DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
Mad Dawg Fitness owners Greg Lopez (left) and Sonny Wilson are tackling a 107-mile challenge starting Dec. 9 as they run and bike all the way to Glen Rose for the Spartan Beast obstacle race. The two are using the run-bike journey to raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes, holiday sponsorships for area families and gym scholarships. People can sponsor Lopez and Wilson, make per-mile pledges or simply donate funds to the cause. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
BURNET — Sonny Wilson and Greg Lopez plan to take a little run Dec. 9.
Well, maybe “little” isn’t the proper word to describe it since the plan entails running and biking from Mad Dawg Fitness in Burnet to Glen Rose.
“It’s 107 miles from Mad Dawg to Glen Rose,” Lopez said. “The plan is to leave Monday (Dec. 9) and get there Wednesday, which will give us time to rest for the Spartan Beast.”
The Spartan Beast is a 12-mile obstacle course designed to challenge even the hardiest of souls. Both Wilson and Lopez have participated in Spartan races before, but they’ve never felt the compulsion to run and bike to one before.
But they have their reasons.
“We’re doing this to help raise money for the Boys & Girls Club (of the Highland Lakes),” Lopez said. “They helped (Mad Dawg Fitness) out in the past, and we’ve always tried to give back to them when we can.”
Wilson and Lopez are the owners of the Burnet fitness club.
Along with the Boys & Girls Club, Mad Dawg Fitness has adopted several local families during the holidays and is gathering food and gift items for Christmas. Lopez and Wilson also are using money raised from their run to support that project.
“There are a lot of families in this community who just can’t afford a good Christmas,” Wilson said. “One of the things we’ve taken on as a gym is to try and help some of these families out.”
They also hope to use some of the money raised to defray costs of gym memberships for people facing financial struggles.
“We’ll also use some of the money to offer scholarships to the gym,” Lopez said. “We know there are a lot of people who may want to take advantage of what we offer but don’t think they can because of the costs. So we hope to raise some money to help them as well. Health and fitness is something everybody should enjoy, no matter (their economic) situation.”
Wilson agreed. He pointed out they’ll often help gym members who are need of medical supplies or medications who otherwise might go without because of the costs.
“Sometimes, it’s a big health issue if they don’t get those medications,” Wilson said. “If they don’t get the medications, it could easily lead to more serious problems. One of the things we’re all about here is prevention.”
Lopez said people can help out in numerous ways, including sponsorships, straight donations or pledges per mile.
“Whatever they want to do,” he said. “Every bit helps.”
Though raising money for the Boys & Girls Club and other needs are part of their motivation, they also hope to inspire club members and others.
“When people come through those doors,” Wilson said, pointing at the club’s entrance, “we don’t let them quit just because it gets tough. And they don’t.”
“So, we want to show them we’re not going to quit either,” Lopez added. “Sure it’s going to be tough, but it’s about staying in there and finishing.”
The two should hit the road at 8 a.m. Dec. 9 and run to Lampasas. That distance is about equal to a marathon. They estimate they’ll arrive in Lampasas by the early afternoon and rest a bit. But, at 6 p.m. that same day, Wilson and Lopez plan to hold a by-donation, boot-camp-style workout at a local health and fitness club.
The next day, the two will climb on their bikes and pedal almost 50 miles to Hamilton, where again they’ll rest but also host another boot camp that evening.
On the last day of the trip to Glen Rose, the two plan to run and bike (and maybe walk) the final leg.
“That final day is going to be the toughest,” Wilson said.
The two will enjoy two or three days of rest before the Spartan Beast. Lopez runs Dec. 14 while Wilson races Dec. 15.
“I signed up several months ago for the (Beast) before we were doing this. If I’d known we were going to (run and bike to Glen Rose), I would have registered for the Sunday Spartan,” Lopez said with a grin. “But I’m still going to do it.”
People can go to www.maddawgfit.com and click on the “Follow Mad Dawg to Spartan” link or go to www.facebook.com/maddawgfitness for more information.
daniel@thepicayune.com
The post Mad Dawg Fitness owners take on 107-mile challenge to help others appeared first on The River Cities Daily Tribune.