80 years of get up and go

When I called Bill Boulter in the early afternoon last Thursday, I started the conversation by asking if he had worked out already.

"Oh, yeah, three hours," he responded.

"Three hours, what'd you do?"

"I ran six miles, worked out with weights for about an hour and took a Spinning class," Bill reported, then gave a characteristic chuckle.

That's not too shabby for a man who's going to turn 80 this Thursday.

And yet I wasn't entirely surprised at his daily accomplishments. For more than a decade, I've observed Bill working out and racing. Because of his age and attitude, he has been my

No. 1 local inspiration.

At a time in life when most people are having heart surgeries, struggling with arthritis and finding excuses not to move, Bill has been out there competing in road races and triathlons and beating people who are often up to 50 years younger than him. He exercises seven days a week, mixing running, swimming, biking or Spinning and lifting weights.

The effort shows on his svelte 5-11 1/2-inch body that ranges between 145 and 151 pounds. Combined with his white hair, blue eyes and gleaming smile, Bill has Hollywood movie star good looks.

Topping it all off is his always-on sense of humor, which many studies also suggest helps extend longevity.

Not-so-secret admirers

I'm not alone in my admiration.

In an e-interview last fall with 52-year-old Tom Mather, one of the most accomplished runners in Charleston who continues to vie for state age group records, he said this of Bill: "We all want to be William Boulter-esque in our future years." When read that quote, Bill shot back: "By the same token, I'd like to be more Tom Mather-esque."

Good friend and another Charleston running legend, 63-year-old Anne Boone, knows the obstacles of continuing to train and compete at an older age and called Bill "one of my heroes."

"Here I am, almost 64, and seeing Bill gives me hope. There are so many people my age who just give up. He's just a remarkable man and has a wonderful attitude."

Bill is frankly not comfortable with being an inspiration. He is a humble guy who says that the people he sees at races are his inspiration. He draws youthful energy from them, including a cadre of younger senior runners in the Charleston area.

One future obstacle

Despite all the positive attitude and dedicated exercise, Bill does face an eventual health challenge.

For several years, his doctor has been keeping an eye on his right carotid artery, which is about 65 percent to 75 percent blocked. It's enough to warrant semi-annual exams. Bill wants to put off surgery as long as he can because he knows the risks not only of surgery but trying to get back into fighting shape at age 80.

This year, after all, he has his eyes set on competing in the 33rd annual Cooper River Bridge Run on March 27 and possibly in all five sprint triathlons in the 20th annual Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series.

Other than the carotid artery, though, Bill says his health is excellent and jokes, "I still have my prostate."

He points to exercise as being the main reason for his good health. And he even didn't start until age 55 when he was working as a radar and navigation technician and started running the 90 stairs up to the air-traffic control towers.

"There's no substitute for exercise," he says. "The body is made to move. You've got to do it."

He also knows that he is blessed with good genes, but at the same time, he doesn't take that for granted and says that eating habits play a role in health, too.

"My main concern is saturated fats. I try to stay away from red meat and I read labels. If it's high in saturated fat, I don't buy it."

A tolerant wife

Surprisingly, this late-life love of exercise has not rubbed off on his wife of 57 years.

Lynn Boulter, 74, admits to worrying about how much Bill exercises, but doesn't give him grief about it.

"He's happy and he's doing what he enjoys doing," says Lynn, who is active at their church, Fort Johnson Baptist.

She recalls once booking them a trip to London at the same time as the Bridge Run and she half-joked, "He hasn't forgiven me since then. ... He hasn't missed a Bridge Run since then."

The Boulters, who like to take cruises, recently returned from one originating in Argentina and went around the tip of South America to Uruguay. Lynn recalled that Bill kept up his running and that people asked who was the old man running around the deck with his short pants on.

That man is Bill Boulter. My inspiration. Happy 80th, good friend.

A weekly routine

Here is Bill Boulter's typical weekly workout schedule:

--Monday: Swim at either St. Andrew's Family Fitness Plus or Martin Luther King Jr. Pool; lift weights.

--Tuesday: Run; lift weights; and bike/take a Spinning class at St. Andrew's.

--Wednesday: Swim and lift weights.

--Thursday: Run; lift weights; and bike/take a Spinning class.

--Friday: Swim and lift weights.

--Saturday: Run; lift weights; bike/take Spinning class; perhaps compete in a race.

--Sunday: Run long.

Reach David Quick at 937-5516 or dquick@postandcourier.com.

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