Impressive Endeavors
A run down memory lane at Hart House
by Jeff Cameron

As people round the staircase at the centre of Hart House’s athletic facilities, they are confronted not by sports trophies but by a large plaque inscribed with a matrix of numbers, times and stations. Caught off guard, many are at first perplexed by its seeming incongruity. However, those who pause long enough to search for an explanation soon find it in a smaller plaque to its left, which reads: “Professor Emeritus Kirk Wipper: For the formulation of the circuit training program which bridged a significant demand for individual fitness development in 1953. His efforts have inspired generations of Hart House members to achieve a better fitness level and a healthier lifestyle.” Today’s gimmick-oriented fitness enthusiast might then scoff and react something like this: “Developed over fifty years ago? No promises of eight-second abs? No spyroflex technology? Bah! I need an energy bar!” But don’t be too quick to pass judgment on this workout, antiquated as it may seem. At least not until you have taken in some more Hart House history by way of the gallery of photos that line the walls leading to the gym.

The photograph pictured above was taken on the Hart House track in the spring of 1977 during the five-mile classic race, before shirts became mandatory in the gym. Featured among the avid group of race participants is a shirtless and shoeless Dr. Sherwin Desser, who has been an active Hart House member for over 40 years. Aside from competing in the biannual five-mile races, members of this group of competitive runners supplemented their training by regularly performing (you guessed it) Kirk Wipper's circuit training routine.

The members of this group were fiercely competitive and not only enjoyed pushing each other’s limits, but each other’s buttons as well. Sherwin believes that the humour and camaraderie they shared at Hart House helped members of the group through many stressful periods in their lives. Over the years the group formed a bond of friendship that extended beyond competitive racing and grew to include art exhibitions, poetry contests, special birthday and holiday dinners, and annual golf weekends. Now, after more than 40 years, Sherwin has recently authored a book about their collective experience. Hart House Stories: Forty Years of Athletic and Other Endeavors includes profiles, poetry and fond memories shared by this group of friends that formed in the sociable atmosphere of the Hart House gym. To this effect Sherwin hopes that his book conveys the significance of Hart House as a meeting place where professors, students and professionals alike can come together outside of the workplace or classroom and simply enjoy one another’s company.

During their prime several members of the group often completed 57 laps (five miles) around the track in impressive times of less than 28 minutes. With such a prolific pace and long history of competition it is certain that these runners have left more than their fair share of footprints in the well worn track. Sherwin takes pride in the fact that despite the abundance of fitness schemes modern runners currently have at their disposal, few now come close to the times archived within his book. Through their longstanding involvement at Hart House this unique group of members has certainly left an impression not only on the track where they have run countless laps, but on generations of members whose lives they have touched.