2006 Features Archives Index

Community Award

Presented by Judy Alexander Eight years ago, Brian Corbin and I told David Yon we would gather, sort and distribute the charitable donations garnered at the Turkey Trot. Little did we know that both of our cars would be loaded to the point that the...

Volunteer of the Year Award

By Nadine Dexter The Volunteer of the Year award allows us to acknowledge someone each year who has made tremendous contributions to the success of Gulf Winds events and even to the success of the club itself. This individual is often someone who has...

Male Runner of the Year – Reid Vannoy

Presented by Herb Wills I've looked over the 2005 racing performances for this year's Gulf Wind Track Club Male Runner-of-the-Year. In thirteen starts he finished in the top ten in each time. These are top ten overall male finishes, even though the...

Howl at Boston

By David Yon I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness,starving hysterical naked,(Allen Ginsberg - first line from Howl - now 50 years old)It seemed like such a pleasant run out on this out and back course. I love the half marathon because...

A perfect day for a 20K

By David Yon Like a feisty old codger who refuses to give up, Pine Run saw its 30th birthday celebrated on the rolling forest hills with a perfect day. Runners from Tallahassee left a city with temperatures in the low 50's to arrive at the Southland's...

Everhart Owl Run 9/28

By Bill McGuire The 17th annual edition of the Gretchen Everhart Owl Run will be held on Thursday, Sept. 28th, 2006. It will feature developmentally challenged athletes from Everhart, as well as middle school runners from throughout Leon County. All the...

Prefontaine: A shining example

By David Yon Forgive me if I babble a little bit again (you are probably used to it by now), but in so many ways the Prefontaine 5K reflects the best of GWTC better than the much larger and well known events like Turkey Trot and Springtime. First, it has a...

For a Friend Off to War

Gary Griffin I retired a pair of running shoes today. Not just any old pair of running shoes, either. They were the best pair of running shoes that have ever graced my feet in over 20 years of this beloved sport. They ran me for 100 miles at Olander Park...

Midnight Chase 5K draws 150

The Panhandle Runners & Triathlete's 27th Annual Midnight Chase 5K Run & Fitness Walk and the 1 Mile Family Fun Run was held in Panama City on September 2 at MIDNIGHT! 150 sleepless individuals participated in what was the largest and fastest crowd...

Running v. Directing: BOT ’06

By Bonnie Wright This year was my first year to run Breakfast on the Track, and I mean run as in 4 laps around the newly re-surfaced Maclay Track, compared to being a co-race director, which is sometimes like running laps around a hamster wheel. I’m not...

No place to hide: BOT ’06

No place to hide - Breakfast on the Track By David Yon I am a fan of having the mile and the Ultra on the grand prix every year or at least every so often. (Aren't you glad I never have more than one vote in that decision?) Which do you think people fear...

On your marks, get set, inject….

Fragments Vol 6 By David Yon Operation Puerta, BALCO, Blood doping, HGH, THG, EPO, the clear, steroids, genetic engineering, East Germany, Ben Johnson, and on and on…Ben Johnson rocked the "innocence" of Olympic sports fans when he was disqualified for...

SMIRF: 5/29 – 8/11

Summer Mornings Include Running Fitness (SMIRF) Running fitness for cross-country, track, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and tennis. Conditioning includes runs at various paces and distances, strength training, form drills, and games. For all ages, but...

2006 rolls in…with a new Board

By David Yon   Each year GWTC elects a new board to oversee the club. I suspect to many GWTC members the process is a bit of a mystery. Like most organizations it usually takes a bit of work to find a slate of candidates that is willing to run. And...

GWTC Board approves grand prix update

The GWTC Board approved an update to the Grand Prix guidelines at its January Board meeting. These changes conform the policies to current practices recognizing that the GP committee often presents awards more than three deep, setting the number of races...

A Close call: 2005 Annual Awards

By David Yon Those who rush forward with such haste that they leave no time to recognize past good deeds and friends do so at peril of losing touch with their own soul.The pace of today's world keeps us all so focused on the next project that it is often...

I go for a run

By David YonI go for a run here,In hopes that my feet will find,The place where mind and soulCan sit, chat and share a cup of coffeeWhere sometimes friends drop inTo share in the sweat and toil.Some places are that special.Old Centerville RoadThe photo...

A Conversation with the Coach of the Year

A Conversation with the Coach of the Year: Bob Braman, FSU Track and Field and Cross Country Coach By David Yon Well, he has been the ACC Men's Outdoor Coach of the Year, Men's ACC Indoor Coach of the Year, Indoor South Region Men's Cross Country Coach of...

Masters Track and Field Opportunities

By Bill Tharpe About ten years ago I casually remarked to a former track coach that it would be really great if there were track meets for older competitors. He agreed, but little did either of us know at that time that there were, indeed, such...