Fall is Coming!!

September always signals the start of lots of racing and used to signify an almost guaranteed break in the weather with a cool front or two blowing through. This would ensure that at least one or two of the three signature September GWTC races could be run with some level of relief from the incessant summer heat. The three races of which I refer have been around for over 30 years: Prefontaine, Women’s Distance and Sickle Cell. Some interesting history on these races and all GWTC races can be found on the GWTC webpage under GWTC races.

In my memory, only the Women’s Distance festival has maintained the same venue and course (in Indian Head acres). This is a rather unique race in that the women start 5 minutes ahead of the men and is a celebration of women’s running. I recently had a call from one of the women’s club’s in Tallahassee that saw this race advertised on FB and plans to volunteer. I am unsure if any man has ever caught the lead women in this race, but if so, it is certainly a rare occurrence! I usually run this race, but last year, Race Director Lisa Unger asked me to be lead bike. This afforded a unique opportunity to watch the lead women run the entire way as I struggled to stay ahead on the long hill at 2 miles. Hey, what’s the deal with so many 5K’s inserting a bad hill on or about 2 miles(Bowlegs; Shamrock; Women’s Distance; Springtime)? Anyway, I always ran this race conservatively in the first mile, knowing this hill was going to hurt – but mercy, what a delightful downhill finish(polar opposite of Watermelon)!

While the Sickle Cell Anemia Walk/ run 5K has generally been in the same area for quite some time, I believe there was a concerted effort at some point(possibly when it became a GWTC race) to take out some of the hills, necessitating some course changes. The race now takes advantage of a portion of the St Marks trail but still traverses the neighborhoods around Jake Gather Park. This is a great race, lots of energy and excitement from on-lookers and supports a good cause- that of assisting families afflicted with the Sickle Cell disease.

Finally, the Salute to Steve Prefontaine spent a good part of its life at Silver Lake and was always a most difficult challenge, given the soft dirt and obstacles that some race directors would pull onto the trails to make a hard course, harder. Originally, the course was one giant loop, or so you thought, because mostly you had no idea where you were in the Apalachicola National Forest, until you emerged onto the main dirt road that took you to the finish. A unique feature of this race when Dave Rogers was race director was the manner in which the race started. Dave fancied shot guns, I think, and I recall a few races with that device as the starting gun. Now he would not just shoot the gun to get us underway…one time he sat in a rocking chair, in the back of a pick up truck, looking at a mirror, the gun pointing behind him and tried to shoot a skeet or something being thrown into the air by his wife! I cannot tell you if he hit what he was aiming at, but we all took off and no one was ever shot to my knowledge. Allen Blay now has race directing duties for this race and has moved the venue to the Walllwood Boy Scout Reservation west of here in Gadsden County. I am sure Alan will develop an even more unique way to get this race started moving forward!

As we exit the summer, I wanted to again thank Lauren and Chris Stanley for what I understand was a wildly successful Breakfast on the Track Mile! They are first time race directors and took this race over from Felton and Bonnie Wright who have earned a well deserved rest after race directing for years. I was unable to attend, but used to absolutely love this unique race.

BTW, Miller Landing Madness was a wonderful success as well, with record attendance!

Think cool thoughts and get out in September and hit the race scene with these GWTC races or any number of other races listed in the calendar.

REMINDER – get your volunteer hours in if are are competing in the Grand Prix and most importantly, let Mark Priddy know if you wish to run for the GWTC Board as the election is coming soon.