European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 23, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Far left. Bill and Chris Booker wot out in their cellar during the triathlon off season Lett Mike Grade a sergeant assigned to the 712th military intelligence in in Augsburg West Germany Hitt the streets to get the running portion of his training. Above Bill Booker puts a Row tire on his Mountain Bike. Is 1. Erin nil twit a. Cycle race 26.2-mile run and 2.4-mile swim. \1any More men Ihan women take up the triathlon Al be and abroad la s easier in Europe the women i really Good but share Aren t very Many Chris says j triathlon she competed in aug. 28 consisted of a i0-mil0 swim a 25-mile Bike rids and a six mile run. Kathleen Delgado 23. Speculated Why More women n t take up the triathlon. The Ohio native an army gears stationed in ludwigs Burg Wesl Germany has on a triathlete or 4 years and a distance runner Lor she competes on a German triathlon team. Maybe women Are scared to iry three events she is. You re going to be out there two hours in a Short  Bill Booker did t make the ironman Lime trials the it time he attempted them. In 1984. In 1985, however earned himself the title of sixth Best military athlete in the world finishing the ironman 196m Long 1,200 enl ranks with a Lime of 11 hours and 11 Nules. He placed 14lh in the 40-44 age group in a european ironman Competition july 28 in Roth 3st Germany he finished in 10 hours Hal and was liked eighth Overall. Us cruise has Long been a part of Bill s Lile. I have on doing something since my Early Leens to stay in upe triathlon olfers the competitive aspect he is. You can locus your talents on getting in shape d get in the Best possible condition. When i throw be sports in there i keeps the boredom Down and 3 Competition makes it  being a trial late is also time consuming and pensive. Ii you re in a Field unit your schedule Bably won t allow you Lime to Irain and or compete my Active duty Iri alleles Are officers who can easier Rord the bicycles and assorted Riding gear tunning d Riding shoes wetsuit. And triathlon entry fees Lich run from 20 to 50 Marks per Competition in Jermany Bill Booker estimates he and his wife have Cal upwards of $5,000 on their Highl bicycles and Eillon related equipment. But Kathleen Delgado is proof a dedicated enlisted athlete can support the sport with a Lille judicious fidgeting. Her husband. Gilbert 24, a civilian is a Impe Tiline runner and occasional triathlete. Like the jokers the Delgados train Logcher. I m Only an e-5.1 Don t make a Tot of  she is but i Don t go out at night it depends on where in want to put your  Kathleen expects to win a place on the Lirosi team her German triathlon team in november. The first am is similar to the first string of a football team. Only athletes on the first team compete in competitions. Bis. Vinci i Wiley the entry fees and some other expenses incurred by the first team Are paid by the team As a whole. When the team sponsors a triathlon members not competing coordinate and supervise the event. Triathletes can win lucrative prizes Luggage Gilt certificates clothing and yes Cash. Kathleen Delgado likes the Cash. If i win Money i can put it Back Inlo the sport Sho says. There Are some adjustments to make when switching from a single sport even two sports to the triathlon. You must become willing to develop the discipline necessary to gel up Early in the morning and swim Lap alter Lap in a Lake or Pool to ride your Bike to work after work and or on weekends to run dozens of Miles a week to Trade Coke and potato chips Lor pasta fruits and vegetables. Brig. Gen. Tom Tempel Deputy commander of the 71h medical come in Heidelberg is Lucky. He s one of the few Iri alleles who can walk right Down the Hall to get diet advice from nutritionists. Like most general officers Tempel 49, has a Busy schedule. He can t always get away at noon to run. A recent desktop lunch consisted of a single serving can of tuna a banana and a bag of Rice cakes. It does t look like much Lor a Man who islands 6 2" and weighs 212 pounds but the Pennsylvania says he eats Rice cakes until he s satisfied. Tempe rides his Bike several Miles to and from work varying the Roule to avoid boredom. He slops at a Pool on the Way Home twice a week to swim laps. And when the weather is Good he swims in lakes for the distance practice. I m not a Good triathlete but i m an avid  he says Bill and Chris Booker have changed their diets and lifestyles completely since becoming triathletes. Before Chris says they ale what everybody else eals lots of meal Latty foods and ice Cream. Now. It s fruit vegetables pasta Rice and Beans. They have meal once or twice a week gone Are saturated gals found in processed foods Lihe Popcorn and Fried foods. They drink very Little and Don t smoke. Tempel enjoys the triathlon for the health and the fun of it and in t concerned in the least about winning. He had decided running was getting monotonous when he look up regular biking and swimming four years ago. It gives strength and adds the element of endurance you just Don i get from a run he says. It helps me maintain my fitness and keep track of my weight i would probably weigh 50 pounds More without it for the temples the Iri Allon is a family affair. Tom trains with his sons Ages 19 and 23. He also enters competitions Wilh them. He got an Over-40 exam and a Complete physical Blore taking up this strenuous sport even if i finish near Iho end i m Happy he says. I Don t go out to beat anybody i go out to have a Good time. They Lake a Shower Oal dinner and come Back to watch me  Tempel sees military advantages to soldiers taking up the triathlon. When the army s physical fitness program came into being in the late 70s, people did t Lake this stuff seriously including me he says. A Soldier does t have to be the fastest one around but he needs strength and endurance. The triathlon definitely prepares you of that. Tho a discipline for the training makes a belter Soldier makes a better athlete Makas a More mentally Alert  those who delve Inlo this demanding sport and stick with ii become fervent followers. Bill Booker won t say the triathlon is a religious experience but will say it s pretty  for others it s a game Chris Booker says o few women expert men Wilh the triathlon in an Effort to improve their social lives. I be seen women who do it to meet Guys. I think it s pretty Radical she says. You look so Crummy anyway. Your hair is plastered to your head besides la s the diligent female triathlete not lha dilettante who gets the physical results so pleasing to the Eye. It s a Nice payoff Chris admits. She believes her marriage is in better shape too. We be got a belter understanding of each other she says of herself and Bill. We have the same ideas about health wellness lifestyle. It requires a lot out of a person and the other one is left in the wings if he does t participate. It s like out at the bar drinking or out on saturday playing Golf he s doing it without you. Some of our friends have had problems with this on a labor Day weekend trip to Spain the bookers look to the coast on loot. We saw things no one else got to see because we were out running Chris says. They did take one Day off to relax. The triathlon is perceived by most people to be a. Sport reserved for olympic contenders. Untrue says Chris. You have to have common sense and you have to be in shape. You Don t have to be a superstar. The biggest payoff is you get a lot of attention. People think it s an elitist sport. They go. Goldlee it gives you instant  tober23,1988 the stars and stripes Page 15