Bill White came from nowhere in 2008 to become a Clydesdale podium contender.  Big body in this case equals big heart.  You could always count on Bill to fall back on a swim to help a beginner, and each Tuesday see him running on the track

working on his speed.

We caught up with Bill at Clearwater, where he was visiting his parents and catching fellow club members Joe D. and Dave Slavinski racing at The 70.3 World’s.

JSTC:  Where were you born and what’s home today?

BW:  Neptune. Brick.

JSTC:  The new Rt. 70 bridge kicks a$$...just rode over it on my bike recently. 

JSTC:  What do you do for a living?

BW:  Construction Management

JSTC:  Why did you get into triathlon?

BW:  Inspired by Brother in Law Paul Cantin

JSTC:  Met the man in Clearwater.  He had a nice race.

JSTC:  How does the JSTC fit into your swim-bike-run world?

BW:  I try to make as many club training events as possible.

JSTC:  Bill.  I can clearly see a trend here already and we are only 5 questions in….are you cramping?  Your answers are not very enlightening.   Try a little harder…

JSTC:  What is your favorite race in the can so far and why?

BW:  RI 70.3 because it was my first HIM and gave me the greatest sense of accomplishment and reward for my hard work.

JSTC:  One sentence again, but….A little longer.   That’s probably pretty good for a Clydesdale.

JSTC:  You win the lottery and can travel anywhere to do a triathlon….where are you going?

BW:  Australia

JSTC:  What bike you riding?

BW:  2003 Cervelo P3

JSTC:  What wetsuit?

BW:  2XU

JSTC:  What running shoes do you wear?

BW:  Newton

JSTC:  What figure in life has inspired you?

BW:  My father has guided me with an example of hard conservative values.

JSTC:  Give me three songs that get you pumped on the way to a race

BW:  Stronger (Kanye West)  Oil and Water (Incubus)  Wherever I May Roam (Metallica)

JSTC:  What is your favorite all time band?

BW:  Tragically Hip

JSTC:  Little Bones!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K43ZriYuXyo

JSTC: Bill…you are killing me.  I had to add the video to take a 4 minute break!   I have not had to work this hard since IMAZ.  Lets try to get inside the real man and what makes a Clydesdale tick….

JSTC:  What the hell are you eating?  Give me a typical breakfast, lunch and dinner?

BW: Since the training season, I’ve pretty much been on the Michael Phelps diet.

JSTC:  Somehow…I see a difference there.

JSTC:  Who has the best pizza?

BW: Squan Tavern

JSTC:  WHAT?  Dude…better than Pete and Elda’s….Vic’s….Fed’s…..???  You see…That is the difference on how a clydesdale views pizza.  Squan serves bread with their pie, so they get the nod.  I’m sorry Bill, but I’m going to have to call you out on that one.

 

JSTC:  What was your favorite cereal as a kid?

BW:  Apple Jacks.

JSTC:  Never liked ‘em.  Why?  No cartoon character that’s why. Just apples…who was Jack?   Boring.  But I can totally see a pattern here from your early childhood years.  It is all coming together now.  Let’s stay with the food theme…

 

JSTC:  The holiday season is upon us at Rite Aid.  You reaching for the chocolate marshmello santa or solid santa?

BW:  Neither, I’ll  just have a water.  (If I was reaching, I’d take the solid)

JSTC:  Your answers are beginning to show lack of commitment Bill.  Now that I have broken you, lets talk about a sticky subject since you went AWOL on your training buddies this past July….  BTW, does your girlfriend get on our website?

BW:  Not really.

JSTC:  Ok then.

JSTC:  How do you respond to your critics when they say your new girlfriend sabotaged the operation and derailed your season after IMRI 70.3?

BW: She is supportive and didn’t sabotage the operation.  I took a premeditated break to give my body some healing after quite a pounding I gave it this summer.  Unfortunately, I took the ‘break’ to level that I shouldn’t have.  Coaching my son’s Pop Warner football team also took a lot of my time but was very rewarding.  I am back on track and trying to get her into the sport.

JSTC:  I like the way you threw the son in there to call off the dogs.   But I feel I made my point given that is the first answer of more than one sentence in this entire interview.  Moving on…

JSTC:  You are the captain of a JSTC tri relay team where style, determination, and  personality count...Not time.  Who is swimming, biking, and running for you?

BW:  Lance N., Bill Parke, AJ

JSTC:  Who is the better triathlete....J Lo or Jenna Jamison?

BW: Jenna Jamison.

JSTC:  Do you cut your own hair?

BW: Flowbees rule.

JSTC:    Who has the best nickname in the club?

BW:  Brendan “Terminator” Jones

JSTC:  You hold the record for most flats in a training ride, most flats in a training season, and most consecutive failures to inflate a flat.  What is there left to do?

BW:  I am a resident of Brielle Cyclery in season, that is true.  Hard cases have seemingly eliminated my problem.

JSTC:  Did you ever put a little extra air in your tires on race morning thinking “I’m going for broke today?”

BW:  Every time.

JSTC:  I get the feeling you were doing it in training as well.  Ladies and gentlemen….I give you exhibit Bill.   Resist pumping your tires to make them rock hard.  It does not help you…and you increase your chances of flatting 10X.  If the tire is over-inflated, you are chattering over the road…not rolling.  And that means you are going slower while risking ruining your race all together with a flat.

JSTC:  Is it true that the Philadelphia Sierra Club has reached out to you and inquired how they might obtain your large stash of empty CO2 cartridges?  After all, they are much more environmentally friendly to throw at opposing Phillie left fielders than the AA battery.

BW:   Empty CO2 cartridges will be the weapon of choice next season when the Mets are kicking their a$$.

JSTC:  You are on a easy pace 100 mile through classic New England with anyone in the world…A chance to talk for 7 hours.  Who is it?

BW:  Macca.

JSTC:  Fin Man at IMFL was a clydesdale from NJ.  Is there any organized movement from your people to distance yourselves from him? 

BW: Our only organized movement is slow and in unison.

JSTC:   Bill it’s been a pleasure.  Though I never had to work so hard at an interview in my life!  You get the last word:

BW  This club is awesome.  Worlds at Clearwater was very inspiring to watch and also incredibly motivationg.  I recommend the trip down to there for anyone just to see it, never mind race it. 

The benefits of group training are exponential compared to training alone. (Especially Beginner to Intermediate Level) I’m looking forward to ramping up for a great season in 2009!