A Rivalry for the Ages students: a young Sylvester Stallone.
Futrell made his Ironman Kona debut at 72 in 1992, the first of six consecutive appearances. He posted his best time (15:35:23) that year, finishing third in his age group to two guys who had won gold medals in swimming at the 1936 Olympics. He would have finished fourth were it not for a push
at the end when he caught Norton Davey, who at 74 had been featured by media outlets for years as one of Ironman’s oldest competitors. (Davey died in 2003). “I managed to catch him with 300 yards to go, right when you can start to hear all the crowd noise,” Futrell said. “Looking back, that’s been my most memorable accomplishment.” Taylor, meanwhile, spent his career “preaching and teaching,” serving 45 years as a pastor for various small churches and spending 18 as a college journalism professor.
He thought of pursuing a Ph.D. in journalism at Southern Illinois University but did not want to deal with extensive research. So he switched to the health education department, opting to focus on wellness lifestyles rather than public health.
He earned the Ph.D. three days after his 75th birthday. “I didn’t want to go downhill mentally rapidly like so many of my peers had,” says Taylor, who moved to Atlanta in 1993 to be closer to his grandchildren. Taylor did not make his triathlon debut until 1981, the year he turned 60. “I’m very slow but it’s an inspiration to those in their 30s, 40s, and 50s to see an old man doing this and know they can keep it up,” he says. “When I got my health education degree my concern was how I was going to educate people to revive their bodies. Triathlon helps me show them it’s possible.” When it comes to longevity, Taylor and Futrell have followed the proper game plan — and not just when it comes to physical activity. They’ve remained active socially and in their communities. Taylor was married for 52 years before losing his wife to cancer in 1998; he remarried 12 years ago. Futrell was married for 62 years before his wife died, also from cancer, two years ago. Both follow healthy nutrition plans, though not as restrictive as one might expect. Taylor follows a low- fat diet, eating meat only once or twice a week and consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables. Taylor says his wife hasn’t been able to wean him off sugar, but he’s cut back significantly.
Futrell maintains a constant weight of 152 despite only recently eliminating his evening ice cream ritual. He no longer drinks coffee and follows a healthy diet heavy on fruits. For years he’s gone to bed at 9:30 and risen at 7.
He recently added regular 45-minute spin classes to his routines, which include two to three hours of daily training. He averages one triathlon or duathlon a month
60 USA TRIATHLON FALL 2011
A heart specialist recently told the 90-year-old Taylor he had the heart of a 55-year-old athlete.
during the season and runs 5ks during the Florida winters. “I’ve stuck to my routines, goals, and monitored my eating,” Futrell says. “I’ve been doing that for a lot of years and keeping that regular schedule is important.”
As for regrets, both wish they knew 60 years ago the importance of taking care of their skin. Futrell has been treated for skin cancer and sees a dermatologist regularly. Taylor, whose first wife died from melanoma, says he also keeps an eye on his skin since “my face is a mess from all that sun in my early years.” Other than that, they remain models of good health. A heart specialist at Emory University recently told Taylor he had the ticker of a 55-year-old athlete. Futrell is such a popular figure in Florida triathlon circles that a race director of youth triathlons in the Tampa Bay area invites him to attend events. Futrell, whose accomplishments are chronicled at
charliefutrell.com, shows up in race attire with 91 written on his calf. Parents jump at the opportunity to shoot a rear-calf photo of their children alongside him. Futrell enjoys talking to groups, especially youngsters who inevitably ask how he can swim in Florida lakes when alligators could be present. He smiles and dodges the question, “They’ll never bother you unless they’re hungry.” Like Taylor, he’s happy to provide an example of healthy living. “I always enjoy it when parents and grandparents of athletes tell me I’ve inspired them because of what I’m showing is possible at 90,” Futrell says. “I plan to keep competing for as long as my body will let me.”
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