Then in 1988 Riley, 52, took on his biggest about 12 ounces.)
challenge—the now legendary Hawaii Ironman, Now 72, even The Iron-
a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile man feels his years. He has
run behemoth. As part of his training, Riley recently been out of action
would pedal six nonstop hours in his garage twice: once with a hernia
on his Computrainer. and once in a bicycle crack-
Despite his admitted weaknesses in swimming up. His miles per hour are
(“Norris Hoyt would roll over in his grave if he lower. “Runners lose about
R
ILEY
AH
heard this,” says Riley.), he won his first Ironman five seconds per mile per
EBOR
and then three more in a row. In 1989 he set a course year,” he explains. He now
D
B
Y
record of 10 hours and 14 minutes, a 16-minute focuses primarily on run-
O
margin over any previous 50-plus competitor. ning, his strongest triathlon P
HOT
Entrants get 16 hours to reach the finish line event, and is cutting back on
where a medical tent may be filled with “several full-length marathons. “You generally don’t run
hundred” competitors, says Riley, who was marathons when you get into your seventies,”
revived after three of his races. “You feel terrible.” explains Riley. “It puts too much strain on the
Though he has bagged many trophies, money knees, the hips and the groin. That’s how you get
has been less plentiful. Sponsorships from nutri- injured.”
tional products such as Omegasource and Hammer Yet today he remains the U.S. running king in
Nutrition may total $1,000 a year and prize money the 70-74 age group. Indeed last year, at 71, he
perhaps $500. (He pocketed just $25 when he won became the first runner in United States Track and
the Middletown Half Marathon.) Now a top name Field Association (USTFA) history to be crowned
in road running, some organizers pay his travel the Outstanding Athlete of the Year for two con-
and lodging. The prestigious New York Marathon secutive years.
will cover his costs this year if he decides to run. And in May he set a course record at the
And much of his equipment (he runs through a Naples (Fla.) half marathon that gives him a shot
pair of $95 sneakers each month) is supplied at winning the title for a third time—a record that
gratis. Right now, he particularly fancies a pair of could stand for decades.
sneakers Nokia just sent him that weighs only 6.5 Half way through his life Riley discovered he
ounces each. (A typical running shoe weighs was blessed with powerful lungs.
He then made an even more significant dis-
Keeping in shape at age 72
covery: that he possessed the exceptional motiva-
tion and extraordinary self-discipline required to
Here is the mileage the top 70-plus reach the very top rank of athletes in the world.
U.S. Track and Field Association runner
Consider the possibilities if Mr. Hersey had
The Ironman world
puts in to keep his title.
launched track before Riley graduated.
champion: In 1989,
Boston Marathon Director Dave McGill said
Bill Riley ’55 won
Miles Avg. Miles
this about Riley in Primetime magazine: “I am in this daunting
Per YearPer Week*
awe of Bill’s talent, his longevity, his endurance,
behemoth of a 2.4
Run 1,800 35
his commitment. … As we all begin to truly feel
mile swim, 112-mile
Bike 3,000 90
the aging process … we have Bill Riley to look to
bike ride, and
26.2-mile run.
Swim 85 1.6
as an example that if you do the right things, you
His time: 10 hours
can … prolong the inevitable.”
and 14 minutes,
*Actual miles per week vary by season.
a course record
for his age group. Tom Stevenson ’55 is a classmate of Bill Riley.
ST. GEORGE’S 2008 SUMMER BULLETIN 13
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