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Community residents use Los Gatos High facilities in the evening hours

By Jennifer McLain

For those who don't have spring fever, a walk through the Los Gatos High School campus after students go home should give you a severe dose.

The high school's athletic facilities don't serve just the students. High school alumni, Los Gatos neighbors and Saratoga residents use the track, weight room, tennis courts and community pool. Why not? The recently upgraded pool and track are state of the art, and the view of the mountains isn't so bad either.

Whether it's someone training for a triathlon, walking around the track for exercise, or kicking the soccer ball around with the kids, the high school's sport facilities prove that it is not just for students. It truly belongs to the community.

Glen Fischer hasn't been using the high school track for too long, maybe about two weeks or so, he says, as he walks his bike toward the track. But others have been using the facility for years. Los Gatos resident Juan Torres, who has been working out for the last 20 years, has used the high school's facilities to train for the past four years.

"One day I was just running up the hills, and I was thinking, 'You know what, this feels pretty good, and I just haven't stopped,' " he said.

He participates in the Los Gatos All-Comers track and field meets. In its 28th year, the All-Comers meets have taken place in town. The meets include a pole vault, high jump, discus throw, long jump, race walk and running events.

Even though he runs around the track at a seemingly super-fast speed, he says he notices the familiar faces during his 80-minute workout. So do Los Gatos residents Bob Numani and Diane Dreher. The two have been walking around the track since 1997. Numani said he used to run marathons when he was in high school and college. But after he entered the work world, he got too busy.

Rain or shine, winter or summer, Dreher and Numani say they walk about an hour every Monday and Wednesday on the track.

"This is how I keep sane in an insane world," Numani said. "It's hard in a busy world to find a conscious form of community."

During the summer, they said there is a Los Gatos Boot Camp for athletes training for track and field events. The two walk around the track as pole vaulters and runners participate.

Now that the sun sets later, the two said that they have noticed more people coming out.

"But in the winter, you get the real diehards," Numani said.

What Dehrer likes about the track is that besides it being a safe and nice facility, it is a great way to exercise and meet with friends.

"I guess it's partly social," Dehrer said, although Numani said he sometimes comes out and walks alone.

There are, however, a handful of high school students who just can't get enough of their campus.

Katie Bonadies is an 18-year-old graduating senior who will be heading to San José State University to play soccer. Now that the weather is good, she said she likes to use the track as she conditions for her favorite sport.

"I mix it up," she says while stretching. "Sometimes I work out here, sometimes I work out in the gym."

Her workout at the track consists of jogging or walking the curves of the track, and sprinting the sides.

Father and daughter Jim and Ali Rubnitz play a little soccer in the middle of the field--Ali is graduating from Los Gatos High this year and will head to Northwestern on a soccer scholarship. Julie Bonner and Cameron Watts run on the bleachers and head toward the field. Watts, who graduated from Los Gatos High, just moved back to town after living in San Francisco.

"We're getting back in suburb life," Watts said.

As the workaholics, passionate athletes and playful hearts enjoy the warm weather and get their heart rates up on the track, the tennis lovers are pursuing their love around the corner.

Saratoga resident Judy Negin used to play tennis in high school, but that was 20 years ago. After learning the Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Education and Recreation offered tennis classes, Negin thought it would be a good chance for her to get back on the court and swinging her racquet.

"I started in January. It's a wonderful program," she says. "There are great instructors, and it is reasonably priced."

She is enrolled in the advanced intermediate cardio tennis class, which meets every Wednesday from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. at the high school courts. It is $89 for eight sessions.

Besides getting a good workout and now sleeping better because of the class, she said there is a sense of community among the participants.

"We are working to start a league with LGS Recreation," she says.

Plus, the facilities there are comparable to that of any club, she says.

Certified professional trainers instruct the tennis classes Monday through Thursday, ranging from beginning to intermediate levels. All classes are taught after 6 p.m., and the hour-long classes can run to 9:15 p.m.

While some high schools might be desolate at sunset, Negin says that's not true here.

"It seems to me that there is a lot of activity in the evening," she says, adding she always feels safe there.

San Jose resident Vanessa Reymers participates in the same class as Negin, and has played tennis through LGS Recreation for a couple of years. Besides the great instructors, she says the facilities at the school "are great."

"The courts are nice and parking is pretty easy," Rymer says. "It seems that there is always something going on at the high school."

LGS Recreation does not use only the tennis facilities. It also uses the softball field, dance studio and the Los Gatos Community Pool.

Whether it's the adult lap swimming, lifeguarding instructions or masters swim classes, there are many classes for adults.

Perhaps one of the most aggressive training regiments in the LGS Recreation schedule is taught by Pete Kain, who coaches elite tri-athletes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For $129 for three months, Kain prepares the athletes to compete in triathlons across the country.

"My real love is helping people improve their swimming, biking and training," Kain says, who has competed in 160 multi-sport races and has won more than 40.

During the winter, Kain will train the athletes by having them ride bikes on stationary blocks in between the swim training. During the summer, he has them going from the pool to their bikes.

And judging from the way the swimmers glide through the water and patiently wait as Kain gives them the next order, they train because they love it. It's the same reason why Negin plays tennis, and why Torres runs track.