F I T DA D S
BILL GANUS, 34
by Christin Yates. Photo by Sarah McAlexander.
Kids: Layla, 3 1/2, Ralston, 1 1/2, and a baby on the way who’s due in July. Father, husband, business owner, runner, soccer player — it seems like Bill Ganus finds time to do it all. Between his work and family, he maintains a hectic schedule, but he still manages to make fitness and working out a priority. A lifelong soccer player and runner, Ganus plays soccer three times per week — Tuesday and Thursday morning “Groggyball” at an indoor facility in Midtown and one night per week at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Now 34, he takes pride in playing against younger guys and being able to outrun them and beat them at the sport he loves. Involved with the Memphis Runners Track Club, Ganus participates in the annual Road Race Series as well as other local races and triathlons. He enjoys the sense of community that the Track Club provides and has found a family in the other runners who wake up at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings to run a half marathon down Singleton Parkway. Ganus also does functional fitness workouts using rowing machines, kettle bells, and weight circuits. His passion for these workouts has led to him opening a gym on Broad Avenue that will feature functional workout space as well as Krav Maga and CrossFit-type classes.
HEALTH+FITNESS | June 2015
In addition to his fitness routine, Ganus and his wife Jessica eat a mainly clean diet consisting of real, whole foods. Salads, vegetables, fish, and whole grains make up the majority of their diet, and they load up at the Cooper Young Farmer’s Market every week. The couple likes to experiment with food and enjoys eating what comes out of the ground. Staying away from sodas and high fructose corn syrup, they indulge in the occasional dark chocolate or other treats that won’t sabotage their hard work.
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Ganus likes to stay healthy to be able to keep up with his children and demonstrate a positive, fit example for them. He likes that being active has become a norm for his children. They understand that their dad is sweaty from soccer practice when he wakes them up some mornings, and they enjoy talking to him about his soccer games and races. The family stays active together by going on bike rides and supporting each other in their activities, which helps bring them closer together and encourage each other to lead healthier lives. So, how does he do it? Ganus admits that fitting in workouts five days per week can be
“I like that my kids are growing up with fitness being the norm in our family.”
tough. He plays soccer at 5:45 a.m. two mornings per week and is home before his kids wake up. Since he works primarily at home, he is able to squeeze in workouts during the day when he needs to since his schedule is fairly flexible. When he’s on the road, he works out when he can between meetings, even if it’s just for 30
minutes. Ganus also takes advantage of the times when his family doesn’t need him in order to fit in all of his activities, such as early mornings, naptime, and after bedtime.