This fits me well, says Todd Mason, who, along with partner Robert Dukes, has broken ground for a bigger and better version of Total Fitness Connection at 2235 Russellville Road. Mason, a former Bowling Green High School athlete and a physical therapist with a masters degree from the University of Kentucky, talks the talk while describing the success of Total Fitness Connection. As an athlete, he says it was a natural progression for him to own his own fitness business. Its worked out really well, Mason said while reflecting on the growth in membership, which has more than tripled to 1,300 since the pair took over the operation, formerly Club Olympic, in July 2001. Bulldozers are clearing out the lot behind the present location where a new Total Fitness Connection will open this fall. The 20,000 square-foot facility will more than double the space available and give customers less crowded conditions and better offerings, especially in water exercises. We couldnt get a new piece of equipment in here if we wanted to, said Mason, standing in the midst of the current facilitys largest room, which must serve as a workout area for treadmill-riders plus those working on pin selector or free weights. The new building will have a 2,400 square-foot area for free weights and about the same amount of space for the pin selector machines. The space for cardiovascular workouts will more than double, with several additional treadmill machines and eight 32-inch televisions a service thats become more important as people want to catch up on the news while doing what can sometimes be a mundane workout, Mason said. We always told people that if it got crowded, we would either expand or build a new building, Mason said. Customers are glad he did not forget that promise. Its pretty tight for space to work out right now, but once they get the new facility opened, its going to be good, said Gary Ercey of Bowling Green. The co-owners decided to go with a new $1.1 million facility that should open in October. Along with the value of equipment that they have placed in the present center, Dukes and Mason will have an investment of around $1.5 million. As a result, rates are lower now than they ever will be, Mason said with a smile. The present 9,000 square-foot building will be leased out to a complimentary business, he said. It will probably be something like a tanning place we dont do tanning or a vitamin and supplement place, Mason said. Plans to build a half-Olympic-sized pool with lap lanes with a separate pool for group exercises have customers smiling. Not only does Ercey of Bowling Green work out, but says his daughter, Jordan, 14, will be at the club using the water workout facilities to get ready for high school soccer tryouts. Chances are, she will like the new building. Shell really enjoy the lap pool, Ercey said. Water-exercising options have become more limited since the local YMCA recently dropped its program because of a lack of participants. But Mason said its an integral part of many peoples investment in their health. In my visit to the club on Monday, it was obvious that the popularity of the water exercises has not waned. About 10 elderly customers were in the pool, working their way into shape. Water exercising is easier on the joints but challenges your muscles, Mason said. Weve had some heavier customers whove come in whove weighed 300 or even 400 pounds and if the treadmill was the easiest thing we had, they would have been out of luck. But some have been able to work off enough weight in the water that they were then later able to use a treadmill or weights. The new building will also have an expanded area for physical therapy and an aerobics room with a state-of-the-art floor and sound system. A new state-of-the-art security system with 12 cameras to monitor all areas from the parking lot to the child care center is being added. While Mason and Dukes look at the new building as an investment into the community; they say members and residents should look at making their own investment. It always amazes me what people will do for the long-term; they will invest in IRAs and do other disciplined things, but they dont take care of their body and so may not be around to benefit from it, Mason said. Just like anything else worth having, getting and staying in shape is an investment. Burger breakA long drive-through line signaled that Backyard Burgers had opened in front of Western Kentucky Universitys Center for Research and Development at Campbell Lane and Nashville Roads. On the airAll-Spanish radio has come to Bowling Green, at least for an hour on the weekends. Cecilia Lopez, who has been at the forefront of developing programs for the Hispanic community, hosts The Latin Corner on Saturdays at 3 p.m. on WKCT (930 AM). We believe with the growing Hispanic community that there was a need for this type of programming, said Alan Cooper, the stations general manager. Todays words of wisdom: The best get better by working together. Anonymous, but right. Business reporter Jim Waters can be reached at 783-3269.