Annual Gulf Winds Track Club Races

David Yon, revised September 2008

Turkey Trot and Springtime Tallahassee are the two events staged by GWTC that you are most likely to have heard about.   But running is a year round joy and GWTC is there all year producing fifteen races.   It takes a dedicated crew of volunteers and most importantly race directors.   Everyone is welcome – as a participant or as a runner.  For more most current details visit the GWTC Race Calendar.  For more information on each race, click on the race name below.

• GWTC 30K-15K. Jan. 12, 2008; Old Centerville Road. For many years this race had a special home at the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, but alas the Refuge decided a race was not consistent with the Refuge’s planned uses. So the race moved to Natural Bridge Road for several years. It just wasn’t the right place though, and in 2006 new race directors Jerry and Jackie McDaniel hit the jackpot by moving the race to Old Centerville Road, starting near The Retreat at Bradley’s Pond, which graciously opens its doors for awards and warmth. The hard-packed dirt road is hilly, but a special place to run. Once known as the “Ides of March,” the race was first run in March of 1978 under the direction of Tim Simpkins, who also won the inaugural race.
   

• Billy Bowlegs 5K. Jan. 19, 2008; Innovation Park, near FSU golf course. Bill Hillison and Larry Giunipero direct this well-run race to benefit FSU scholarships. The race became a club race in 2002, but has been around since Leitch Wright directed the first race more than 15 years ago.
   

• Tallahassee Marathon/Half Marathon. Feb. 1, 2009; FSU track. In 2004 the start of this race moved to the FSU Track, and was run over an entirely new course starting on the FSU track and covering a lot of the St. Marks Rails-to-Trails. It is flat and fast. Jay Silvanima took over the reins of this classy event for 2007 after working it as a volunteer for a number of years. It was a record turnout! He is already preparing for an even bigger crowd in 2009. There is no better marathon experience than a “hometown” marathon, and this one proves the point. This race was first run in 1975 in the forest at Natural Bridge Road, and might just be the first “official” GWTC race. The certified course is perfect for a PR or Boston qualifier.
   

• Flash 12K. Feb. 16, 2008; J. Lewis Hall Park, Woodville Highway. Joe and Nadine Dexter bring us the best of memories about the Flash character with smartly designed race T-shirts for all participants and creative awards for the winners. This race started in 1989 and Joe Dexter has directed every single one; Nadine has been there since 2000.
   

• Springtime 10K/1M. March 29, 2008; Downtown Tallahassee. This is GWTC’s premier event, and you should never miss it. Brian Corbin and Judy Alexander are in their second year directing this flagship event after doing a great job in 2007. The hills assure that you will have wonderful stories to tell. The race was first run in 1976 and became a 10K in 1977.
   

• Palace Saloon 5K/1M. April 12, 2008; starts at Messer Field, finishes at the Palace Saloon. One of GWTC’s oldest races, it was first run in 1975. Now under the direction of Reid Vannoy and FSU Hall of Fame Runner Herb Wills, this race is sheer fun – well, other than the hill near the end. It’s a great way to follow the Springtime 10K.
   

• Great Potluck Bash 4-Mile and Open Mike Social. June 7, 2008; Forest Meadows Park. GWTC prides itself in supporting youth running, in part, through the Chenoweth Fund. This event, as much social as competitive, serves as a fund-raiser while recognizing the outstanding track-and-field and cross-country athletes in the area with scholarship awards. You can’t beat the low-country boil after the race. The off-road race was first held in 1998 and is under the direction of the Chenoweth Committee: Warren Emo, Myrna Hoover, Mary Register, Toma Wilkerson and David Yon.
   

• Breakfast on the Track Mile. Aug. 23, 2008, Maclay School track. Talk about marathons as tough races if you want, but a well-run mile requires more courage than any other distance. GWTC picked the Wright family to direct this event and Felton, Bonnie and Jamie put on a great show, including pancakes for breakfast. The first year for this race was 1998.
   

• Miccosukee Madness (formerly Tom Brown Bash). Aug. 30, 2008; Miccosukee Greenway. This race has become the kickoff for the high-school cross-country season and the signal for GWTC members that it’s time to start racing again after a summer hiatus. The location has become the premier cross-country course in the state (in my biased view) and provides spectacular viewing for spectators. The race is a great chance for GWTC members and local high-school runners to mix it up together. Mike Sims and Tom Perkins have teamed up as race directors. The race began in 1977.
   

• Women’s Distance Festival 5K/1 Mile. Sept. 20, 2008; Optimist Park in Indianhead Acres. Lisa Unger and Jo Lena Pace debuted as race directors in 2006 and did a great job. The emphasis is on celebrating women in sports, and the women outnumbered the men in 2006. It has a unique twist in that the women start 10 minutes before the men. The race began with Dot Skofronick and Shirley Bull as race directors in 1982.
   

• Prefontaine 5K. Sept. 29, 2008; Silver Lake Recreational Area. Like the runner this event was named for, the course is always a challenge, though changes in 2006 made it a bit more runner-friendly. Race Director Jeff Nielsen always brings his own mark to this race that runs through the national forest. The race has also become a favorite place for high-school teams to prove themselves. Dave Rogers birthed this event in 1975 not long after the legendary Steve Prefontaine died.
   

• Pine Run 20K. October 2008; Location: Tall Timbers Research Station. For many years this race's home was located in the South Georgia experimental forest known as Southlands and maintained by International Paper. But alas, good things must pass and forest went up for sale and therace was not held in 2007. But now it is 2008 and the race is back under the direction of Gordon Cherr, who has stepped in with a major rescue effort, and at a brand new location, Tall Timbers. Once again it will feature a lot of off road running memorable hills, great scenery, music and a funtime. The race began in 1977.
   

• Turkey Trot 1M/15K/10K/5K. Thanksgiving Day 2008; State Office Complex near SouthWood. This race has been the club’s fastest growing and has become an essential family outing for area runners and walkers. It has been around since 1976, and race directors David and Mary Jean Yon do their best to give you a caring way to burn calories before Thanksgiving dinner.
   

• Tallahassee 10-Mile Challenge. Dec. 6, 2008. Killearn Lakes Elementary School. Judy Alexander is commander-in-chief of this first-class event, which now includes a 5-mile race as well. The course returns to Killearn Lakes this year and promises to be challenging but rewarding. The race began as a 20K in 1977 under the direction of Leitch Wright and became a 10-miler in 1988.

• Ultra Distance Classic. Dec. 13, 2008; Wakulla Springs State Park. Gary and Peg Griffin just finished their second year directing this race and saw registrations reach a 10 year high. Preparing for their first year they learned not only how dedicated the runners were, but also committed the volunteers were. This is a first-class event as this First Family of Ultra Running (Gary has now run more than 65 ultras) has the experience and love for the Ultra distance necessary to make this a great experience for participants. The event was first run in 1980 and was directed by a committee. That year the distance was 50 miles. Over the years the race has offered 50K, 80K, 50M, 100K and for one year only 100 miles. 1989 Remains the banner year for participation with 61 finishers in the 50K and 24 in the 100K.