'Women With Will' team runnings on every Saturday

It's 7 a.m. on a Saturday in the middle of summer. The last thing on most people's minds is rolling out of bed and into their running shoes, but that's a day in the life of Emily Ward. Ward is a program director at the IU School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Ward currently directs aquatics, informal sports and equipment operations for the Division of Recreational Sports. Ward is also a former coach of the women's swimming and diving teams at the University at Buffalo, where she served as an assistant athletic director and senior women's \nadministrator. \nOne of her main focuses today, however, is continuing to develop the already popular group Women With Will. Women With Will, or W-3 as it is more commonly referred to by its members, is a group of women whose mission is to "provide women of all ages, all fitness levels and all ability levels with knowledge and training opportunities in a fun, supportive, non-threatening environment in which each woman identifies her individual sport goals, improves her health and fitness, and builds her self-confidence," according to the group's Web site. \nThe group was organized in 1999 by Ward, who at the time was a new member of the First United Methodist Church and wanted to pass on some of her skills and \nabilities to fellow churchgoers. \n"I got started because I missed coaching and personally I enjoy being active," Ward said. \nThe group is comprised of women with varying backgrounds and also different levels of fitness. Age ranges in the group are anywhere from early 20s to mid-to-late 60s. Whether it is walking, jogging, running or biking, these women try to do it together. \n"I think it's more enjoyable when you're out there with other people. It opens you up and you really get to know some people," Ward said.\nStarting out with just a handful of members back in 1999, the group would meet every Saturday morning at the local YMCA and jog with each other. The group continued to meet every Saturday, and after a few weeks friends and co-workers who heard of the group and wanted to improve their fitness asked to join the group as well. Soon afterwards they adopted the name "Women With Will."\nCurrently, the W-3 mailing list contains more than 150 names. E-mail is the main way members can set up plans to organize routes, times and dates when they wish to meet. Even though there are no invitations to the group, the past several years have had more women come out to participate. Sabrina Grossman was intrigued by the group when she saw it online. \n"It sort of inspired me in a way to get out there and meet new people in the community," \nGrossman said. \nOver the past few years W-3 has branched out and grown more popular in the Bloomington community. Julie Shertzer, a Maryland native, grew up around this sort of thing back home in Maryland but is glad to see it here in Bloomington.\n"I think it's a great thing to have," she said. "I couldn't imagine what I would do without it. I've drawn closer to a lot of people who I might not have otherwise. It's an excellent way to build friendships"