. "I figured if I wanted to get into contests, it was now or never."

Growing up in Marin County, Calif., Lorne had spent a typical beachside childhood surfing, bodysurfing, playing volleyball and running on the beach.

At San Francisco State, he competed in cross country and track (3-mile and steeplechase) before hanging up his cleats to pursue master's degrees in marine biology and physics.

Lorne moved to Hawai'i in 1978 in large part, he said, for the superior surfing opportunities.

And as he and wife Linda raised a family on the North Shore, Lorne spent his spare moments indulging in his love of the ocean, swimming, surfing and paddleboarding and whatever else the seasons would allow.

"I encourage everybody to do sports," Lorne said. "I just feel so much better when I (exercise). It's a natural high."

Yet, with a busy schedule that includes hour-and-a-half bus commutes to and from work, Lorne has to enjoy his highs in small doses.

Twice a week, he jumps in the pool for a half-hour swim during lunch. Sometimes he also runs around a nearby track after work.

A few times a week, he grabs his fins and runs to the beach near his home and spends the sunset hours bodysurfing. On weekends, he surfs or paddleboards then runs the beach.

"I like to mix it up," he said. "I never tire from working out because I look forward to it all day. I hop on the bus and when I get home, I'm ready to hit the ground running."

The cross-training regimen has served Lorne well. By running on sand, for example, he has managed to strengthen his muscles while minimizing damaging impact to his knees and other joints. Over the past 20 years, he has only suffered one significant setback, an arm injury sustained during a bicycle crash during the Honolulu Sprint Triathlon.

Lorne's lifetime of activity provided a solid base of overall fitness that allowed him to transition easily to weekend competition.

For his first triathlon, Lorne rode a used mountain bike and placed just outside the top five in his age group. With a standard road bike, his times steadily improved and he is now a virtual lock for the first or second spots in any given race.

In the last year, Lorne has finished tops in the North Shore Sprint Triathlon, the Magic Island Biathlon, the Ft. DeRussy Biathlon, the Steinlager Shaka Longboard Series at Sunset Beach, the Kailua Splash and Dash, and the Honolulu Triathlon. He's also placed fourth in the Pyramid Rock Bodysurf Championship, and fifth in Hawaii Paddleboard Championship, the Hale'iwa International Open (longboard) and two North Shore Swim Series events (Raging Isle Summer Sprint and Cholos Waimea 2000).

Amazingly, his accomplishments come without him focusing on or specifically training for any one event.

For Lorne, competitive success has grown out of consistent training in a variety of sports — a balance of activities he intends to maintain.

"I don't have any inclination to do longer races," he said "I moved to Hawai'i to surf. I love big waves. I've surfed Pipeline and all the big breaks. I'm not going to give that up to bike and run all the time. I prefer the balance."

Lorne's fitness base not only allows him to compete at a high level in a myriad of events, it also makes it possible for him to quickly regain fitness lost during extended breaks, such as his six-week jaunt to Africa last year.

Lorne's love of outdoor sports has been passed on to his daughters. Michelle, 23, is an accomplished equestrian and Marin is an up-and-comer in rodeo.

"My philosophy is that it's not what your dad did or what your sons do," Lorne said. "It's what you yourself accomplish. Get off the couch and enjoy the environment. You'll feel better, your digestive system will work better, and you'll feel better about yourself.

"I'm gung-ho about whatever people want to do, whether it's walking, swimming, absolutely anything."