Burnet gym pushes for community participation in its lineup of summer games
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
BURNET — The staff at Mad Dawg Fitness have lined up a plethora of things to do this summer, all with one goal in mind.
“We just want to get people out and get them active,” said Mad Dawg co-owner and trainer Greg Lopez. “One of the reasons we started the recreational leagues and recreational program was so people had a reason to get moving. It’s also a way to keep young adults and kids out of trouble.”
The activities include a co-ed volleyball tournament and an obstacle race featuring parts of Burnet as the course.
And one of the biggest events is the Dodge Ball Cash Tournament on Aug. 3. Organizers believe the payout easily will be about $500 or more, depending on the number of teams that register.
“This will be our third dodgeball tournament, but it’s the one that really counts,” Lopez said. The Mad Dawg staff hosted two previous tournaments, which didn’t feature cash payouts, after several people asked them about sponsoring one. The response, Lopez said, was incredible.
“At the last one (June 28), we had probably 23 teams,” he said. “Everybody had a great time.”
The dodgeball tournament will be held at Burnet Middle School, 1401 N. Main St. Lopez said the tournament should begin about 10 a.m. The entry fee is $150 per team. The format includes a seven-person squad on the court (with a two-female minimum) and two substitutes. It’s a total of nine people per team.[box]IF YOU PLAY
UPCOMING: Co-ed volleyball tournament
WHEN: 9 a.m. July 27
WHERE: Burnet Middle School, 1401 N. Main St. in Burnet
COST: $100 per team
FOR MORE: www.maddawgfit.com[/box]
Before everybody gets ahead of themselves, the next tournament is a co-ed volleyball tournament July 27 at the Burnet Middle School. The tournament starts at 9 a.m.
Each team must have a minimum of two females on the court at all times. The entry fee is $100 per squad. It’s a double-elimination tournament, Lopez said.
On July 31, Mad Dawg Fitness will hold a coaches meeting for an upcoming flag football league that starts Aug. 13. Lopez said the league typically runs for six weeks.
“This is our fifth or sixth league, and the response has been great,” he said. “We did a women’s (flag football league) before, and we’d like to get more women involved this time, so we can keep that going.”
For those looking for a challenge, they might want to sign up for the Mad Dawg Obstacle Run on Aug. 17.
Lopez and Mad Dawg Fitness co-owner Sonny Wilson have helped train several people for the various obstacle courses such as the Spartan Race. Now, they’re bringing the sport home for a little Burnet competition.
The race starts at the Mad Dawg Fitness Gym, 404 E. League St., but takes competitors around the neighborhood, where organizers have laid out several obstacles.
“The last time we had a big inflatable water slide people had to climb up and go down,” Lopez said. “We had a wall they had to crawl over. Then, we set up a tire challenge, which we followed with making them do burpees. It’s tough, but it’s fun.”
And that’s the whole idea behind the different events. While it’s easy, and seems more fun, to just crash in front of the TV or play computer games all day, organizers want people to realize how enjoyable being active can be. Plus, participants become part of the larger community, whether it’s a group of folks who love to rehash old gym-class days by hurling balls at one another or people who toss themselves over walls and through obstacles.
People don’t have to be a member of Mad Dawg Fitness to participate in any of the recreational events.
“You just (have to) want to come out and have fun,” Lopez said.
Go to www.maddawgfit.com for more information or check out the gym’s Facebook page for regular updates. People also can call Lopez at (512) 705-2458 or Wilson at (830) 613-0522.
daniel@thepicayune.com