How does someone who is doing the jobs of three people, working 80 hours a week, find time to work out? Ask Howard Yoshiura.

The uber-busy Yoshiura is vice-president, regional executive for the East O'ahu region of American Savings Bank, overseeing 14 branches. He is also acting interim manager of the Kapi'olani branch.

Yet Yoshiura still manages to run three times a week and lift weights twice a week. Of course, it requires a lot of self-discipline, which Yoshiura clearly has. He writes his workouts into his schedule and doesn't let anything get in the way. Some days he'll work from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., but he'll take a break to run four or five miles from 7 to 8 p.m.

THE BUDDY SYSTEM

It helps that on weekdays, Yoshiura usually has a running buddy to drag him away from his desk. On Sundays, he runs with 12 to 15 guys who have run together for years. The buddy system, he said, helps him unleash the chains that tie him to his desk.

While Yoshiura has been a runner for 25 or 30 years, his attitude and approach to running has changed.

When he began jogging in 1976, "I was a typical banker," he said. "I was sedentary and had bankers' luncheons about three or four times a week. I was lazy on weekends, and I'd just sleep. I smoked then, too, so it was all not a good combination." Then, he weighed about 160 pounds; now, he weighs 130.

In 1978 jogging segued into running, and Yoshiura became more competitive. He ran his first marathon in 1978 and went on to run 12 marathons in Honolulu, and on Maui and the Big Island.

By the mid-1980s, he was regularly challenging himself by increasing both the speed and difficulty of his runs.

He has been known to bet the young tellers at the bank that he can beat them in a sprint or short run. He wins.

ATTITUDE AND ATHLETICISM

For years, the group has risen at 6:30 a.m. on New Year's Day to run Tantalus — the full loop, 10 miles of steep hill. For Yoshiura, it signals the way he plans to attack the new year: head on, with a healthy dose of attitude and athleticism.

In 2006, Yoshiura underwent shoulder surgery. During his rehabilitation, he discovered that his upper-body strength was lacking, so he began working out with light weights to increase it.

As for nutrition, Yoshiura credits his wife, Linda, with keeping him on track.

"I eat anything and everything, but in moderation," he said. At home, they eat tofu, kamaboko, fruits and vegetables — anything in season — and only a little meat.

Linda goes to the farmers markets regularly and seeks out the best produce.

His Achilles heel? "I love ice cream."

Yoshiura's wife has been a primary motivator for him.

As a school teacher, he said, "She hardly ever exercised. She just walked the dog."

However, once she retired, she began working out nearly every day at the Central YMCA. She swims, lifts weights, does cardio and "just about everything the Y has to offer," Yoshiura said.

Now she encourages her husband to do the same.

"She'll say to me, 'You haven't been to the Y all week. Shouldn't you go?' And I go."