Cheryl Bennett's students at Kamehameha Schools may think she's a little off in the head, but that doesn't bother her.

"They look at me as kind of the crazy lady who's (on campus) at 5 in the morning, running the hills at Kamehameha, working out in the gym or swimming in the pool with the swim team," Bennett said, laughing.

Crazy, sure, for staying fit and healthy.

"I want to set an example for my students," said Bennett, who teaches art to ninth- through 12th-graders at the Kapalama private school.

At 57, Bennett is passionate about swimming, cycling and running. Bennett has done triathlons, rough water swim races, 100-mile bike rides, marathons and cross country ski races, among other competitions.

"Baby boomers are living longer, and I want to make sure that I'm healthy," Bennett said. "And I think staying fit is a big key."

That age-old excuse of never having time to exercise just doesn't cut it, Bennett added.

"You brush your teeth, you eat, you make time for all those things, so you have to just make it a part of your life," she said.

Last year, Bennett won in her age group at both the Ko Olina Triathlon and the Na Wahine Sprint Triathlon. Most recently, Bennett and her husband, Curt Fehsenfeld, completed the 100-mile Honolulu Century Ride, a cycling event. Now Bennett is training for the Honolulu Marathon.

The key to surviving such long-distance competitions: "I'm always eating or drinking something every 15 minutes," said Bennett, who's never without her bottled water during these events. "If you're hungry or you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated and your muscles are already breaking down."

It's the same advice on everyday exercising she offers to others: "Eat before you are hungry and drink before you are thirsty when working out," she said.

Doing events such as marathons and triathlons is thrilling for Bennett.

"I figure, if I don't do these races, I would never on a given day do any of those distances," Bennett said, laughing. "And it's fun, it's healthy, you get out there and you meet all kinds of interesting people from literally all over the world."

And Bennett has seen a lot of the world, cycling thousands of miles throughout countries such as England, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland. Next summer she'll cycle through Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; and Budapest, Hungary.

"It's the best way to travel," Bennett said. "I read somewhere that your bicycle is your passport, and it is."

While Bennett enjoys hitting the asphalt on two wheels, she's happiest in the water.

"I think I was born a fish," she said, laughing. "I've always loved swimming."

She also enjoys kayaking and has taken golf and surf lessons.

"I have fun and that is all that matters," she said.

Bennett has been active all her life. She studied ballet and did modern dance all through college. She also taught aerobics for 15 years.

These days exercising has become even more essential for Bennett, who said she has a hectic life.

"I tend to get depressed and have anxiety issues, and I would never want to take medication, so the exercise actually almost is a necessity," Bennett said. "If I don't work out, I tend to feel those emotions."

It's her stress reliever, she said.

"It just makes me feel mentally better," Bennett said.

"I think it makes me a better teacher and it just puts me in a much, much better mood for the day."

Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.