Meet: Bill Masaru Urquhart
I wasn’t naturally strong or tough, but I wanted to improve to be a better tennis player, so I started running cross country and weight lifting when I was in 7th grade.
Has your motivation changed? If so, what continues to motivate you to move forward?
My motivation has changed as I am now dealing with chronic injuries from the Army, and know that I wont be as strong as I used to be. In order to remain functional, not to mention continue to compete at high levels in shooting, I have to keep training to protect my spine. Stability workouts have become my focus with speed and strength fitting where they can so I can keep moving forward the best I can.
"Stability workouts have become my focus with speed and strength fitting where they can so I can keep moving forward the best I can."
What is the best thing that has happened to you as a result of prioritizing your health?
Since I started working out at a young age, I was able to avoid common injuries from tennis, and even was able to handle much in the Army until I pushed too far. Had I not been in the shape that I was in at the time of my spine injury, the damage would’ve been much worse and I would likely be far less functional now. While it’s not a glorious thing, the fact that I am still standing strong is still a blessing I am happy about.
"...make more time for fun."
If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to make more time for fun. Being myopically focused on achieving a career goal is small comfort when something bad happens like an injury that ends it all in a moment. Training is important, but rest and balance in life are equally so.
How do you fit exercise into your schedule?
While I was active duty, part of my job was to train everyday. However, our work schedules didn’t always make that an easy thing to fit in. While I was a student at the Special Operations Combat Medic course, I had very limited free time, so I created 15-30 min workouts that I could do and then get back to homework and studying. Nowadays, I use the same type of template with different exercises to help rehab and improve speed/strength usually mid day during my time off. I still train others and will workout with my students in addition to my own workouts.
What is your favorite way to exercise?
I prefer to exercise with my adjustable kettlebell at home and then use the hills outside to do sprint training.
If money was no object, what would your ideal day look like?
If I didn’t have to worry about money, I would be spending more time at the range to train for major matches and include my workouts to my range time besides the sprints that are part of the normal drills. Then cook up some nice dishes and share with friends.
"...I had very limited free time, so I created 15-30 min workouts that I could do and then get back to homework and studying."
What is your favorite meal, healthy or not so healthy?
Well true to my Japanese heritage, it’s pretty hard to have my favorite be anything other then a nice omakase sushi meal. It is very healthy, though a bit hard on the wallet!
What is on your fitness playlist?
While I don’t have a dedicated playlist, lately I have been playing the soundtrack from the show RWBY
What is your favorite Purus Labs stack, and how do you use it?
I needed a long term energy drink I could sip throughout long events with the military so I combined Everyday Amino, D-Pol®, and Citrulline Malate. It helped me maintain energy and reduced soreness even after long day with a heavy rucksack over many miles. I still use the same combo to stay hydrated during long days on the range for matches.
Is there anything else you would like to tell the world about yourself?
I wouldn’t be here to write this if I hadn’t kept my fitness up through my life. After I got hurt, I felt like I had failed, but I kept my head up to find my new direction. In my case that meant going to medical school, but also that I had to maintain my fitness and health for me and not the Army. I have to say that even though it’s very hard to recover from such injuries and setbacks, having a new goal and supportive family/friends helps immensely. To anyone that is reading this and going through a hard time, I hope you don’t give up and keep fighting to move forward.
"To anyone that is reading this and going through a hard time, I hope you don’t give up and keep fighting to move forward."
Follow Bill on Instagram!
Follow Bill on Instagram!