Charlie Johnson and Amanda Sava each collect a second Tails & Trails title

On the east side of Tallahassee, Florida, Tom Brown Park, Lafayette Heritage Park, and the Alford Greenway are connected by dozens if not hundreds of miles of trails. Charlie Johnson covered 13.1 miles on those trails in 1:25:32 to win the half-marathon at the eighteenth annual Tails & Trails on Saturday morning, 4 May 2019. Amanda Sava was the first woman in the race, defending her 2018 title in the half marathon with a 1:38:43 and placing seventh overall.


The Animal Shelter Foundation has always hosted the event, starting in 2002 with a 5K race, adding a 10K in 2006 and the half marathon in 2015. Two days before the 2019 Tails & Trails, the longest run was in peril.

Charlie Johnson

“I got a call from the city on Thursday at 4:30,” said Tom Perkins. “There was a hawk attacking people in Lafayette Heritage Park. We were going to have to cancel the race or re-route it.”


It turned out that a very minor change of course satisfied the hawk’s territorial instincts, and the half-marathon started from the Animal Sheter as scheduled at 7:45 AM, with Jeff Nielsen guiding the runners on the lead bicycle. After the first minute of running, Charlie Johnson was already well ahead of the field. No one, athlete or irate bird, challenged Johnson for the rest of the race.


“I was hoping for a hawk attack,” said Johnson. “Anything to have some excitement out there. It helped to have Jeff Nielsen out there on the bicycle, telling me, ‘Okay, there’s a big hill coming up.’”

McDermott, Busboom, Sura, and Kiros

There are numerous hills on the Tails & Trails half marathon course, which takes the runners in and out of the Lake Lafayette basin before finishing back at the Animal Shelter, atop the ridge that Easterwood Drive runs along. Amanda Sava also noticed those hills.


“It was tough!” said Sava. “I ran a lot faster this year. I think I’m in better shape, but I ran a triathlon last week and my legs are still recovering. I’m happy with my race, though. I’ll probably take a little break after this.”

Amanda Sava

Behind Johnson’s winning 1:25:32, Brad Busboom took second in 1:32:31 and Andrew Theodore third in 1:36:47. Jack McDermott was the first master runner in the half marathon, placing fourth overall in 1:36:47.


Melissa Thompson finished runner-up to Sava in the women's standings, placing sixteenth overall in 1:52:26. Courtney Mason was the third woman and seventeenth overall in 1:53:19. Laura Reina was the first woman master and fifth female finisher, twentieth overall in 1:55:11.

Melissa Thompson

Top Ten Men, 2019 “Tails and Trails” Half Marathon

1. 1:25:32, Charlie Johnson (M, 39) Tallahassee, FL
2. 1:32:31, Brad Busboom (M, 31)
3. 1:36:47, Andrew Theodore (M, 20)
4. 1:36:47, Jack McDermott (M, 50)
5. 1:37:13, Tim Qualls (M, 39)
6. 1:38:29, Geb Kiros (M, 52)
7. 1:40:59, Collin Woodrum (M, 20)
8. 1:44:40, Brian Corbin (M, 51)
9. 1:47:27, Philip Sura (M, 49)
10. 1:47:58, Joel Piotrowski (M, 49)

Top Ten Women, 2019 “Tails and Trails” Half Marathon

1. 1:38:43, Amanda Sava (F, 24) Tallahassee, FL
2. 1:52:26, Melissa Thompson (F, 34)
3. 1:53:19, Courtney Mason (F, 24)
4. 1:54:54, Jillian Heddaeus (F, 36)
5. 1:55:11, Laura Reina (F, 54)
6. 1:56:09, Cecilia Bouaichi (F, 23)
7. 1:56:33, Nancy Stedman (F, 57)
8. 1:58:22, Alana Brady (F, 24)
9. 1:59:39, Michelle Hadden (F, 30)
10. 2:02:43, Sherri Wise (F, 37)

The Tails & Trails 10K started at 8:30, when the fastest half marathon runners were still exploring the Alford Greenway. Pensacola, Florida master runner Jennifer McGranahan was not only the first woman in the race, she was also the overall winner. McGranahan grabbed the lead right after the start, shadowed by Sean Landeta of Thomasville, Georgia. Landeta hung on for the first half of the race, but McGranahan got away after the leaders had turned around for the return trip to the Animal Shelter. 50 meters ahead by the six-kilometer mark, McGranahan finished with a lead of nearly 200 meters and a winning time of 46:08.

Jennifer McGranahan

“That was fun!” said McGranahan. “I’ll be out there next year. I liked everything that went into this race; the trails, the family discount, the animals. It’s a nice way to find good homes for some animals.”


McGranahan has deep running roots in Pensacola, having raced cross-country and track for Pensacola High before going on to compete for the University of Florida. Currently, she’s working on a degree in physical therapy at Florida A&M University.

Sean Landeta, Jennifer McGranahan

“I usually run the Fiesta of Five Flags 10K in Pensacola, and I could have driven back for that,” said McGranahan. “But I thought, ‘No!’ I love Tom Brown Park and the trails.”


Sean Landeta was the first man in the race, coming in second overall in 46:57. Paul Guyas was the first male master, third overall in 47:12. Master runner Tim Unger was third on the men's side and fifth overall in 48:40.

Lilli Unger

Tim Unger is Lilli Unger’s father, and Lilli Unger was second in the women’s standings.The Leon High cross-country runner placed fourth overall in 47:54. Alyssa Terry finished third in the women's division and seventh overall in 50:04.


Top Ten Women, 2019 “Tails and Trails” 10K

1. 46:08, Jennifer McGranahan (F, 40) Pensacola, FL
2. 47:54, Lilli Unger (F, 16)
3. 50:04, Alyssa Terry (F, 25)
4. 54:35, Nancy Proctor (F, 58)
5. 55:36, Joi Savery (F, 38)
6. 57:47, Kaley Ford (F, 24)
7. 58:31, Karima Anderson (F, 32)
8. 59:20, Belinda Wharton (F, 58)
9. 59:29, Brittany Bevis (F, 33)
10. 1:00:16, Jessica Jameson (F, 32)

Top Ten Men, 2019 “Tails and Trails” 10K

1. 46:58, Sean Landeta (M, 30) Thomasville, GA
2. 47:12, Paul Guyas (M, 41)
3. 48:40, Tim Unger (M, 59)
4. 50:03, Juan Padron (M, 49)
5. 50:24, Brian Molen (M, 43)
6. 52:52, Laryn Flikkema (M, 43)
7. 52:53, Chuck Lang (M, 53)
8. 53:05, Peter Failma (M, 16)
9. 54:17, Robert Steinmetz (M, 63)
10. 54:47, Matt Hohmeister (M, 38)

The Tails & Trails 5K started at the same time as the 10K. Kurt Dietrich took the early lead in the 3.1-mile race. Having won the 5K in 2017 and 2018, Dietrich was going for a third straight title, but Connor Edwards denied him that. Edwards, an eighth-grader at Swift Creek Middle School, overtook Dietrich then went on to win the race in 19:44. Dietrich was second in 20:00, and Daniel Wurgler third in 20:14. Aaron Guyer was the top master runner in the 5K, placing seventh overall in 21:06.

Kurt Dietrich

In the 2015 Tails & Trails 10K Brittney Barnes had been the first woman. In the 2016 Tails & Trails 5K Barnes had been the first woman. In the 2019 5K she was again the first woman, placing ninth overall in 21:38. Amelia Bryant was second to Barnes, placing thirteenth overall in 25:10. Twelve-year-old Liliana Lewis edged Paula O'Neill for the third spot in the women's standings, 25:47 to 25:49. The two were sixteenth and seventeenth overall. O'Neill was the first woman master in the race.

Brittney Barnes

643 athletes crossed the finish line at the 2019 Tails & Trails, with 125 completing the half marathon, 148 the 10K, 302 the 5K, and 68 the one-mile fun run. Gulf Winds Track Club of Tallahassee chip-timed each of the four races.


Top Ten Men, 2019 “Tails and Trails” 5K

1. 19:44, Connor Edwards (M, 14) Tallahassee, FL
2. 20:00, Kurt Dietrich (M, 27)
3. 20:14, Daniel Wurgler (M, 19)
4. 20:19, Lucas Mauch (M, 14)
5. 20:28, Noah Deem (M, 11)
6. 20:45, Garrett Swier (M, 22)
7. 21:06, Aaron Guyer (M, 44)
8. 21:20, Duane Evans (M, 51)
9. 23:38, Joseph Woodson (M, 44)
10. 23:58, Aidan Gonzalez (M, 13)

Top Ten Women, 2019 “Tails and Trails” 5K

1. 21:38, Brittney Barnes (F, 31) Tallahassee, FL
2. 25:10, Amelia Bryant (F, 30)
3. 25:47, Liliana Lewis (F, 12)
4. 25:49, Paula O'Neill (F, 57)
5. 26:00, Apryl Deloach (F, 32)
6. 26:33, Stacy Holmes (F, 40)
7. 26:40, Angely Jimenez (F, 24)
8. 26:57, Kensey D'Souza (F, 31)
9. 27:45, Lauren Heitmeyer (F, 40)
10. 27:56, Kate King (F, 26)

“Tails and Trails” winners, 2002 - 2019
Date	Race	Men	Women	Finishers
30 March 2002	5K	19:49, Tim Bolton	23:06, Carrie Weyant	179
15 March 2003	5K	20:47, Justin Dickieson	24:20, Carrie Weyant	218
20 March 2004	5K	18:56, Gary Droze	23:02, Seeley Lovett	221
19 March 2005	5K	18:51, Mathew Dobson	23:12, Stephanie Liles	186
18 March 2006	10K	37:46, Vince Molosky	46:49, Kim Likens	73
	5K	22:06, Roger Michaud	21:48, Stephanie Liles	178
5 May 2007	10K	36:43, Vince Molosky	43:54, Jana Stolting	80
	5K	17:31, Tripp Southerland	24:22, Claire Fruchtnicht	250
3 May 2008	10K	37:23, Vince Molosky	41:55, Karen Geletko	141
	5K	20:54, Jason Graham	21:57, Katrina Unglaub	272
2 May 2009	10K	35:07, Vince Molosky	41:34, Sheryl Rosen	148
	5K	17:24, John Robida	18:59, Kelsey Scheitlin	464
1 May 2010	10K	35:44, Vince Molosky	42:38, Micah Adriani	315
	5K	16:37, Ken Youngers	22:13, Lisa Finn	355
30 April 2011	10K	36:41, Vince Molosky	41:06, Heather Griffis
	5K	17:04, Kevin Sullivan	19:41, Kelly Stevens
5 May 2012	10K	34:52, Stanley Linton	41:38, Micah Adriani	246
	5K	18:22, Jonathan Grisiaffi	23:00, Stephanie Stout	494
4 May 2013	10K	36:29, Vince Molosky	46:31, Lindsey Pfau	207
	5K	16:26, Stanley Linton	19:40, Micah Adriani	521
3 May 2014	10K	37:04, Matthew Cashin	46:12, Urska Dobersek	211
	5K	16:53, Adam Wallenfelsz	20:55, Sara Lane	359
2 May 2015	Half Marathon	1:25:43, Eric Godin	1:49:34, Mary Jane Hayden	92
	10K	37:22, Matthew Cashin	46:04, Brittney Barnes	278
	5K	17:06, Roger Schmidt	20:25, Alese Autore	552
7 May 2016	Half Marathon	1:19:49, Matt Mizereck	1:45:20, Katie Sherron	178
	10K	37:45, Stanley Linton	45:48, Anna Busby	191
	5K	18:20, Peter Van Brussel	20:50, Brittney Barnes	562
6 May 2017	Half Marathon	1:27:34, Eric Godin	1:36:48, Katie Sherron	148
	10K	38:54, Chris O'Kelley	44:40, Sheryl Rosen	123
	5K	18:47, Kurt Dietrich	23:44, Christina Linton	395
5 May 2018	Half Marathon	1:20:46, Andrew Smith	1:45:35, Amanda Sava	104
	10K	37:16, Charlie Johnson	47:16, Jillian Heddaeus	189
	5K	19:13, Kurt Dietrich	24:27, Madison Sims	447
4 May 2019	Half Marathon	1:25:32, Charlie Johnson	1:38:43, Amanda Sava	125
	10K	46:58, Sean Landeta	46:08, Jennifer McGranahan	148
	5K	19:44, Connor Edwards	21:38, Brittney Barnes	302
From 2002 to 2006 the event was called the "Furry Scurry." No 10K was held before 2006. No Half Marathon was held prior to 2015.

Links

• Complete results of the 2019 “Tails and Trails”
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRT_wfH4ELQQO5rBh-ExfSL-58gsiip06o7w5UpvT6s6xTvrScQtIjd7o2RcYd5mwWiuqpW9ZEzBCSr/pubhtml
  
  
• More photos of the 2019 “Tails and Trails”
  
  • Half Marathon, 10K, 5K: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10113539626262283
    
  • One-Mile Fun Run: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10113536884072653
    
  
  
• Fred Deckert's photos of the 2018 “Tails and Trails”
  https://photos.app.goo.gl/wz7WriUexrouA1e1A
  
  
• 2017 story, “Godin and Sherron prevail on the trail at Tails & Trails”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/05/tails-trails-2017.html
  
  
• 2016 story, “Mizereck and Sherron tail none on the trails”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2016/05/tails-trails-2016.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Godin and Hayden prosper on the longer trail at ‘Tails & Trails’”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/05/tails-trails-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Flooding doesn't stop Tails & Trails, Cashin, or Dobersek”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/05/tails-trails-2014.html
  
  
• 2013 story, “Molosky back on top in the 'Tails & Trails' 10K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/05/tails-trails-2013.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “Linton and Adriani kick tails on the trails”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/05/tails-trails-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Molosky and Griffis tear up the trails at Tom Brown”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/04/tails-trails-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “Molosky and Adriani best the field at 'Tails and Trails'”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/05/tails-trails-2010.html
  
  
• 2009 story, “2009 'Tails and Trails' 5K / 10K”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/05/2009-tails-and-trails-5k-10k.html
  
  
• Find an upcoming race on the trails of the Tallahassee region on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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