Interview with Bill Boulter

First things first-we are not to call him "stud" anymore, even though he is. A couple of things about Bill Boulter, local Charleston age grouper: he is modest to the point of being a tough interview, and he is the nicest person you would want to know. So, he is too modest and too nice to accept the designation of "stud." Okay, Bill, but how will people know who we're talking about now? There are lots of Bills but only one "Stud Bill."

William Boulter is a 72-year-old local athlete who began running at age 55. He started participating in triathlon "three years ago, as a challenge." You might have seen him at the Charleston Sprint Series, or the Kiawah Olympic distance triathlon. He is the guy with white hair, friendly blue eyes and the buff body of a 24 year old, if that 24 year old was in exceptional good shape. He is an inspiration and a role model, not only for his athletic success as an older man, but more importantly, for his infectious enthusiasm, good humor and his sincerity.

Now he's probably really embarrassed.

Although he finds that giving an interview is more difficult than training or racing, in the three sports of triathlon, he finds swimming the "most taxing." He enjoys the bike, but has been told he'd be faster if he updated his unbelievably heavy bike. Bill's strength is the run. Although Bill often wins his age group in road races, he does have a regular competitor in triathlon. Sometimes they trade off first and second place. Bill doesn't mind losing to him.

"Nice guy," says Bill.

Bill has completed tris at the sprint distance and the Olympic distance. His training schedule is staggering. In addition to 3 swims, 3 runs, and 3 bikes every week, he finds time to incorporate 5 days of weight training.

He admits, "Bill stays tired all the time."

Asked how he keeps healthy, Bill reveals that he began a stretching program only recently, after a nagging hamstring problem. Now he stretches every day. "It's the first thing I do in the morning."

He also does a series of abdominal exercises, including leg lifts. The leg lifts, should you dare to try them, can be found on page 87 of the Official U.S. Navy SEALs Workout Guide!

Bill is buff enough to be a Navy SEAL, but chose to follow other paths. He has sailed around the world two times as a Merchant Marine. He later joined the Air Force. He has also worked with the FAA, where he and coworkers used to run the air traffic control tower steps 5-10 times a day, just for the fun of it. Bill has three grown children, who are also active runners, and has been married 49 years.

To date, Bill's most memorable running event was the Kiawah Half Marathon about three years ago. He set the state record in his age group, 70-75. His time was 1:42:36. He has completed many half marathons, but never a marathon.

"Everyone I know who does marathons ends up hurt," he says.

So an Ironman may not be in Bill's future. His competition can rest easy.

Why does he do triathlons?

"Self satisfaction. Just being able to do it."

That's a good thing for the rest of us to remember. Why do we tri? Because we are able to.

Thanks, Mr. Bill.