Sunday, July 12, 2009

Sharing the road on Killarney Way

Earlier this summer the city of Tallahassee did some repaving work on Killarney Way. After all the heavy lifting was over, and you no longer had to worry about one lane being four inches lower than the other, it was time for finishing work--digging up the manhole covers, painting lane lines, taking down the "Road Construction" signs, and adding new signs. A week or two ago, I noticed that some "Share the Road" signs had been added. Quite a few "Share the Road" signs, actually.

As it turns out there are now seven "Share the Road" signs on Killarney Way going east from Thomasville Road to Shamrock Drive. There are seven more going west from Shamrock Drive back to Thomasville Road. The signs aren't evenly spaced, but I managed to crack the code--there is a sign after each side street to the right. That is, a sign each after Thomasville Road, Limerick, Longford, Kilkenny, Tullamore, Raymond Diehl, and Foley going east, and a sign each after Shamrock, Killarney Plaza, Forsythe, Clare, Clare, Monaghan, and Monaghan going west. An enormous bicycle icon in reflective white paint looms on the pavement next to each sign.

That's a lot of signs on a 1.4-mile stretch of road, enough so that it's nearly impossible to drive any distance on Killarney Way without passing at least one of the signs. Beyond Killarney Way on the east, there are no "Share the Road" signs on Shamrock Drive, so I suppose drivers might feel free to bully cyclists; there is a similar lack of signs past the west end of Killarney on Maclay Road. Fortunately, in my experience automobile drivers on Shamrock and Maclay have been civilized enough to share the road without being prompted.

A bike lane might have been more effective, but the signs certainly can't hurt. Killarney Way is wide enough for bicyclists and motorists to coexist, so maybe we'll be able to share the road.
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Posted by Herb Wills at 10:01 PM 2 comments
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Saturday, July 11, 2009

Seventh annual Florida State University Cross Country Invitational, 30 September 1978

Here are some more "results from the attic," the seventh annual FSU Cross-Country Invitational meet, held back in 1978. In those bad old days, men's and women's meets were often separate, so there are no women's results here. The official boys' high school distance was still three miles. The official NCAA men's distance was already 10 km, but many early and mid-season races were five miles (slightly longer than the 8 km that the collegians frequently run).

The course for the three-mile race that day was basically twice around a mile-and-a-half loop on Florida State University's Seminole Golf Course. The five mile races covered two circuits of the same golf course loop, with the addition of two miles on what was left of FSU's dairy farm (now Innovation Park). All the races finished by climbing the slope of the golf course driving range--not a steep hill, but tough enough at the end of a race.

There are some noteworthy names in each of the races. Bob Braman appears in the collegiate results, but as a runner for the University of Florida rather than as a coach for Florida State University. Future olympian Keith Brantley is in the runner-up spot in the high school results. Yes, that's Tampa coach Jarrett Slaven in the open results. And yes, those are results of a junior college race. I'm not sure how many of those schools still have a cross-country program.

Seventh Annual Florida State University Cross-Country Invitational
Florida State University's Seminole Golf Course, Tallahassee, FL

University Men Five Mile Run
=========================================================
  Name                 Team                 Time 
=========================================================
1 Murphy, Michael      University of Florid 24:32   
2 Wills, Herb          Florida State Univer 24:34   
3 Gayman, Gary         University of Georgi 24:39   
4 Rogers, John         University of Florid 24:43   
5 Brown, Seth          University of Florid 24:47   
6 Hanson, Rich         University of Alabam 24:53   
7 Fussell, Mike        University of Georgi 24:54   
8 Luster, Curtis       University of Florid 24:55   
9 Braman, Bob          University of Florid 25:01   
10 Corley, Mike         University of Alabam 25:05   
11 Watzka, Bret         Valdosta State Colle 25:09   
12 Martinez, Steve      Valdosta State Colle 25:10   
13 Bossardet, Mark      Valdosta State Colle 25:19   
14 Viana, Mark          Valdosta State Colle 25:24   
15 Herron, Tommy        Florida State Univer 25:26   
16 Washku, Bruce        Valdosta State Colle 25:27   
17 Heiss, Michael       University of Florid 25:29   
18 Sims, Dan            University of Alabam 25:30   
19 Hindle, Ed           University of Alabam 25:31   
20 Overfelt, Doug       Florida State Univer 25:33   
21 Kauffman, Joe        University of Georgi 25:38   
22 Greene, Larry        Florida State Univer 25:40   
23 Bishop, Rich         University of Alabam 25:44   
24 Weston, Joe          University of Florid 25:46   
25 Lonergan, Joel       University of Alabam 25:47   
26 McCray, Mabry        University of Georgi 25:47   
27 Harris, Scott        University of Georgi 25:48   
28 Thomas, Alan         Georgia Tech         25:50   
29 Hodge, John          Florida State Univer 25:52   
30 Wirick, Ron          Georgia Tech         25:55   
31 Lambert, Joel        University of South  25:58   
32 Graham, George       University of Alabam 26:03   
33 Sullivan, Greg       University of South  26:04   
34 Hinton, Ricky        University of South  26:05   
35 McGaritz, Dudley     Georgia Tech         26:07   
36 Beatty, Dennis       Valdosta State Colle 26:09   
37 Abrussato, Bobby     University of South  26:13   
38 Carnes, Jerry        University of Georgi 26:14   
39 Johnson, Lynn        University of South  26:18   
40 McClain, Tim         Florida State Univer 26:21   
41 Radcliff, Jeff       Georgia Tech         26:21   
42 Beck, Brent          Georgia Tech         26:22   
43 Dunwoody, Dan        Valdosta State Colle 26:23   
44 Brooku, Tim          Georgia Tech         26:28   
45 Gomez, Robb          Florida State Univer 26:37   
46 McCartney, John      University of Georgi 26:38   
47 Boyer, David         University of South  26:48   
48 Impastato, Tom       University of South  26:55   
49 Froret, Pete         University of South  27:09   
50 Parrish, David       University of South  27:27   
51 Poe, Bill            Georgia Tech         27:42   
52 Freeman, Ed          University of South  28:06   
53 Campbell, John       University of South  28:24   


University Men Five Mile Run Team Scores
================================================================
 Team              Total    1    2    3    4    5    6*   7*
================================================================
1 University of Flor 27     1    4    5    8    9    17   24
    Total Time: 2:03:58.00
    Average:    24:47.60
2 Valdosta State Col 66     11   12   13   14   16   36   43
    Total Time: 2:06:29.00
    Average:    25:17.80
3 University of Alab 76     6    10   18   19   23   25   32
    Total Time: 2:06:43.00
    Average:    25:20.60
4 University of Geor 84     3    7    21   26   27   38   46
    Total Time: 2:06:46.00
    Average:    25:21.20
5 Florida State Univ 88     2    15   20   22   29   40   45
    Total Time: 2:07:05.00
    Average:    25:25.00
6 Georgia Tech       176    28   30   35   41   42   44   51
    Total Time: 2:10:35.00
    Average:    26:07.00
7 University of Sout 189    31   34   37   39   48   52   - 
    Total Time: 2:11:29.00
    Average:    26:17.80
8 University of Sout 232    33   47   49   50   53   -    - 
    Total Time: 2:15:52.00
    Average:    27:10.40


Junior College Men Five Mile Run
=========================================================
  Name                 Team                 Time 
=========================================================
1 Yarbrough, Mike      Florida Community Co 25:31   
3 Futch, Jim           Seminole Community C 25:51   
4 Artz, Bryan          Seminole Community C 26:06   
5 Wilson, George       Florida Community Co 26:16   
6 D'Agostino, Fred     Miami-Dade South     26:24   
7 Stewart, Dave                             26:30   
8 Pringle, Bernard     Sante Fe Community C 26:35   
9 Hubbard, Steve       Seminole Community C 26:35   
10 Likes, Chris         Sante Fe Community C 26:37   
11 Eastman, Darryl      Seminole Community C 26:46   
12 Smith, Steve         Hillsborough Communi 26:53   
13 Rozel, Phil          Seminole Community C 26:56   
14 Tarr, George         Miami-Dade South     26:58   
15 Cassels, Jimmy       Miami-Dade South     27:01   
16 Sztyler, Moises      Miami-Dade North     27:03   
17 Perez, George        Miami-Dade South     27:05   
18 Allen, Dave          Sante Fe Community C 27:15   
19 Hall, Adrian         Okaloosa-Walton Juni 27:17   
20 Kidder, Tom          Okaloosa-Walton Juni 27:23   
21 Hughes, Roger        Miami-Dade South     27:26   
22 Drovin, Bob          Miami-Dade North     27:32   
23 Thompson, Marvin     Miami-Dade North     27:33   
24 Hilderbrandt, Ken    Miami-Dade North     27:33   
25 McCloud, Clay        Sante Fe Community C 27:36   
26 McFarland, Mike      Brevard Community Co 27:48   
27 Bates, Tab           Florida Community Co 27:51   
28 Cochran, Don         Sante Fe Community C 27:59   
29 Anthony, Mike        Miami-Dade South     28:07   
30 Vazquez, Alez        Brevard Community Co 28:10   
31 Lazarov, Bob         Miami-Dade North     28:12   
32 Culp, Ron            Brevard Community Co 28:16   
33 Lane, Mike           Sante Fe Community C 28:19   
34 Trantham, Charlie    Brevard Community Co 28:21   
35 Dickey, Lamont       Florida Community Co 28:26   
36 Spark, Bill          Brevard Community Co 28:30   
37 Gulick, Don          Sante Fe Community C 28:35   
38 Hall, Ray            Okaloosa-Walton Juni 28:38   
39 Lewis, Willie        Miami-Dade North     29:05   
40 Kemp, Tim            Miami-Dade North     29:20   
41 Mesa, John           Brevard Community Co 29:30   
42 Worgalla, Bob        Brevard Community Co 29:48   
43 Gray, Tom            Okaloosa-Walton Juni 29:55   
44 Stevens, Keith       Miami-Dade North     31:11   
45 Hamil, David         Okaloosa-Walton Juni 31:17   


Junior College Men Five Mile Run Team Scores
================================================================
 Team              Total    1    2    3    4    5    6*   7*
================================================================
1 Seminole Community 23     1    2    5    7    8    -    - 
    Total Time: 2:12:14.00
    Average:    26:26.80
2 Miami-Dade South   50     3    9    10   12   16   23   - 
    Total Time: 2:14:54.00
    Average:    26:58.80
3 Sante Fe Community 65     4    6    13   20   22   27   30
    Total Time: 2:16:02.00
    Average:    27:12.40
4 Miami-Dade North   90     11   17   18   19   25   32   33
    Total Time: 2:17:53.00
    Average:    27:34.60
5 Brevard Community  128    21   24   26   28   29   34   35
    Total Time: 2:21:05.00
    Average:    28:13.00
6 Okaloosa-Walton Ju 133    14   15   31   36   37   -    - 
    Total Time: 2:24:30.00
    Average:    28:54.00
-- Florida Community  NTS (4 Finishers)
--                    NTS (1 Finishers)
-- Hillsborough Commu NTS (1 Finishers)


High School Boys Three Mile Run                       
=========================================================
  Name                 Team                 Time 
=========================================================
1 Collier, George      Choctawatchee        14:41   
2 Brantley, Keith      Winter Haven         14:44   
3 Waldron, Paul        St Petersburg        14:50   
4 Van-Es, Brian        Largo                15:03   
5 Treadway, Ronnie     Palmetto             15:13   
6 West, Ricky          Fort Walton Beach    15:14   
7 Sellers, Bart        Largo                15:14   
8 Devito, Joe          Largo                15:18   
9 Brace, Ken           Satellite            15:19   
10 Hodge, Paul          Lincoln              15:23   
11 Ballew, Steve        Largo                15:28   
12 Anspach, Jeff        Largo                15:36   
13 Edwards, Dennis      Largo                15:37   
14 McQuilkin, Steve     Largo                15:38   
15 Lynch, Kenny         Ed White             15:46   
16 McPherson, Tom       Choctawatchee        15:49   
17 Lawrence, Louis      Ed White             15:53   
18 Register, Hughes     Leon                 15:57   
19 Horn, Joe            Shanks               15:59   
20 Tully, Dan                                16:07   
21 Love, Wayne          Winter Haven         16:10   
22 Page, Darryl         Orange Park          16:10   
23 Ekman, Don           Choctawatchee        16:11   
24 Randolph, James      Jefferson            16:14   
25 Fussell, Steve       Choctawatchee        16:15   
26 Rubino, Mark         Leon                 16:17   
27 TePalti, Jamie       Satellite            16:18   
28 German, Mark         Ed White             16:19   
29 Rivers, J. C.        Jefferson            16:19   
30 Serna, Tony          North Florida Christ 16:19   
31 Cuyler, Mark         Jefferson            16:22   
32 Hammomg, David       Satellite            16:23   
33 Dalzell, Tim         Colonial             16:23   
34 Thomas, Gary         Niceville            16:23   
35 McClain, John        Winter Haven         16:24   
36 Schloeme, Robbie     Niceville            16:24   
37 Smith, Roger         Leon                 16:29   
38 Walker, Drew         Satellite            16:30   
39 Lawerence, Mike      Orange Park          16:31   
40 Saulsby, Orrin       Satellite            16:32   
41 Leach, Jim           Winter Haven         16:32   
42 Zerressen, Mike      Fort Walton Beach    16:33   
43 Cornett, Mark        Orange Park          16:34   
44 Winefordner, Carl    PK Yonge             16:36   
45 Santarone, Mike      Leon                 16:38   
46 Beasley, Bruce       Winter Haven         16:39   
47 Bugbee, Mike         Ed White             16:40   
48 Beasley, Boyd        Winter Haven         16:41   
49 Lightfoot, Craig     Orange Park          16:42   
50 Culberson, Mike      Niceville            16:43   
51 Hargrove, Mike       Orange Park          16:48   
52 Demianovich, David   Colonial             16:49   
53 Foster, Brant        Leon                 16:50   
54 Coppedge, Mark       Orange Park          16:51   
55 Dallman, Mike        Niceville            16:52   
56 Bills, Tony          Satellite            16:59   
57 Collier, Virgil      Palmetto             17:03   
58 Wills, Andrew        Lincoln              17:04   
59 Dohaney, Tim         Choctawatchee        17:04   
60 Parker, J. L.        Jefferson            17:05   
61 Stone, Rob           Choctawatchee        17:05   
62 Edwards, Gary        Ed White             17:05   
63 Hunter, Scott        Niceville            17:06   
65 White, Bojack        North Florida Christ 17:07   
66 Ingrams, Mike        Orange Park          17:10   
67 Ballard, Ted         PK Yonge             17:10   
68 Hanison, John        Niceville            17:12   
69 Rodgers, David       Ed White             17:12   
70 Harmon, Dusty        North Florida Christ 17:13   
71 Merkel, Ken          North Florida Christ 17:13   
72 Cline, Neal          Leon                 17:16   
73 Johnson, Larry       Shanks               17:17   
74 Cuyler, Matthew      Jefferson            17:19   
75 Crisafulli, Jeff     Niceville            17:20   
77 Lamb, Marion         North Florida Christ 17:21   
78 Carnes, Bob          PK Yonge             17:21   
79 Faris, Chris         Leon                 17:22   
80 Lewis, Tom           Satellite            17:27   
81 Kull, David          Colonial             17:32   
82 Leach, Brian         Winter Haven         17:38   
83 Rezzandy, Tom        Fort Walton Beach    17:41   
84 Chalmers, Henry      PK Yonge             17:43   
85 Ward, Forrest        PL                   17:46   
86 Dixon, Daryl         North Florida Christ 17:53   
87 Peterson, Eric       Ed White             17:53   
88 Crees, Glen          Colonial             17:57   
89 Dilworth, Terry      Shanks               17:59   
90 Tidwell, Greg        North Florida Christ 18:10   
91 Fritz, Paul                               18:13   
92 Norris, Thad         Lincoln              18:14   
93 Pafford, Doug        PK Yonge             18:18   
94 Shaw, Tommy          Shanks               18:19   
95 Jones, Wayne         Jefferson            18:20   
96 Nickerson, John      Colonial             18:20   
97 Richter, John        Palmetto             18:38   
98 Hackett, Pat         Fort Walton Beach    18:42   
99 Silvanic, Mark       Palmetto             18:45   
100 Doyle, Eddie         Fort Walton Beach    18:46   
101 Jackson, Tim         Shanks               18:58   
102 Massey, Tom          PK Yonge             19:00   
103 Muser, Kevin                              19:03   
104 Bennett, Jem         Fort Walton Beach    19:06   
105 Parks, Steve         Palmetto             19:10   
106 McClean, Brennam                          19:12   
107 Bryan, Rob           Fort Walton Beach    19:25   
108 Sanders, Marvin      Shanks               19:39   
109 Young, Joe                                19:44   
110 Davis, James         Shanks               19:55   
111 Green, Robert        Palmetto             19:55   
112 Sanborn, William     Maclay               20:15   
113 Espaillt, Junior     Lincoln              20:16   
114 Steinig, Greg        Palmetto             20:18   
115 Gedney, John                              21:16   
116 Huffman, John                             21:27   
117 Walker, Garrett      Lincoln              22:40   
118 Arthur, Feliz        Jefferson            23:38   


High School Boys Three Mile Run Team Scores
================================================================
 Team              Total    1    2    3    4    5    6*   7*
================================================================
1 Largo              37     3    6    7    10   11   12   13
    Total Time: 1:16:39.00
    Average:    15:19.80
2 Choctawatchee      120    1    15   22   24   58   60   - 
    Total Time: 1:20:00.00
    Average:    16:00.00
3 Winter Haven       141    2    20   34   40   45   47   79
    Total Time: 1:20:29.00
    Average:    16:05.80
4 Satellite          141    8    26   31   37   39   55   77
    Total Time: 1:21:02.00
    Average:    16:12.40
5 Ed White           164    14   16   27   46   61   67   83
    Total Time: 1:21:43.00
    Average:    16:20.60
6 Leon               174    17   25   36   44   52   70   76
    Total Time: 1:22:11.00
    Average:    16:26.20
7 Orange Park        199    21   38   42   48   50   53   64
    Total Time: 1:22:45.00
    Average:    16:33.00
8 Jefferson          212    23   28   30   59   72   91   113
    Total Time: 1:23:19.00
    Average:    16:39.80
9 Niceville          233    33   35   49   54   62   66   73
    Total Time: 1:23:28.00
    Average:    16:41.60
10 North Florida Chri 303    29   63   68   69   74   82   86
    Total Time: 1:25:13.00
    Average:    17:02.60
11 Fort Walton Beach  316    5    41   80   94   96   100  103
    Total Time: 1:26:56.00
    Average:    17:23.20
12 Colonial           337    32   51   78   84   92   -    - 
    Total Time: 1:27:01.00
    Average:    17:24.20
13 Palmetto           349    4    56   93   95   101  107  109
    Total Time: 1:28:49.00
    Average:    17:45.80
14 PK Yonge           353    43   65   75   81   89   98   - 
    Total Time: 1:27:08.00
    Average:    17:25.60
15 Shanks             361    18   71   85   90   97   104  106
    Total Time: 1:28:32.00
    Average:    17:42.40
16 Lincoln            374    9    57   88   108  112  -    - 
    Total Time: 1:33:37.00
    Average:    18:43.40
17                    412    19   87   99   102  105  110  111
    Total Time: 1:32:19.00
    Average:    18:27.80
-- St Petersburg      NTS (1 Finishers)
-- PL                 NTS (1 Finishers)
-- Maclay             NTS (1 Finishers)


Open Men Five Mile Run
====================================
  Name                 Time 
====================================
1 Henry, Tim           24:57   
2 Porter, Andy         24:58   
3 Slaven, Jarrett      25:06   
4 Wachholz, Mike       25:09   
5 Zwald, John          25:15   
6 Duggan, Charlie      25:23   
7 Carpenter, Bruce     25:24   
8 McCarthy, Gene       25:29   
9 Cook, Donnie         25:31   
10 Louv, Bill           25:33   
11 Egal, Martin         25:41   
12 Carter, Tom          25:44   
13 Healer, Mike         25:46   
14 Keener, Tony         25:51   
15 St. John, Ken        25:53   
16 Frazier, Steve       25:58   
17 Ridgeway, Bret       25:58   
18 Saylors, David       25:58   
19 Bradley, Brian       26:02   
20 Kritzler, Bruce      26:07   
21 Sautter, Mike        26:09   
22 DePeiza, Coswell     26:11   
23 , unknown            26:14   
24 Prints, Larry        26:16   
25 Eriksson, Dale       26:17   
26 Cable, Randy         26:19   
27 Sagul, Tim           26:22   
28 Andrews, Steve       26:24   
29 Shackleford, Bobby   26:32   
30 West, George         26:32   
31 Fottardi, Gary       26:36   
32 Caulfield, Mark      26:37   
33 Meeter, Duane        26:41   
34 Scheiffle, Gary      26:43   
35 Dorlin, Kyle         26:45   
36 Simpkins, Tim        26:46   
37 Caldwell, Mike       26:47   
38 Gillespie, Tim       26:50   
39 Anguish, Will        26:55   
40 Hackworth, Bob       27:02   
41 Kidder, Cyril        27:05   
42 Bruner, Wes          27:05   
43 , unknown            27:22   
44 , unknown            27:24   
45 Askea, Paul          27:26   
46 Buell, Dave          27:28   
47 Hill, Jim            27:30   
48 Kushner, Mike        27:33   
49 Kresbach, Michael    27:35   
50 Page, Joe            27:40   
51 Hunter, Reggand      27:43   
52 Montgomery, Ron      27:45   
53 Miller, Mark         27:46   
54 Tranton, Mike        27:48   
55 McGee, Mark          27:49   
56 Corbett, Mark        27:53   
57 Taylor, Scott        27:54   
58 Powers, Topper       27:56   
59 MacIssac, Glenn      27:58   
60 Hodges, Eddie        28:01   
61 Digirolamo, Tony     28:04   
62 Norris, Ron          28:09   
63 Singletary, Bryan    28:13   
64 Stephens, Jim        28:17   
65 Kennell, Tom         28:28   
66 Ostling, Dexter      28:31   
67 Babcock, Jim         28:31   
68 Garrett, William     28:36   
69 Huff, Michael        28:41   
70 Borders, Andrew      28:44   
71 Kinney, Keith        28:54   
73 Smith, Joe           29:07   
74 Burns, Andy          29:10   
75 Sheffield, David     29:12   
76 Byer, Marty          29:13   
77 Thomas, Tec          29:16   
78 Morse, Tim           29:18   
79 Fields, James        29:20   
80 Howard, Marvin       29:49   
81 Warner, Don          30:06   
82 Morones, Peter       30:08   
83 Dugger, Jim          30:14   
84 Grant, Kenny         30:14   
85 Warren, Ben          30:16   
86 Wilder, Ron          30:18   
87 Nelson, Greg         30:19   
88 Sullivan, Shannon    30:25   
89 Taylor, Matthew      30:29   
90 Coate, Tom           30:35   
91 Reithinger, Al       30:39   
92 Moore, David         30:39   
93 Hamil, Randy         30:46   
94 McDonald, Mike       30:46   
95 Burks, Charlie       30:48   
96 Carruthers, Earl     30:50   
97 Bemid, Richard       30:56   
98 Lodge, Burt          30:58   
99 Richards, Kevin      31:01   
100 Dorrell, Pete        31:03   
101 Merritt, Tom         31:07
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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Help build a cross-country running tradition!

The 2009 cross-country running season is just a short pair of months away, and Tallahassee's Apalachee Regional Park cross-country course should be ready, thanks to the efforts of the Leon County Division of Parks and Recreation, the Gulf Winds Track Club, and Florida State University. The course will be on a portion of the Apalachee Regional Park devoted entirely to cross-country running; coaches will be able to schedule races without worrying about anyone trying to use the land for golf, horseback riding, a soccer game, or anything other than running.

Already the course has been laid out, a path cut through the woods, fields mowed, roots removed, and gravel and oyster shells put down where needed. Much work remains to be done. This Saturday, 11 July 2009 at 9:00 AM ET, volunteers will be spreading mulch on parts of the course. Judy Alexander, president of the Gulf Winds Track Club, has outlined the details of this work day in the following message:

There will be a second ARP work day this Saturday, July 11! If you came to the first one, you know how much fun we had while getting a LOT done out at the new cross country course. If you weren't able to make it the first time around, come on out and join the fun! Work starts at 9:00AM, but Brian Corbin, one of the course architects, will be leading a guided run tour of the course starting at 7:30AM. Since the course loops vary in length between 1.2-2 miles, depending on how you run the course, this will leave time for you to get in additional mileage after the tour if you wish.

We will be doing a lot of mulch raking; gloves and rakes will be provided, but if you have favorites of your own, feel free to bring them!

Hope to see you there!

Anyone willing to pull a rake is welcome as a volunteer at the work day. Apalachee Regional Park is located at 7550 Apalachee Parkway (US 27), which is about four-and-a-half miles east of the intersection of Capital Circle (US 319) and Apalachee Parkway. The tour of the course is a nice touch--teaching more runners the course will get more people running on the course, and more foot-traffic can only benefit the course.

For more information about the work day, contact Judy Alexander at jalexander98@comcast.net or 850-383-1361.

Links:
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009

8 July 2009 Tallahassee 100-Mile Race Calendar

This is the Tallahassee vicinity road-race schedule for 8 July 2009. If that's more than a week ago, the latest schedule is always available via this link:


This is a listing of upcoming races within 100 miles of Tallahassee, Florida, roughly the area in the map below. If a race isn't listed, I probably haven't heard of it, so post a comment and let me know about it.

Map

11 JULY 2009
  • Greeks In The Streets 5K. 8:00 am ET. Langford Green, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. Event web site. Online registration at active.com. Emmy Hunt, gettingreeksinthestreets@gmail.com
18 JULY 2009
1 AUGUST 2009
  • Fallen Heroes Run 5K. 8:00 am ET. Tom Brown Park, Tallahassee, FL 32305. Event web page. Gavin Larremore, oovtally@comcast.net
  • Possum Trot 5K. 7:30 am CT. Wausua, FL. Frank or Carol Kreis 850-773-2030
8 AUGUST 2009
  • Mike Schneider Memorial 5K and 1 mile fun run. 8:00 am ET. Cobb Middle School, 915 Hillcrest Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32308. Tolar Griffin 850-294-6456 or peoples.champ34@yahoo.com
  • Run For Love Evening Run 5K and 1 Mile. 7:15 pm ET. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tennis Center, Tifton, Georgia, 31793. Online registration at active.com.
15 AUGUST 2009
  • Breakfast On The Track One Mile Run. 7:45 am ET. Maclay School track, 3737 N Meridian Rd, Tallahassee, FL. Bonnie Wright, 850-386-3500 or bwright@electro-net.com
  • Georgia Veterans Duathlon and Triathlon. 8:00 am ET. Georgia Veterans State Park, 2459 U.S. Highway 280 W, Cordele , GA 31015. Event web site. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com
  • Life is a Beach 5K Trail Run. 7:30 am CT. Westgate Park, 801 Recreation Road, Dothan, AL 36303. Event web page. Larry Dykes (334) 792-6021
29 AUGUST 2009
  • Miller Landing Madness 8K/5K/3K. 8:00 am ET. Elinor Klapp Phipps Park, Miller Landing Road, Tallahassee, FL 32312. Entry form and flyer. Mike Sims (850)514-3424 or Tom Perkins (850)894-2019
  • Winnersville Half-Ironman & Sprint Triathlon. 7:30 am ET (Half-Ironman, 1 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13 mile run), 8:00 am ET (Sprint, 45 mile swim, 14 mile bike, 3.6 mile run). Valdosta Lowndes 4-H Facility, 5000 4-H Club Road, Lake Park, GA 31636. Event web site. Online registration at active.com. Registration form.
5 SEPTEMBER 2009
  • 30th annual Midnight Chase 5K Run & 1-Mile Fun Run. 12:00 am CT. Panama City, FL. Nancy Dingus 850-763-6891 or Joe Edgecombe 850-774-0018
7 SEPTEMBER 2009
  • 2nd annual Red Cross Hurricane Run 5K. 8:00 am ET. Southwood Office Complex, Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida. Event web site. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com. Debara Jump, 878-6080 ext. 106 or debara.jump@tallyredcross.org
12 SEPTEMBER 2009
  • Sickle Cell Foundation of the Big Bend 5K. 8:00 am ET. Jake Gaither Park, 801 Tanner Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32305. Velma Penermon Stevens, (850)222-2355
  • Beach Blast Triathlon and Duathlon. 7:00 am CT (Sprint triathlon, 0.35 mile Swim, 15 mile Bike, 3.1 mile Run; Olympic triathlon, 0.7 mile Swim, 25 mile Bike, 6.2 mile Run; Sprint duathlon, 1.2 mile Run, 15 mile Bike, 3.1 mile Run; Olympic duathlon, 3.1 mile Run, 15 mile Bike, 6.2 mile Run). Mexico Beach, Florida. Event web site. Online registration at active.com.
  • Third annual Loop the Lake 5K. 8:00 am CT. First Baptist Church, 216 East Live Oak Avenue, De Funiak Springs, Florida 32435. Event web site. Entry form and flyer.
19 SEPTEMBER 2009
  • Tallahassee Women's Distance Festival 5K. 8:00 am ET. Optimist Park, East Indianhead Drive, Tallahassee, FL. USATF certified course #FL00022DL. Lisa Unger, ungertl@juno.com or 850-562-2901.
  • Gulf Coast Community College Commodore Sun Run 10K / 5K / Fun Run. 6:30 am CT. Aaron Bessant Park (at Pier Park), 500 West Park Drive, Panama City, FL. Event web site. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com.
  • Trot with S.W.A.T. 10K. 8:00 am CT. Dothan Civic Center Parking Lot, 126 N. St. Andrews Street, Dothan, Alabama. Entry form and flyer. Brian Goguen 334-794-9029 or cgoguen@sw.rr.com
26 SEPTEMBER 2009
  • Salute to Prefontaine 5K Cross-Country Run. 9:00 am ET. Silver Lake Recreation Area of the Apalachicola National Forest, Silver Lake Road, Tallahassee, FL. Jeff Nielsen, 850-459-8859 or dobieman@comcast.net
  • Quail Trail 5K. 8:00 am ET. Historic Pebble Hill Plantation, US 319, Thomasville, Georgia. Entry form and flyer. Helen Fennelly, 229-225-2186 or htfenn@hotmail.com
  • A Bridge to a Brighter Day 5K. 8:00 am CT. Carl Grey Park, Panama City, FL 32401. Online registration at active.com.
  • Jog For Jake 5K. 7:00 pm ET. Tift County High School, One Blue Devil Way, Tifton, Georgia 31794. Event web site. Online registration at active.com.
3 OCTOBER 2009
  • Pelham Wildlife Festival 5K. 8:00 am ET. Family Bank, 134 Hand Ave W, Pelham, GA. 229-294-2341
  • Salmonole Run. 8:00 am ET. Florida State University, 117 North Woodward Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32306. Online registration at active.com.
  • Hahira Honeybee Festival 5K. 8:00 am ET. Hahira, Georgia. Event web site. honeybeefestival@yahoo.com
10 OCTOBER 2009
  • Pine Run at Tall Timbers 20K. 7:30 am ET. Tall Timbers Research Station, 13093 Henry Beadel Drive, Tallahassee, FL. Gordon Cherr, 850-556-5957 or scam22@aol.com
  • Stepping Out for your Heart 5K. 8:00 am ET. Tift County High School, Northeast Campus, 3021 Fulwood Rd, Tifton, Georgia 31794. Darian Peavy 229-353-7796 or darian.peavy@tiftregional.com, or Ernest Lang 229-383-4264.
  • Oyster Spat Festival 5K. 8:00 am ET. Sugar Hill Beach in St George Island State Park, 1900 E. Gulf Beach Dr., St. George Island, Florida 32328. Event web site. rickplesinger@yahoo.com
17 OCTOBER 2009
  • Girls Incorporated Half Marathon. 8:00 am CT. Pier Park, Panama City Beach, FL. Online registration at active.com.
24 OCTOBER 2009
  • Expression 5K. 8:30 am ET. Christian Heritage Church, 2820 Sharer Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32312. Event web site. Entry form and flyer. Liz Baker, 850-212-7406 or lizbaker777@aol.com or expressionrun@gmail.com
31 OCTOBER 2009
  • Boston Mini-Marathon. 8:00 am ET. Commercial Bank, 124 West Jefferson Street, Boston, GA 31626. Entry form and flyer. Brad Johnson, bradjohnson@bankcb.com or 229-498-8500 (day) / 229-226-4679 (evening).
  • Sixth annual St. John Road Race 5K, 1 Mile, and Tot Trot. 8:30 am ET (5K), 9:30 am ET (1 Mile), 9:45 am ET (Tot Trot). St. John Catholic School, 800 Gornto Road, Valdosta, GA 31602-1699. 229-244-2556
7 NOVEMBER 2009
  • Alligator Lake 5K / 10K. 9:00 am ET. Alligator Lake Park, 1498 SW Country Club Road, Lake City, FL 32025. Online registration at active.com. Dusty Smith, halfmiletiming_dusty@hotmail.com
14 NOVEMBER 2009
  • Miles for Smiles 5K. 8:30 am ET (one-mile fun run), 9:00 am ET (5K). Coffee Regional Medical Center, 1101 Ocilla Road, Douglas, GA 31533.
  • YMCA Holiday Chili Run. 8:00 am ET. Albany YMCA Central Facility, 1701 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA 31707. Online registration at active.com.
  • Trot for Tots 10K & 5K. 9:00 am CT. Panama City Marina, 1 Harrison Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401. Online registration at active.com.
21 NOVEMBER 2009
  • 15th annual Draggin' Tail 18-Mile Run & Relay 5K. 8:00 am CT. St Theresa's Catholic Church, 2056 Sunny Hills Boulevard, Sunny Hills, FL. Event web site. Marty Kirkland 850-265-8439 or Joe Edgecombe 850-763-5005, joeruns@yahoo.com
26 NOVEMBER 2009
  • Tallahassee Turkey Trot 15k / 10K / 5K. 8:00 am ET. State Office Satellite Complex at SouthWood, Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, FL. Event web site.
28 NOVEMBER 2009
  • Pilgrim Chase Trail Run 5K. 8:00 am CT. Westgate Park, 801 Recreation Road, Dothan, AL 36303. Larry Dykes 334-792-6021
5 DECEMBER 2009
  • 2009 Gulf Winds Track Club Ten-Mile Challenge / Five-Mile Run. 8:00 am ET. Killearn Lakes Elementary School, 8037 Deerlake Drive East, Bradfordville, FL. USATF certified courses FL07049EBM (10 mile) and FL07048EBM (5 mile). Event web page. Judy Alexander, 850-383-1361 or jalexander98@comcast.net
  • Run For The Redfish Half-Marathon, 5K, and Kids' Fun Run. 8:00 am CT. Pier Park, Margaritaville, 16230 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach 32413. Event web site. Registration form and flyer. Online registration at active.com.
  • Christmas Parade 5K. 6:00 pm ET. Douglas, Georgia. Cathy Browning (912-384-1616 or cbrowning@windstream.net) or C.M. Jenkins (912-384-7448 or 912-383-5445 or cimjenkins@windstream.net)
12 DECEMBER 2009
  • 29th annual Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50K/50M. 7:00 am ET. Wakulla Springs State Park, 550 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs, FL. Event web site. Online registration at active.com. Gary Griffin, runlong@nettally.com
16 JANUARY 2010
  • Gulf Winds Track Club 30K / 15K. 7:30 am ET. The Retreat at Bradley's Pond, 9002 Bradley Road, Tallahassee, FL 32309. USATF certified courses FL06013DL (30K) and FL06014DL (15 K). Jerry/Jackie McDaniel (mcdanieljackie@hotmail.com or 850-297-0009)
7 FEBRUARY 2010
  • 36th annual Tallahassee Marathon and Half-Marathon. 7:30 am ET. Mike Long Track, Florida State University, Chieftan Way at Spirit Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306. Event web site. USATF certified course FL06020DL (Marathon), FL06021DL (half-Marathon). Online registration at active.com. Tallahasseemarathon@gmail.com
6 MARCH 2010
  • 4th annual Snickers® Marathon® Energy Bar Marathon and Half-Marathon. 7:00 am ET. Veteran's Park, Front Street, Albany, GA 31701. USATF certified course GA07003WC (Marathon), GA07002WC (half-Marathon). Event web site. Online registration at active.com. info@SNICKERSmarathonenergybarmarathon.com
27 MARCH 2010
  • 35th annual Springtime 10K, Publix 5K & Fun Station 1-Miler. 8:00am ET. Leon County Courthouse, 301 S Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Event web site. USATF certified course FL96048DL (10 km). Judy Alexander, jalexander98@comcast.net or 850-383-1361.
10 APRIL 2010
  • 36th annual Palace Saloon 5 km. 8:00am ET. James Messer Fields Park, Jackson Bluff Road and Dupree Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304. USATF certified course FL99027DL. Online registration at active.com.
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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Good Evenings

It's summer, which means it's the season for evening road races.

Anyone who ran track or cross country in school won't find any novelty in racing in the evening. Track events have always been scheduled for any time during the day, and in this age of electric lighting, any time during the night as well. During the week track meets are more likely to be scheduled after classes, which puts them in the late afternoon or early evening rather than the morning. Cross-country meets are scheduled similarly, with only Saturday races being slated for the morning, probably so that everyone can go watch college football in the afternoon and evening. Still, even on a Saturday, a cross-country meet may be scheduled for the afternoon so that out-of-town teams can more conveniently travel to the race.

Road races, on the other hand, are almost exclusively events of the early morning. There are some oddballs out there, like a small 26.2-mile run in Massachusetts that traditionally starts at noon, probably because of the difficulty in traveling to the starting line in the village of Hopkinton, and possibly because of a desire to promote heat stroke among the competitors. There are also a handful of midnight runs out there, most notably on the cusp of the New Year, as represented by the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in New York City's Central Park. Why take your chances with the pick-pockets in Times Square when you can run with the muggers in Central Park?

Most of the road races scheduled in exception to the early morning rule are summer evening races. If the early evening is chosen to avoid the heat, then someone has made a serious miscalculation. In north Florida, summer daytime temperatures peak at about 4:00 PM ET. By 6:00 or 7:00 PM, the air hasn't cooled off much, and the pavement not at all. Possibly evening races are scheduled to take advantage of the additional hours of daylight available during the summer, but that doesn't explain Fort Walton Beach, Florida's Billy Bowlegs Midnight Run (which contrarily starts at 10:30 PM) or the Kiwanis Midnight Run in Dunedin, Florida (which is run at midnight on a course lit by luminaries). In the absence of a fully rational explanation, maybe these races are scheduled for the night or evening because it's fun to run then.

The "summer" during which these evening races are scheduled in the Tallahassee area is the same "summer" during which public swimming pools are open and it's acceptable to wear white, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. A few of Tallahassee's evening races have already come and gone--the "Miccosukee Pie Run" and "A Midsummer Night's Run" were with us for years but are no more. There are still a few left either in Tallahassee or a short drive away.

Memorial Day Night Race 5K (25 May 2009 @ 7:00 PM ET, Bainbridge, Georgia)
This was the third year that this race has been held. Unfortunately, it was the second year that no results were published, an inexcusable oversight. This is too bad, because it's otherwise a fine event on a good course that raises money for the local high school's cross-country team.

Potluck Bash Four-Mile Run (13 June 2009 @ 6:00 PM ET, Tallahassee, Florida)
The "Potluck" course is reputedly a bit short of four miles, but it's a cross-country course, so you'd be foolish to expect a high degree of accuracy. The "Potluck" is also a prediction run, which relieves you of the pressure to run a fast time, unless you're trying to stack up points in Gulf Winds Track Club's Grand Prix series. The "Bash" is a potluck dinner held following the race at Forestmeadows Athletic Center, and is followed by a ceremony honoring the top local high school cross country, track, and field athletes. The race raises money for Gulf Winds Track Club's Chenoweth Fund, which promotes youth running.

Summer Sizzler 5K (27 June 2009 @ 7:30 PM ET, St George Island, Florida).
Go to the beach and run a race! How much more fun can you pack into a day? The Summer Sizzler is held under the aegis of the Tate's Hell Track Club and is run on a flat, USATF certified course. Unfortunately, this year the race started ten minutes before the published starting time. Late starts are annoying but early starts--well, they won't win you any friends.

Critter Run 5K (18 July 2009 @ 6:00 PM ET, Dothan, Alabama).
Hot, hot, hot. The Critter Run is contested on a USATF certified course that traverses rolling hills in the neighborhoods north of Dothan's Westgate Park. The Dothan Runners' Club always seems to get this one right, and throw a great post-race party as well.

Run For Love Evening Run 5K. (8 August 2009 @ 7:15 PM ET, Tifton, Georgia).
The Run For Love 5K course is not certified, but it appears to be accurate. The route circles the campus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, with a short excursion into the farmland near the school. It's not flat, but the slopes are gentle, and there's a lot of downhill on the last half-mile of the race. It's a fair course--more than a few people have run fast times here, but that was because they were fast runners, not because it's a fast course. If you're ready to run fast, you'll be able to do it here. If you don't then go ahead and blame it on the heat.

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Sunday, July 5, 2009

Back to the Beach--Robida Wins 2009 Summer Sizzler 5K

John Robida dominated a field of over 200 runners, running 16:53 to win the 11th annual Summer Sizzler 5K, contested on the evening of Saturday, 27 June 2009 on St George Island, Florida. Robida moved into the lead early in the first mile, and had opened a commanding margin over his nearest challenger, Michael Martinez, by the midway point of the race. By the time Robida crossed the finish line he was nearly a quarter mile ahead of Martinez, who ran 18:28 to finish as runner-up and top master (over 40). Martinez, in turn, led third-place finisher and second-place master Tim Unger (18:42) to the finish line by over seventy yards.


Kelsey Scheitlin won the women's title, finishing eleventh overall in 19:47. Scheitlin, a Florida State University graduate student, led her competitors almost from the very start of the race and completed the course over a quarter mile ahead of the second-place woman, Nancy Stedman. Stedman shook off a challenge by Fran McLean in the second half of the race to finish 23rd overall as the top woman master (over 40). Stedman's time of 22:16 was a personal best; McLean was the third woman finisher and second woman master at 22:33.


The otherwise well-executed event was marred by starting at 7:20 PM ET, ten minutes before the published starting time of 7:30. As the name of the race would indicate, the weather was truly "sizzling," with race-time temperatures close to 90°F, clear skies, and relative humidity close to 80%. The course (USATF FL99035DL) was almost entirely flat, but the runners fought a strong breeze when headed west, altho' they were aided by the same breeze when headed east. The race route took the athletes east along the bay side of the island, then back west along the gulf side of the island, finally turning back east to follow the St George Island Bike Path to the finish line near the reconstructed Cape St George Lighthouse.


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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

1 July 2009 Tallahassee 100-Mile Race Calendar

This is the Tallahassee vicinity road-race schedule for 1 July 2009. If that's more than a week ago, the latest schedule is always available via this link:


This is a listing of upcoming races within 100 miles of Tallahassee, Florida, roughly the area in the map below. If a race isn't listed, I probably haven't heard of it, so post a comment and let me know about it.

Map

4 JULY 2009
  • Firecracker 5K. 7:30 am ET. Greensboro, FL. Entry form and flyer. Greensboro Kiwanis, PO Box 97, Greensboro, FL 32330.
  • Valdosta 5K. 7:15 am ET. Valdosta, GA. Five Points, North Ashley Street, Valdosta, Georgia. 229-219-0010
  • Freedom Springs Triathlon. 7:00 am CT. Blue Springs Recreation Park, 5461 Blue Springs Road, Marianna, FL. Entry form and flyer. Terry Edwards (850)482-3415 or fst1@earthlink.net
11 JULY 2009
  • Greeks In The Streets 5K. 8:00 am ET. Langford Green, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. Event web site. Online registration at active.com. Emmy Hunt, gettingreeksinthestreets@gmail.com
18 JULY 2009
1 AUGUST 2009
  • Fallen Heroes Run 5K. 8:00 am ET. Tom Brown Park, Tallahassee, FL 32305. Event web page. Gavin Larremore, oovtally@comcast.net
  • Possum Trot 5K. 7:30 am CT. Wausua, FL. Frank or Carol Kreis 850-773-2030
8 AUGUST 2009
  • Mike Schneider Memorial 5K and 1 mile fun run. 8:00 am ET. Cobb Middle School, 915 Hillcrest Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32308. Tolar Griffin 850-294-6456 or peoples.champ34@yahoo.com
  • Run For Love Evening Run 5K and 1 Mile. 7:15 pm ET. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tennis Center, Tifton, Georgia, 31793. Online registration at active.com.
15 AUGUST 2009
  • Breakfast On The Track One Mile Run. 7:45 am ET. Maclay School track, 3737 N Meridian Rd, Tallahassee, FL. Bonnie Wright, 850-386-3500 or bwright@electro-net.com
  • Georgia Veterans Duathlon and Triathlon. 8:00 am ET. Georgia Veterans State Park, 2459 U.S. Highway 280 W, Cordele , GA 31015. Event web site. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com
29 AUGUST 2009
  • Miller Landing Madness 8K/5K/3K. 8:00 am ET. Elinor Klapp Phipps Park, Miller Landing Road, Tallahassee, FL 32312. Mike Sims (850)514-3424 or Tom Perkins (850)894-2019
  • Winnersville Half-Ironman & Sprint Triathlon. 7:30 am ET (Half-Ironman, 1 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13 mile run), 8:00 am ET (Sprint, 45 mile swim, 14 mile bike, 3.6 mile run). Valdosta Lowndes 4-H Facility, 5000 4-H Club Road, Lake Park, GA 31636. Event web site. Online registration at active.com. Registration form.
5 SEPTEMBER 2009
  • 30th annual Midnight Chase 5K Run & 1-Mile Fun Run. 12:00 am CT. Panama City, FL. Nancy Dingus 850-763-6891 or Joe Edgecombe 850-774-0018
7 SEPTEMBER 2009
  • 2nd annual Red Cross Hurricane Run 5K. 8:00 am ET. Southwood Office Complex, Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida. Event web site. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com. Debara Jump, 878-6080 ext. 106 or debara.jump@tallyredcross.org
12 SEPTEMBER 2009
  • Sickle Cell Foundation of the Big Bend 5K. 8:00 am ET. Jake Gaither Park, 801 Tanner Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32305. Velma Penermon Stevens, (850)222-2355
  • Beach Blast Triathlon and Duathlon. 7:00 am CT (Sprint triathlon, 0.35 mile Swim, 15 mile Bike, 3.1 mile Run; Olympic triathlon, 0.7 mile Swim, 25 mile Bike, 6.2 mile Run; Sprint duathlon, 1.2 mile Run, 15 mile Bike, 3.1 mile Run; Olympic duathlon, 3.1 mile Run, 15 mile Bike, 6.2 mile Run). Mexico Beach, Florida. Event web site. Online registration at active.com.
19 SEPTEMBER 2009
  • Tallahassee Women's Distance Festival 5K. 8:00 am ET. Optimist Park, East Indianhead Drive, Tallahassee, FL. USATF certified course #FL00022DL. Lisa Unger, ungertl@juno.com or 850-562-2901.
  • Gulf Coast Community College Commodore Sun Run 10K / 5K / Fun Run. 6:30 am CT. Aaron Bessant Park (at Pier Park), 500 West Park Drive, Panama City, FL. Event web site. Entry form and flyer. Online registration at active.com.
  • Trot with S.W.A.T. 10K. 8:00 am CT. Dothan Civic Center Parking Lot, 126 N. St. Andrews Street, Dothan, Alabama. Brian Goguen 334-794-9029 or cgoguen@sw.rr.com
26 SEPTEMBER 2009
  • Salute to Prefontaine 5K Cross-Country Run. 9:00 am ET. Silver Lake Recreation Area of the Apalachicola National Forest, Silver Lake Road, Tallahassee, FL. Jeff Nielsen, 850-459-8859 or dobieman@comcast.net
  • Quail Trail 5K. 8:00 am ET. Historic Pebble Hill Plantation, US 319, Thomasville, Georgia. Entry form and flyer. Helen Fennelly, 229-225-2186 or htfenn@hotmail.com
3 OCTOBER 2009
  • Pelham Wildlife Festival 5K. 8:00 am ET. Family Bank, 134 Hand Ave W, Pelham, GA. 229-294-2341
  • Salmonole Run. 8:00 am ET. Florida State University, 117 North Woodward Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32306. Online registration at active.com.
10 OCTOBER 2009
  • Pine Run at Tall Timbers 20K. 7:30 am ET. Tall Timbers Research Station, 13093 Henry Beadel Drive, Tallahassee, FL. Gordon Cherr, 850-556-5957 or scam22@aol.com
  • Stepping Out for your Heart 5K. 8:00 am ET. Tift County High School, Northeast Campus, 3021 Fulwood Rd, Tifton, Georgia 31794. Darian Peavy 229-353-7796 or darian.peavy@tiftregional.com, or Ernest Lang 229-383-4264.
  • Oyster Spat Festival 5K. 8:00 am ET. Sugar Hill Beach in St George Island State Park, 1900 E. Gulf Beach Dr., St. George Island, Florida 32328. Event web site. rickplesinger@yahoo.com
17 OCTOBER 2009
  • Girls Incorporated Half Marathon. 8:00 am CT. Pier Park, Panama City Beach, FL. Online registration at active.com.
24 OCTOBER 2009
  • Expression 5K. 8:30 am ET. Christian Heritage Church, 2820 Sharer Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32312. Event web site. Entry form and flyer. Liz Baker, 850-212-7406 or lizbaker777@aol.com or expressionrun@gmail.com
31 OCTOBER 2009
  • Boston Mini-Marathon. 8:00 am ET. Commercial Bank, 124 West Jefferson Street, Boston, GA 31626. Entry form and flyer. Brad Johnson, bradjohnson@bankcb.com or 229-498-8500 (day) / 229-226-4679 (evening).
  • Sixth annual St. John Road Race 5K, 1 Mile, and Tot Trot. 8:30 am ET (5K), 9:30 am ET (1 Mile), 9:45 am ET (Tot Trot). St. John Catholic School, 800 Gornto Road, Valdosta, GA 31602-1699. 229-244-2556
7 NOVEMBER 2009
  • Alligator Lake 5K / 10K. 9:00 am ET. Alligator Lake Park, 1498 SW Country Club Road, Lake City, FL 32025. Online registration at active.com. Dusty Smith, halfmiletiming_dusty@hotmail.com
14 NOVEMBER 2009
  • Miles for Smiles 5K. 8:30 am ET (one-mile fun run), 9:00 am ET (5K). Coffee Regional Medical Center, 1101 Ocilla Road, Douglas, GA 31533.
  • YMCA Holiday Chili Run. 8:00 am ET. Albany YMCA Central Facility, 1701 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA 31707. Online registration at active.com.
  • Trot for Tots 10K & 5K. 9:00 am CT. Panama City Marina, 1 Harrison Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401. Online registration at active.com.
21 NOVEMBER 2009
  • 15th annual Draggin' Tail 18-Mile Run & Relay 5K. 8:00 am CT. St Theresa's Catholic Church, 2056 Sunny Hills Boulevard, Sunny Hills, FL. Event web site. Marty Kirkland 850-265-8439 or Joe Edgecombe 850-763-5005, joeruns@yahoo.com
26 NOVEMBER 2009
  • Tallahassee Turkey Trot 15k / 10K / 5K. 8:00 am ET. State Office Satellite Complex at SouthWood, Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, FL. Event web site.
28 NOVEMBER 2009
  • Pilgrim Chase Trail Run 5K. 8:00 am CT. Westgate Park, 801 Recreation Road, Dothan, AL 36303. Larry Dykes 334-792-6021
5 DECEMBER 2009
  • 2009 Gulf Winds Track Club Ten-Mile Challenge / Five-Mile Run. 8:00 am ET. Killearn Lakes Elementary School, 8037 Deerlake Drive East, Bradfordville, FL. USATF certified courses FL07049EBM (10 mile) and FL07048EBM (5 mile). Event web page. Judy Alexander, 850-383-1361 or jalexander98@comcast.net
  • Run For The Redfish Half-Marathon, 5K, and Kids' Fun Run. 8:00 am CT. Pier Park, Margaritaville, 16230 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach 32413. Event web site. Registration form and flyer. Online registration at active.com.
  • Christmas Parade 5K. 6:00 pm ET. Douglas, Georgia. Cathy Browning (912-384-1616 or cbrowning@windstream.net) or C.M. Jenkins (912-384-7448 or 912-383-5445 or cimjenkins@windstream.net)
12 DECEMBER 2009
  • 29th annual Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50K/50M. 7:00 am ET. Wakulla Springs State Park, 550 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs, FL. Event web site. Online registration at active.com. Gary Griffin, runlong@nettally.com
16 JANUARY 2010
  • Gulf Winds Track Club 30K / 15K. 7:30 am ET. The Retreat at Bradley's Pond, 9002 Bradley Road, Tallahassee, FL 32309. USATF certified courses FL06013DL (30K) and FL06014DL (15 K). Jerry/Jackie McDaniel (mcdanieljackie@hotmail.com or 850-297-0009)
7 FEBRUARY 2010
  • 36th annual Tallahassee Marathon and Half-Marathon. 7:30 am ET. Mike Long Track, Florida State University, Chieftan Way at Spirit Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306. Event web site. USATF certified course FL06020DL (Marathon), FL06021DL (half-Marathon). Online registration at active.com. Tallahasseemarathon@gmail.com
6 MARCH 2010
  • 4th annual Snickers® Marathon® Energy Bar Marathon and Half-Marathon. 7:00 am ET. Veteran's Park, Front Street, Albany, GA 31701. USATF certified course GA07003WC (Marathon), GA07002WC (half-Marathon). Event web site. Online registration at active.com. info@SNICKERSmarathonenergybarmarathon.com
27 MARCH 2010
  • 35th annual Springtime 10K, Publix 5K & Fun Station 1-Miler. 8:00am ET. Leon County Courthouse, 301 S Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Event web site. USATF certified course FL96048DL (10 km). Judy Alexander, jalexander98@comcast.net or 850-383-1361.
10 APRIL 2010
  • 36th annual Palace Saloon 5 km. 8:00am ET. James Messer Fields Park, Jackson Bluff Road and Dupree Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304. USATF certified course FL99027DL. Online registration at active.com.
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Thursday, June 25, 2009

SC Gov. Mark Sanford, the running angle on the story of the moment

I didn't really notice the story about Mark Sanford, the missing governor of South Carolina, until his staff issued the hiking alibi for his absence. "The Governor is hiking on the Appalachian Trail." I only lived in South Carolina for a year, and I'm not an expert on the Appalachian Trail, but I do know that the Appalachian Trail doesn't run through South Carolina. It's not a long drive from Columbia to the trail, but would it be politically astute for the Governor to take a hiking holiday out of state? It seemed unlikely, but it was interesting to think about running into the Governor on Rocky Mountain or near Hogpen Gap.

Unfortunately, that cover story didn't last long and then the squalid truth came out.

As it turns out, Mark Sanford was originally from Florida, so the Miami Herald printed some background on his life in this state. Born in Fort Lauderdale in 1960, Sanford attended Fort Lauderdale's Westminster Academy, where he ran on the track team "and was state ranked as a short-distance runner," according to the Herald. Well, earlier this month I posted some results of the 1977 Florida high school state track and field championships, and there's Sanford in the 1A boys' 880-yard run.

880-Yard Run
1. Bobby Wilson (Freeport) 2:02.7
2. Kelly Brown (Mount Dora Bible) 2:05.0
3. Stephen Chester (Tallahassee North Florida Christian) 2:06.2
4. Don Hubbard (St Augustine St Joseph's) 2:07.0
5. Mark Sanford (Fort Lauderdale Westminster) 2:07.6
6. Mark Johnis (Montverde Academy) 2:07.7

The 1977 track season took place at the end of Sanford's junior year at Westminster. Before his senior year the Sanford family moved to the South Carolina lowcountry. I don't know whether he continued to run high school track there, or if he ran at Furman University, where he did his undergraduate studies.

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Posted by Herb Wills at 2:35 PM 0 comments
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A tour of the Apalachee Regional Park cross-country course

In order to tour the Apalachee Regional Park cross-country course, first you have to get to Apalachee Regional Park. The park is located at 7550 Apalachee Parkway, or about four-and-a-half miles east of US-319 on US-27. The map below shows the route from the intersection of US-319 (Capital Circle) and US-27 (Apalachee Parkway) to the park.


View Larger Map

Once in the park, the dirt road to Seminole Remote-Control Airfield also goes to the cross-country course, which is just north of the airfield. Be respectful of the pilots and their aircraft--these are not predator drones, but no one wants a remote-control plane or helicopter to hit you in the head. The course actually runs along the tree line north of the airfield, but the starting line is in another field to the west (i.e., on your left as you head north past Seminole Remote-Control Airport).


The starting line will be at the west end of the west field. Looking east you can see the first quarter-mile of the course, a flat straightaway across the field.







At the east end of the field, a quarter-mile from the start, the runners will have to pass through a stand of live oaks into the next field. In a race with a large number of runners, getting through this narrow "gate" may be exciting.







Once through the "gate," you're back in same field as the Seminole Remote-Control Airport, which will be to the runners' right. The course heads straight to the tree-line.








Having reached the tree-line, the course follows it along the north end of the field.









Continue to follow the winding north edge of the field.









Approaching the end of the first half-mile, the course starts making a turn to the north. You'll leave the field and the course will run along an unpaved road.








Near the half mile, the road is continuing to turn to the north. The road was still a clay surface when these photos were taken, but Leon County plans to add a layer of pulverized oyster shells, which should hold up better in wet weather.







Past the half-mile mark, the road runs almost directly north. You probably won't even notice it, but to the right is old Leon County landfill. To the left is a thickly wooded area that the second half of the loop runs through. Straight ahead, you can see that the road makes a sharp right turn to the east.






After a sharp turn, the course briefly continues on a road bordering the old landfill. Soon, though, the runners exit the road to the left to run through a field north of the road.








After leaving the road, the course heads north across a field and then into a pine woods.









Near the three-quarters-of-a-mile mark, the course winds gently through a pine woods towards Lake Lafayette.








Nearing Lake Lafayette, the course bends back toward the west.









The course continues to bend until you're headed south, away from the lake and back out of the pine woods.








Once out of the woods, the course runs along the edge of the field south of the old landfill. Up ahead, hidden by the trees, is a dip in the course, a challenge to runners' footing.








The dip! Be ready for it so that you don't stumble or make a face plant. Runners prepared for the dip won't experience anything worse than a brief break in their rhythm.








After the dip, the course continues west along the rim of the field, but on a shaded stretch that photographers will love.








Here's another view of the short canopied stretch of the course, just before it makes a right turn into the jungle.








The course turns right and slopes down into the jungle. the one-mile mark is coming up.









Past the mile mark, the course continues to descend gently downhill. Notice the root marked for removal with orange spray paint. This part of the course started out as a small trail hacked
out of the jungle. A lot of work went into bringing it to this state, and much more work is planned to improve it further.






Here you're coming up on the lowest part of the course. You can see it ahead because it has been elevated with gravel, like a similar stretch of hiking trail in Pine Log State Forest.








The rocks, a gravel stretch through a low spot of the course. The footing isn't good, but it's much bettter than the forest-floor muck on either side of the course. Additionally, the county plans to add a layer of pulverized oyster shells on top of the gravel, which should make for much better running.






Once the oyster shell layer is in place, the trees in the jungle will start to layer the top of the trail with leaves. A couple of seasons of fallen leaves will make this one of the best stretches of the course.







Here you can see ahead to the end of the rocks. As mentioned before, the rocks mark the lowest part of the course, so the rest of the loop will necessarily be more uphill than downhill.








Past the rocks, the course starts to climb gently upward through the jungle.










Climbing further, the course crosses an old berm. This is historically exciting, because it's probably left over from old agricultural use of the land, possibly ante-bellum cotton culture, or even pre-Columbian settlements. However, for runners it's just another place to stumble if you're not alert.






Beyond the berm, the course continues its gentle climb. If you're not tired, you might not even notice that the course isn't flat.








Ending its gentle ascent, the course makes a gentle descent to another low area, the second bridge. You probably didn't even notice the first bridge, did you?








Up ahead, the lighter-colored soil marks the second bridge--i.e., where a drainage culvert was added to channel water under the course.








Okay, maybe I'm over-selling it by calling it a bridge. But it does mark the last low spot on the loop. From here, it's all a climb back to the starting-line field.








Past the bridge, the ascent has started, gently at first. Because of the trees and the turns, the runners never see all of this hill at once, so it's difficult to gauge how long or tough it is.








The course continues up through the jungle on its way back to the west field.









Up ahead you can see a bright spot through the trees, marking an open area--the west field. Once the runners crest this hill they're almost done with the loop.








Back in the first field is the one-and-a-half mile mark of the course. Keep heading south.









Around the starting straightaway the first loop ends. In order to do a five-kilometer cross-country race, the runners will have to turn left (east) here and do a second loop, a modified version of the first loop.







Here's a map of the second loop, courtesy of Brian Corbin. The main difference between the two loops is that the second loop doesn't go as far east, omitting the pine woods.







For a five-kilometer run, at the end of the second loop the runners will continue south past the starting straightaway, heading for the south end of the first field.








At the south end of the field, the runners will turn left (east), following the edge of the field.









The finish line will be along the edge of the field.








That's how the course appeared when I visited in June 2009. Leon County will be doing more work on the course, and there will be at least one more volunteer work day out there this summer. Another thing that would improve the course is having people run on it. So head out to Apalachee Regional Park with your walking or running shoes, and see if the photos do the cross-country course justice.

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Posted by Herb Wills at 1:00 AM 0 comments
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