Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/303138
30 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | MAY 2014 rise and shine I t's 3:45 am. The horizon is pitch-black. There won't be a trace of the sun for at least two more hours. For most of us, this time of day is considered the middle of the night. But for a group of WAC members waiting for Men's Fitness to open, this time of day means determination and hard work. Anyone who's visited the 5th Floor this early has likely met Ralph Bruksos. For more than 50 years, Ralph has consistently visited the Club, arriving before sunrise Monday through Friday to begin a three-hour workout routine that nowadays includes running on the track, lifting weights, yoga, and bicycling. Forty years ago, Ralph organized a small running group of members that met in the mornings. The crowd kept growing, and with much encouragement Ralph found himself running the 1975 Seattle Marathon, his first. The Men's Fitness early crowd is known for being a tight-knit community. From left: WAC members Tom Wolfe, Michael Watkins, Ralph Bruksos, and Allan Kollar take a break from their morning workout routines.