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Monday, June 24, 2013
The University Daily Kansan
HEALTH
ERIN BREMER/KANSAN
Lawrence residents exercise in South Park during the Red Dog Days fitness program on Thursday. The program is held twice a day Monday through Thursday and is free for anyone.
Dog Days fitness program whips community into shape
JENNA JAKOWATZ
jjakowatz@kansan.com
Marta Carvajal takes the final strides of her run as she comes down 12th street to finish in South Park, where she is welcomed back with applause from her fellow runners.
Carvajal, a senior from San Jose, Costa Rica, is just one of hundreds of people who work out at Red Dog's Dog Days.
Thirty years ago, Don Gardner started the fitness program for Lawrence High football players to get them into shape. Slowly but surely, more and more people started to join in.
"We've got a big crowd," Carvajal said, "and it's fun to work with people you don't usually see."
Carvail has been coming to Red Dog's Dog Days for three years to exercise and socialize.
"We got high school girls first, then someone's little brother or little sister, then a few parents, then it just started growing," Gardner said.
Soon, Gardner was leading people of all ages and athletic abilities in various workouts and fun runs. Even former basketball great Danny Manning joined in a few times.
Gardner designed Dog Days so people of all athletic abilities and age groups could spend an hour or so working out without the hassle of the gym or having to go for a run alone.
Because the program is free, Gardner invites sponsors to donate money and in return, sponsors get their name on the back of the Dog Day's T-shirts.
"Everybody is welcome," Gardner said. "It's free, and we want people to come."
Dog Days meets every Monday through Thursday at 6 p.m. at South Park, and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday at 6 a.m. at Memorial Stadium, and Wednesday at 6 a.m. at South Park.
Participants are encouraged to bring water and a beach towel.
The workout starts with stretches and then dives into abdominal, arm, and leg exercises, capped off with a one- to three-mile run from downtown, across campus, and back to South Park.
"It's a good workout, but it's also a quick workout," Carvajal said. "It's a good way for people with busy summer schedules to stay fit."
Edited by Allison Kohn