Club offers runners forum to compete

Running alone last year was no fun for senior Ben Bartley. He was discouraged because although IU has well-respected and experienced track and cross-country teams, there was no organization for students who wanted to run for fun. \nSome students who wanted to learn proper training techniques of running and to have a forum to compete had nowhere to turn. Bartley and junior Jacqui Davis decided to do something about it. \nLast November, the two decided to form the University Athletics Club through the division of Club and Recreational Sports. The club strives not only to allow students opportunities to run, but also be able to possibly make IU a future haven for runners all over the Midwest. \n"We want to make Bloomington more of a running community. I was really surprised that something as basic as running was not available on campus," said Davis, who serves as both president and head coach of women's sports for the club. \nMembers of the team competed in both the Boston Marathon and the Little 50 races last year. Out of all of the club members who ran in the Little 50 race, almost 50 percent of them had a top ten finish. They hope those types of experiences can further help them as they hope to start regional competitions this year against teams like Purdue and Ball State. \nThe team regularly runs six times a week, usually up the hills around campus or near Griffy Lake. Experienced members typically run 50 to 75 miles a week, while beginners run about 30 miles a week.\nThe team currently has more than 40 members, both males and females, and regularly has increased recruitment during the summer through its Web site. \n"Since the summer began, we have had 15 to 20 new members join just because of the Web site," said Bartley, the head coach of the men's team. \nThe club not only promotes the competition that running provides for members, but also praises what running can do for a person's health. \n"In order to run you have to have a lot of discipline, but the rewards are great. You can get can get in great shape by running," sophomore Ryan Brunker said. \nOther members of the club feel the practices the group preaches go beyond physical health and represent the attitude many of the members possess. \n"We are not the type of people who regularly drink every weekend. We do not stay up until five in the morning and eat pizza. We try to maintain a healthy lifestyle," Davis said. \nThe club attempts to not be exclusive and is open to anyone from experienced high school runners to people running for the first time. \n"Our main goal is to provide a group of people the atmosphere of running if they so choose," Bartley said. \nThe club has its first call-out meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 24 in the Dogwood Room at the Indiana Memorial Union. Those interested can visit the Web site at www.indiana.edu/~uac/index.htm.