Reaching The Golden Years Of Running Just 149 Bloomies Recorded Times Lower Than Their Ages
George Boulden was 59 when he first started running.
It was 1978 and his son challenged him to run Bloomsday. Boulden finished the race in one hour and 15 minutes.
Now at 80, the north Spokane resident is even faster.
Last year, Boulden finished Bloomsday in 62.79 minutes, the second fastest in his age group. He also was one of an exclusive group - 149 people out of 56,156 finishers last year - whose Bloomsday time was less than his age.
“Running keeps you healthy,” said Boulden, who wore his baby-blue 1978 Bloomsday shirt one recent morning. “At my age, not too many people feel as good as I do.”
Most who achieved the same distinction last year were men in their 50s or 60s. Some were close calls: 60-year-old Bob Eckenrode of Spokane finished the race in 59.68 minutes; Rick Barbero, 42, of Eugene, Ore., made it to the finish line in 41.88.
Boulden, however, was way ahead. He still pushes himself, striving to run at least five miles a day on his treadmill. When the weather is warm, he runs around town or at the track at Shadle Park High School.
Marian Boulden, his wife of 52 years, worries about him because he doesn’t hear very well anymore. Whenever he leaves the house, she asks the usual questions: “Where are you going? How long will you be gone?”
But she’s also proud, she said. And she still bakes brownies for him to eat after every race.
Boulden’s workout room in the basement is proof of his success: Medals and ribbons hang on the walls. Dozens of trophies sit on the shelf. Race numbers from past Bloomsdays decorate the room like wallpaper.
“Some people can’t believe it,” said Boulden, who overcame prostate cancer three years ago. “A lot of people aren’t as athletic as I am.”
This elite group of runners - the age-busters - come from all over the United States and Canada. One traveled from as far as Eichwalde, Germany.
Second oldest to Boulden was Les Leyland, 78, of Trail, British Columbia. His time was 74.22 minutes. The youngest was Bob Boland, 40, of Great Falls, Mont., who finished the race in 39.43 minutes.
All have trained hard, of course. But most impressive are the older ones - those in their 70s and 80s who can still run the race faster than most people half their age.
Before suffering a stroke in September, Wayne Eacker, 75, could finish the race in less than an hour. Last year, he came in fourth in his age group with a finish time of 66.63 minutes.
This year, however, he plans to finish Bloomsday in a wheelchair.
“I’m just thankful that I had my health that long,” said Eacker, his speech slightly slurred. “I’ve always believed in exercise.”
June and Joe Machala of Spokane also beat their ages by their finish times. The couple, who has been married for 24 years, started running the race together 12 years ago.
June, who was 65 last year, ran Bloomsday in 55.65. Joe, then 54, finished in 47.65.
“I struggle with arthritis,” June Machala said. “But I keep going. Running makes me feel good.”
Lenn Dompier, 71, is another member of this elite group.
Last year, the Davenport, Wash., resident came in first in his age group with a time of 58.97.
Like Boulden and many others, Dompier got into the sport thanks to Bloomsday.
He started slow - one mile, three times a week in 1975. In no time, he was able to run at least six miles a day.
He may be a self-described “ice creamaholic,” but Dompier has kept his weight down, too. It’s been more than half a century since his high school graduation, but the retired conservationist has gained only 9 pounds since.
“There are a lot of people my age who run well,” said Dompier, who used to drive all over Washington state each weekend to run in fun runs. “The younger runners are always impressed at what people over 50 can do, but it’s just a matter of staying in shape.”
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