'It's just hard to stop,' says runner, 84

WHO: Warren R. Bonney, who turns 85 on July 20, runs about 9 miles a week. His approximately 3-mile runs are done at the downtown YMCA track or on the streets of Watertown near his Holcomb Street home. The 1941 Watertown High School graduate and Navy veteran also downhill and cross-country skis and sailboards. This past winter, after 47 years of service, he retired as a volunteer for the National Ski Patrol.

WHEN DID YOU BEGIN RUNNING? "I ran cross-country at Watertown High School but I got kicked off the team because I really wasn't anything great, plus I was in a few other activities and I missed practice too many times.

"After I got out of the service, I took two years to get my business degree from Syracuse University. I was in the lumber business and traveled the whole Northeast.

"After that, I hardly got any exercise except maybe a game of volleyball or badminton."

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GET ACTIVE AGAIN? "It took 20 or 30 years before I realized I had to do something. In the mid-'70s, I entered 5K races. I sort of eased into events like the Lyme Triathlon.

"In the early 1980s, Fort Drum had a running club. It was great. We tried to do something every weekend. They would hold triathlons right there and use residential roads for running races."

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? "It's just hard to stop, that's all. It's just like the old, classic racers at the Tug Hill Tourathon. They come out every year.

"At the YMCA, I see all these guys running marathons. They inspire me."

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL DIET? "I probably spend too much money on vitamins. I switch around some. But you have to be careful or you'll get too much of certain vitamins.

"I eat six small meals a day. It's all about the glycemic index. If I do skip a meal, the evening one is the best one to skip.

"I try not to eat anything with trans fats and nothing with sugar in it. So my wife goes crazy. I eat a minimal amount of meat and no red meat."

HOW ELSE DO YOU KEEP IN SHAPE? "I do quite a bit of reading, like the Alternative Medicine Monthly Bulletin. You take that alternative medicine and homeopathy techniques and you could save on medicine. You wouldn't need Medicare. It'd be an easy way to cut medical costs.

"My wife and I have pacemakers. I'm wondering if I really need it.

"Page 2 of the Watertown Daily Times has a lot of scientific articles I enjoy. That's been very helpful. Also Dr. Donohue — I read him every night in the paper."

ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE CONSIDERING STARTING A FITNESS PROGRAM? "The YMCA is the best place to go. They will help you to outline a program."

If you know of someone to consider for a Q&A profile, contact Times staff writer Chris Brock at the Watertown Daily Times, 260 Washington St., Watertown N.Y., 13601 or e-mail him at cbrock@wdt.net.