CHARLESTON - In the mid-1960s, Tom Woodall of Charleston read what he suspected was a myth about a tribe in Africa that held an annual foot race to ring in the new year, with the last-place runner literally losing his head. It bore striking resemblance to the ancient Greek legend of Atalanta, suitors of whom were decapitated if they failed to beat her in a similar race.

Gruesome, yes, but the tale still made the connection between poor physical fitness and death, so it inspired the name of "Run For Your Life," which would become the Adult Fitness Program at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

"Talk about motivation for year-round training," Woodall, founder of the EIU Adult Fitness Program, said in an email to fellow runners and friends about its history.

While the link between cardiovascular exercise and wellbeing is well-known today, and there are ample opportunities for adults to get in shape, the EIU program evolved before 24-hour gyms and Zumba - before it was considered normal for adults to work out just for the health of it.

The almost 50-year-old program started modestly but caught on quickly.

Woodall, 76, became the EIU cross-country coach in 1965. His doctorate in physical education from the University of Iowa focused on "anatomy, physiology, statistics" and such, but didn't delve into the "science of exercise," he said.

One day he discovered former EIU registrar Maurice Manbeck attempting to improve his fitness by lifting weights (with no spotter) in what was little more than a hallway in the basement of McAfee Gym. At the time, Manbeck was in his 40s, standing 5-foot 8-inches tall, lugging around 220 pounds.

He had based his exercise regimen on a book published just after the turn of the century.

"I almost laughed out loud, but then I thought, what a sad comment on my profession (if) all he had was a 1911 book on exercise," Woodall said in an interview.

He began explaining the importance cardiovascular activity to Manbeck, but then decided to lead by example instead. Woodall suggested the registrar join him the next day for a noontime walk.

"Pretty soon we had a little group of four or five (EIU staff and faculty)," said Woodall.

Then they started jogging as well as walking. Woodall soon found himself on the EIU track at 6 a.m. and noon every day, wearing an orange traffic vest bearing the words "Ask Me."

The name Run For Your Life was chosen because recent research pointed to "increased collateral circulation for cardiac tissue in adults who exercised regularly," Woodall wrote in the email. In other words, running appeared to be good for your heart.

In 1967 he published a detailed booklet on Run for Your Life, which looked at preparation for exercise as much as the program itself. Initially, there was no screening for participants, but Woodall eventually required prospects to read the booklet and even pass a written exam.

At first, the program was only open to men. Participants had to walk at least 25 miles over their first month in the program (two miles over 12 sessions) before beginning to jog. Woodall credited this gradual preparation for the infrequency of injuries.

Before the end of the '60s, "We would have 150 guys (running each day) and this was a time when you couldn't find an adult" exercising elsewhere, said Woodall.

Not only did Manbeck slim down, he was among the Run For Your Life members recognized for running 1,000 miles in one year.

By the mid-70s, more than 15 of the Run For Your Life members had completed a full marathon, and many could maintain a 7-minute, 30-second mile for an hour.

Women were invited to join beginning in 1972.

A tragedy in the early 1980s prompted Woodall to expand the program and incorporate more medical science. During a 10-kilometer race at the Illinois State Fair, a runner dropped to the road in front of Woodall. No emergency vehicles trailed the group, and it wasn't until they flagged down a passing car that they were able to transport the runner to a hospital.

On the way there, Woodall attempted CPR, but the man still died.

A month later he learned of an advanced cardiac life support course, and signed up enthusiastically. He passed the class, and then spearheaded an effort to launch a cardiac rehabilitation program at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center between Mattoon and Charleston.

Woodall resigned from his coaching duties to focus on developing curriculum for graduate students. He worked closely with educators at other universities, especially Ball State University in Indiana.

Run For Your Life became the EIU Adult Fitness Program in the early 1980s.

Woodall retired in 2000, but remains an avid supporter of the program he founded. He said there are now more than 200 members, while the cardiac rehabilitation program still meets three mornings per week at the university's Student Recreation Center.

Stacey Ruholl, a former student of Woodall, now leads the Adult Fitness Program.

The EIU website said the program is for adults in Coles County and the surrounding area. "Fitness assessments are conducted on all new members to guide the development of an individualized exercise program to help them meet their fitness goals," according to the web site.

"I'm thrilled to know that (those) programs are still very, very active," Woodall said.

On the Web: http://eiu.edu/~kss/af_index.php