Coach Stani Bohac who has been a runner himself since high school says that he designs the workouts to “improve a runner’s 5K time, but they can be used to improve fitness and speed for all race lengths or just to improve or maintain general fitness.” 

Bohac strives to keep the workouts fun while challenging athletes of all ability levels.

Athletes warm up independently before Stani takes the stage and gets down to business.  Once announcements are made, new runners welcomed, workout explained, runners line up and are off on Stani’s, “Go!” who jumps in alongside his athletes.

Ann Arbor Track Club member, Ron Beasley who is also the team manager of the Track Club’s youth program, has been attending the workouts since 1989.  Beasley says that he uses the workouts mostly for conditioning and building his endurance.  “I’m a sprinter and am training for the college track meets held in the spring.”

Over the years, Beasley has seen the ebb and flow of the program, which currently peaks to approximately 60 athletes during the winter months and around 30 in the summer.  Ron asserts, “Stani is a good coach.  I particularly like that he participates in the practice.”

Rachel Ingle travels from Northville for the workouts and says that she is using them to train for the Boston Marathon.  “I look forward to having someone tell me what to do, and it’s nice to be able to wear shorts and a t-shirt and not be on a treadmill!”  Ingle adds that the she finds the workouts to be “a good indicator of her fitness level.”

Suzie Stock who drives from Commerce Township says that she “loves the intense, speed specific nature of the workouts which is an absolute must when training for half and full marathon events.” 

Stock coaches athletes in the Running Fit 501 half and full marathon training program and encourages her runners to attend the workouts.  “501er,” Lee Mamola of Novi decided to give them a try.  “I was warmly greeted by all I have met and look forward to more sessions.”

Bohac stresses that everyone is welcome to attend, but those who enjoy the workouts and wish to participate regularly are encouraged to join the Ann Arbor Track Club.

New this season, the Club has sole use of the indoor track, which eliminates overcrowding.  Hence, the University now charges for their use thus the organization’s need for athletes to pay an admission fee, which alternatively will not be necessary when the outdoor season starts in April on the University’s outdoor track, workouts to commence at 7:00 p.m.

2010 marks Bohak’s third year as coach of the AATC’s adult fitness program.  He hopes to “introduce more people to running on the track, to interval training and to show people how much fun training and a little competition can be.”  He emphasizes, “We love to run and many of us take it seriously, but it is only as competitive as you make it.”

When Stani is not running he enjoys mountain biking, traveling and working on his home in addition to his professional work, which involves research on internal combustion engines at the University of Michigan.

The Ann Arbor Track Club’s Tuesday night workouts are all inclusive, even if you subscribe to the theory of John “The Penguin” Bingham, “No Need for Speed.”