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Don "Red Dog" Gardner and Jim
"Punkin'" O'Connell started Red Dog's Dog Days in the summer of 1984
as a fitness program designed to help prepare the Lawrence High School football
team for their fall season. What started with only a handful of football athletes
then spread to include the school's volleyball players, other sports, athletes'
parents and siblings, and more. Since then, Red Dog's Dog Days has
grown and transformed into a community workout for all ages. With the
assistance of Red Dog's wife, Beverly, and a small army of dedicated helpers,
the program continues to flourish. Thousands of people participate each
year and that number keeps growing.
Throughout the years, Red Dog's Dog
days has remained free for anyone who wishes to participate. Everyone is
invited, regardless of your fitness level or athletic background.
The T-Shirts
Spend enough time in the Lawrence area
and you're bound to see someone wearing a Dog Days T-shirt. You can't buy 'em.
The shirts are wearable trophies that can only be earned by extensive
participation in the program. There are several shirts out there (Summer,
Fall/Winter, and Saturday shirts). Thanks to our generous
Dog Days sponsors, the T-shirts are free to all participants who
attend a set number of workouts each season.
For Summer 2018, participants need to complete 25 weekday workouts or 5 Saturday runs to earn a T-shirt.
The Rules
Red Dog doesn't have many rules, but he
does ask that you follow these guidelines:
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Bring a bottle of water (a towel
is also recommended).
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No cell phones.
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No headphones/mp3 players.
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Always encourage others. Never put
anyone down.
The Workouts
If you've ever wanted to join Red Dog's
Dog Days, but have been intimidated because you didn't know what to expect or
thought the workouts might be too hard or too advanced, don't be! Everyone is
encouraged to complete as much of the workout as they can, and at their own
pace. You'll get support from Red Dog and the rest of the group whether you're
the first to finish a run or the last. Red Dog's participants range from
competitive high school athletes to adult weekend warriors and parents with
their toddlers in strollers to 75-year-old grandfathers.
Weekdays: The
workout varies every session. Each starts with some warm-ups and calisthenics
(sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, etc.). Sometimes Red Dog incorporates hills,
stairs, lunges, shuffles and sprints. Workouts normally end with a run across
campus ranging from one to three miles.
Saturday Mornings: The Saturday morning "fun runs" are a great
opportunity to change up the weekday routine. After short warm-up, Red Dog will
announce the route for the day. This typically is between 2 and 4 miles. And
during the hot summer, there are always popsicles to look forward to as a prize
at the end of the run!
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