WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2002
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5
Running with the dogs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
because most athletes returned in July.
Gardner, 53, was a sergeant in the Marines and has been a voluntary trainer for Lawrence High School for 20 years. He said he started the program for Lawrence High football players, and within a couple of years, the number of college participants grew. A few years after the start of the program, it moved to the University.
Gardner said the athletics department let him hold the program in the stadium, and that the donation was good for students and residents. He hoped his program could help fill the stadium during games.
"Some people would never be in the stadium if it weren't for it," Gardner said.
Brad Nachtigal, director of Facilities and Events, said the athletics department allowed the use of the facility because the program was a long-standing tradition. He said it gave exposure to the campus and the facilities to residents.
"It is a good community event that a lot of people in the community participate in." Nachtigal said.
After University football players joined the program, Gardner said volleyball,softball and track members hopped on the wagon.
After we finished the two laps, there wasn't the water break I had anticipated. I immediately waddled back onto the field for a new set of calisthenics and stretches.
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THE WORKOUT
'Dogs' routine follows established circuit
By Matt Norton Kansan sportswriter
I have to admit I had a little fear of the unknown as I pulled into the Memorial Stadium parking lot at 5:50 AM Tuesday to run with the Red Dogs.
I had seen this group working out in the past, running stadium stairs and up the Campanile in startling volumes, but had never worked out with them before.
Although in good running shape, I have pretty much written off strength training for the past several months as I prepare for some summer track meets. Would that become evident as junior high school students and soccer moms performed three pushups to my one?
But I was fortunate. I survived the pushups and sit-ups, though I fear the muscles worked will remind me over the next few days that they have been underused.
The type of training you'll encounter with the Red Dogs is commonly called circuit training, and it be can very beneficial to a wide spectrum of fitness levels.
Peter Coe and David Martin, coauthors of "Better Training for Distance Runners," and mentors for world-class athletes such as two-time Olympic 1,500 meter champion Sebastian Coe, said that circuit training was invented in Great Britain in the 1950s.
The benefit of circuit training lies in its ability to create a progressive load on the entire body as you work individual muscle groups without resting.
The pair state in the book that circuit training, when done properly, will improve strength, power, stamina, agility flexibility and cardiovascular conditioning.
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They are right, but consider some things before taking on the Red Dogs.
This type of training has the most benefit to those looking to add variety to their fitness regime. In other words, those of you looking to start getting in shape after nine months of pizza, beer and all-night study sessions would be better served by starting with some walking, light jogging or introductory weight training to get your body accustomed to exercise again.
whether you're an Olympic hopeful or a grown-up version of the kid who never got picked for the basketball game at recess.
The benefit of circuit training lies in its ability to create a progressive load on the entire body as you work individual muscle groups without resting. As you can imagine, this is difficult, and finishing the workout with two (or most likely more, as the group progresses through the summer) trips up the Campanile is a challenge
A quick glance at the 250 people working out Tuesday morning confirms that all levels of fitness are represented by the group. Chances are you'll see someone you know working out. And that can be good or bad.
This can be a helpful motivator for those athletes who like the camaraderie of working out with teammates. For those who played a sport in high school, Red Dogs will have the familiar feel of a preseason workout with the team.
If you're someone who is self-conscious when you workout, be advised there are a lot of people there who will run circles around you. But you can use that as motivation as well, or simply ignore them and focus on your own improvement, which is what I would advise, because some people you can probably run circles around.
Remember, consistency is far and away the most important aspect of any training program. But working out with the Red Dogs two or three times a week this summer could be a fun way to get in the kind of shape that will wow your friends when they come back to school in the fall.
Contact Norton at mnorton@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jason Royer.
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