Charlie Johnson outlasts Roger Schmidt in the long run at the GWTC 30K

After an 18.6-mile duel with Roger Schmidt in the Red Hills north of Tallahassee, Charlie Johnson won the 39th annual Gulf Winds Track Club 30K on Saturday morning, 16 January 2016. Johnson ran 1:54:12 to collect his second 30K title; he had also won the event in 2012. Katie Sherron was also a repeat winner in the 30K, taking the women's title for the fourth time in five years and placing eighth overall in 2:16:21.

Since 2006 the 30K has been contested on the north end of the county on Old Centerville and Sunny Hill Roads. The out-and-back course features four kilometers of pavement followed by 22 kilometers on red clay, then concluding with a return to the four paved kilometers. In the years on that course the race has become known for extreme conditions--Cold mornings where patches of ice framed the road, rainy mornings that turned the red clay roads to muddy tracks, churned up by the runners's shoes. 2016 had none of that. Temperature were in the 50s, not too warm and not too cold. The sky was neither clear nor overcast. It had rained the day before, but the roads were neither dusty nor muddy.


"I remember two years ago when it seemed like I had to walk half the race because of the mud," said Katie Sherron. "I was worried because of the rain, but it really dried out. It was perfect."

There was certainly little to complain about when the runners set out from Bradley's Pond just after 8:00 AM, the entries in the 30K together with those in a shorter 15K race. Right after the start, Charlie Johnson was leading the 30K field.


"He went out the first four miles a little hot," recalled Roger Schmidt. "I caught up with him just past the turnaround for the 15K."


From the 8K mark to the 20K mark Johnson and Schmidt raced side by side, gradually quickening the pace.

"Roger and I were running together," said Johnson. "We were talking during the race about how we were both trying to do negative splits. Right after that I put the hammer down."


With less than ten kilometers to go, Johnson opened up a gap. Schmidt tried to stay with him.


"Charlie is a master at the aid stations, taking four to eight seconds walking through, getting his fluids, and getting back on the course," said Schmidt. "I skipped two stations trying to make ground on him, but I couldn't catch him. Once he hit the asphalt he really opened up."


Back on the pavement for the end of the race, Johnson expanded his lead to over 200 meters. He was the first back to Bradley's Pond and the finish line, running 1:54:12. Schmidt was second in 1:55:02. Tony Guillen was the top master runner in the race, placing third overall in 2:06:10.

"It was a perfect race for me," said Johnson. "Four out of five times Roger would have taken it, but it was just one of those days for me."


After winning a 50K race at the Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic in December and the Gulf Winds Track Club 30K in January, Charlie Johnson plans to split the difference between the two long races in February.


"I'm training for the Tallahassee Marathon [on 7 February 2016]," said Johnson. "I've probably run the first half of the course four times in training and the second half at least twice."


Johnson had run faster than his 2016 winning time at the GWTC 30K in 2012, but not Katie Sherron.


"This was my best time on the course," said Sherron.

Indeed, Sherron ran faster than any of her four previous outings at the GWTC 30K, including the runs that earned her the women's title in 2012, 2013, and 2015. It wasn't speed fueled by competition, either. Sherron's 2:16:21 put her across the finish line more than two miles ahead of the next woman in the race. Charlie Johnson felt like he had to keep looking back during the final miles to see if Roger Schmidt was closing in. Even with a clear line of sight, Sherron would have needed binoculars to spot her rivals.


Angela Wable was the top woman master in the long race, the second female finisher and nineteenth overall in 2:33:44. Master runner April Bentley was third in the women's standing, placing 26th overall in 2:48:22.


Top Ten Men, 2016 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K

1. 1:54:12 ~ Charlie Johnson (M, 36)
2. 1:55:02 ~ Roger Schmidt (M, 24)
3. 2:06:10 ~ Tony Guillen (M, 47)
4. 2:08:04 ~ Peter Kaus (M, 31)
5. 2:09:39 ~ Bobby Duggleby (M, 25)
6. 2:10:33 ~ Paul Guyas (M, 38)
7. 2:15:26 ~ Eric Godin (M, 31)
8. 2:17:40 ~ Michael Nesius (M, 31)
9. 2:19:04 ~ Greg Waddell (M, 49)
10. 2:24:49 ~ Mark Tombrink (M, 28)

Top Ten Women, 2016 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K

1. 2:16:21 ~ Katie Sherron (F, 34)
2. 2:33:44 ~ Angela Wable (F, 42)
3. 2:48:22 ~ April Bentley (F, 42)
4. 2:49:00 ~ Lorien Abbey (F, 48)
5. 2:49:00 ~ Shannon McNees (F, 45)
6. 2:50:14 ~ Kelly Garland (F, 44)
7. 2:50:27 ~ Crystal Douglas (F, 40)
8. 2:59:54 ~ Sarah Monbarren (F, 30)
9. 2:59:58 ~ Laura McDermott (F, 36)
10. 3:00:40 ~ Isabel Anderson (F, 36)

73 athletes finished the GWTC 30K, while another 192 completed the 15K. The fastest of the nearly 200 in the shorter race was Matt Mizereck of Capital City Runners. While on the cross country team at Leon High School, Mizereck had won the 15K in 2007, 2008, and 2010. He hadn't been at the race since that last title, but his return in 2016 was a return to winning. Mizereck went to the front immediately after the start of the race, speeding through the first mile in 5:30. He didn't quite maintain that pace, but Mizereck was never challenged during the 9.3-mile race. He claimed his fourth 15K title with a winning 52:17, averaging about 5:37 per mile. More than half a kilometer back, Leon High junior Matthew Cashin was second in 54:14. Bainbridge High junior Poncherella Leonard took third in 55:24 just ahead of Leon junior Colter Foster, fourth in 55:31.


Adriana Piekarewicz didn't have any history at the 15K, but that didn't prevent her from making some. Finishing more than 1500 meters ahead of the next woman, Piekarewicz placed 13th overall in 1:00:54, winning the women's title. Jillian Heddaeus was women's runner-up in the 15K, coming in 23rd overall in 1:07:50. Leon High junior Zoe Sheldon was third in the women's standings, 26th overall in 1:09:15.

The GWTC 30K has been run annually since 1978. That's 39 different races on five different courses in two different counties. The event has also gone through several different race directors, and after 2016 Jerry and Jackie McDaniel are ending their tenure in that position. The McDaniels have headed the race since 2005, moving it to Bradley's Pond in 2006 and adding the 15K race to the program. The GWTC 30K will turn 40 in 2017 without them, but in a dozen years the McDaniels have already made their mark on the event.


Top Ten Men, 2016 Gulf Winds Track Club 15K

1. 52:17 ~ Matt Mizereck (M, 24)
2. 54:14 ~ Matthew Cashin (M, 16)
3. 55:24 ~ Poncherella Leonard (M, 17)
4. 55:31 ~ Colter Foster (M, 17)
5. 55:47 ~ Zach Deveau (M, 28)
6. 56:00 ~ Gary Droze (M, 54)
7. 56:48 ~ Adam Wallenfelsz (M, 18)
8. 57:20 ~ Clay Milford (M, 16)
9. 57:43 ~ Peter Van Brussel (M, 22)
10. 60:25 ~ Daniel Volya (M, 17)

Top Ten Women, 2016 Gulf Winds Track Club 15K

1. 60:54 ~ Adriana Piekarewicz (F, 27)
2. 67:50 ~ Jillian Heddaeus (F, 32)
3. 69:15 ~ Zoe Sheldon (F, 16)
4. 71:38 ~ Anna Busby (F, 25)
5. 71:59 ~ Grace Lockhart (F, 17)
6. 71:59 ~ Caroline Willis (F, 16)
7. 71:59 ~ Molly McCann (F, 16)
8. 72:00 ~ Anna Gill (F, 16)
9. 72:09 ~ Kathleen Whitworth (F, 18)
10. 73:27 ~ Jamie Harris (F, 39)

Gulf Winds Track Club 30K champions, 1978 - 2016
Dates	Race	Men	Women	Finishers
16 January 2016	30K	1:54:12, Charlie Johnson	2:16:21, Katie Sherron	73
	15K	52:17, Matt Mizereck	60:54, Adriana Piekarewicz	192
17 January 2015	30K	1:53:19, Nate Kaiser	2:22:32, Katie Sherron	107
	15K	50:11, Sukhi Khosla	58:37, Sheryl Rosen	165
11 January 2014	30K	1:57:29, Vince Molosky	2:34:23, Laura McDermott	55
	15K	51:06, Sukhi Khosla	61:27, Seeley Gutierrez	169
12 January 2013	30K	1:48:22, Stanley Linton	2:16:41, Katie Showman	150
	15K	52:57, Sukhi Khosla	64:19, Kristin Sweeney	200
14 January 2012	30K	1:51:30, Charlie Johnson	2:17:38, Katie Showman	150
	15K	53:29, Stanley Linton	60:42, Pasca Cheruiyot	176
15 January 2011	30K	1:51:48, Vince Molosky	2:17:15, Heather Griffis	103
	15K	53:03, Stephen Cox	59:55, Lisa Johnson	169
16 January 2010	30K	1:56:14, Vince Molosky	2:14:22, Sheryl Rosen	90
	15K	51:50, Matt Mizereck	63:45, Lisa Johnson	101
17 January 2009	30K	1:54:06, Vince Molosky	2:11:41, Sheryl Rosen	87
	15K	51:05, Will Stanford	61:49, Lisa Johnson	96
12 January 2008	30K	2:00:29, Vince Molosky	2:17:24, Sheryl Rosen	77
	15K	54:23, Matt Mizereck	63:13, Lisa Johnson	126
13 January 2007	30K	2:01:23, Justin Dickieson	2:04:21, Sheryl Rosen	70
	15K	58:18, Matthew Mizereck	73:40, Anna Busby	50
21 January 2006	30K	2:03:36, Michael Douma	2:09:27, Stephanie Liles	65
	15K	58:51, Chris Holland	60:30, Sarah Docter-Williams	59
22 January 2005	30K	1:56:18, Art Remillard	2:13:50, Jane Johnson	38
16 January 2004	30K	1:56:00, Timothy Bolton	2:09:27, Jane Johnson	69
18 January 2003	30K	2:02:28, Larry Mengelkoch	2:07:46, Jane Johnson	59
15 December 2001	30K	2:09:43, Tom Ratliffe	2:22:56, Carrie Weyant	31
3 February 2001	30K	2:00:29, Kevin Porter	2:02:27, Jane Johnson	43
5 February 2000	30K	1:57:47, Garth Grumme	1:53:04, Anne Van Schuppen	77
6 February 1999	30K	1:58:17, Doug Gorton	2:11:20, Jane Johnson	87
10 January 1998	30K	1:57:45, Clarence Calloway	2:04:34, Jane Johnson	79
7 January 1997	30K	1:54:26, Tracy Burch	2:00:28, Jane Johnson
13 January 1996	30K	1:46:14, John Viitanen	2:12:30, Eileen Telford	50
14 January 1995	30K	1:49:45, Herb Wills	2:22:18, Nancy Stuparich	50
22 January 1994	30K	1:43:50, Herb Wills	2:07:27, Lisa Herman	51
16 January 1993	30K	1:43:54, Herb Wills	2:12:42, Carrie Hunnicutt	60
4 January 1992	30K	1:46:36, Jessie Close	2:13:46, Lynda Nilges	79
12 January 1991	30K	1:37:31, David Keen	2:06:03, Paula Johnson	92
13 January 1990	30K	1:43:57, Herb Wills	2:12:00, Paula Johnson	87
14 January 1989	30K	1:45:31, Jessie Close	2:22:07, Mary Jean Yon	98
16 January 1988	30K	1:45:24, Tom Burr	2:10:04, Mae Cleveland	102
10 January 1987	30K	1:44:45, Larry Greene	2:11:59, Karen Macharg	82
18 January 1986	30K	1:38:54, Herb Wills	2:10:48, Missy James	92
14 January 1985	30K	1:45:10, Herb Wills	2:17:56, Mae Cleveland	94
14 January 1984	30K	1:43:32, Noel Shumann	2:04:20, Barbara Balzer	99
15 January 1983	30K	1:48:18, Andrew Wills	2:18:18, Christy Orthman	100
16 January 1982	30K	1:44:41, Rick Miller	1:56:57, Laura Ledbetter	74
1981	30K
12 January 1980	30K	1:51:19, Steve Ray	2:48:31, Robyn Anderson	70
3 February 1979	30K	1:42:13, Ken Misner	2:12:44, Lynda Heimann	124
11 March 1978	30K	1:46:19, Tim Simpkins	2:22:31, Donna Glotzbach	25
In 1978 the race was run on Apalachicola National Forest roads, starting and finishing near Hilliardville. From 1979 to 1981 the race was run on Natural Bridge Road. From 1982 to February 2001 the race was run in the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge. From December 2001 to 2005 the race was run at Natural Bridge. From 2006 to 2016 the GWTC 30K was run on Old Centerville Road and Sunny Hill Road, starting and finishing at Bradley's Retreat in Felkel.

Links

• Complete results of the 2016 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K and 15K at gulfwinds.org
  http://gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2016/30K%2015K%202016.asp
  
  
• More photos of the 2016 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K and 15K
  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10107116105110163.1073742164.5215641&l=7e8b4cfe21
  
  
• Fred Deckert's photos of the 2016 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K and 15K
  https://picasaweb.google.com/112560881455823075870/GWTC30K_15K_16
  
  
• 2015 story, “Kaiser wins the GWTC 30K while Khosla and Rosen tumble records in the 15K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/01/gwtc-30k-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Tough mudders Molosky and McDermott win a messy GWTC 30K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/01/gwtc-30k-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “A no-excuse 30K for Linton and Showman”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/01/gwtc-30k-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Johnson and Showman roll through the Red Hills in the GWTC 30K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/01/gwtc-30k-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Molosky and Griffis run top 30K times on timeless Old Centerville Road”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/01/gwtc-30k-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Molosky and Rosen defend titles at a muddy 30K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/01/molosky-and-rosen-defend-titles-at.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “2009 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K / 15K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/01/2009-gulf-winds-track-club-30k-15k.html
  
  
• 2008 story, “2008 Gulf Winds Track Club 30K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2008/01/2008-gulf-winds-track-club-30k.html
  
  
• USATF course certification map FL06013DL for the Gulf Winds Track Club 30K
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=FL06013DL
  
  
• USATF course certification map FL06014DL for the Gulf Winds Track Club 15K
  http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=FL06014DL
  
  
• Find upcoming races, long and short, in the Tallahassee region
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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