September always feels like jumper cables to the GWTC race calendar, jolting it into high gear each year. The legacy races that almost always land this month are Sickle Cell, the Women’s Distance Festival, and Prefontaine. If memory serves, Sickle Cell and Women’s Distance have mostly remained in or near Jake Gaither Community Center and Indianhead Acres, respectively. Prefontaine came into existence, I believe, out at Silver Lake in the Apalachicola National Forest.

The original Prefontaine race, deep in the forest, was tough. Before the course took on its later two-loop format, you never quite knew where you were. The route had soft dirt and plenty of fallen logs or debris to dodge. My buddies and I would race hard, then cool off in the lake, sip a brew or two, and watch Gary Droze throw himself into push-up contests with kids from his team. Today, the race is held at the Wallwood Boy Scout Reservation in Gadsden County under the capable direction of Allen Blay.

I’ve added the Bluebird Run for Brookie B to my September schedule in recent years, in part because it supports suicide prevention and mental health—causes also supported by the Springtime Race. Still, the Bluebird course feels nearly as challenging as the original Prefontaine. No logs, no sand—just me aging and coming off a year-long hiatus. Even Sickle Cell, which is known to be flat and fast, felt tough this year. Sustaining an aggressive pace over 3.1 miles is harder than it used to be. I’m sure my age group competitors are thrilled to hear that.

Enough of my race memories—on to some exciting news. The pedestrian bridge at Apalachee Regional Park, funded in part by our club, is now complete and stunning. From the Leon County Government press release (9/17/2025), shared by Judy Alexander:

“All roads lead to Leon County this fall as Leon County Government’s award-winning cross country course at Apalachee Regional Park (ARP) gears up to host an elite lineup of competitions. These major meets will be headlined by the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships on January 10, 2026, where Leon County will make history on the global stage.

Known as the ‘Capital of Cross Country,’ Leon County again proves itself a top sports tourism destination. This fall’s schedule features regional, state, and national championship meets, bringing over 21,000 visitors and generating more than $3.6 million in direct spending.

The 2025 season is a key milestone leading to the biggest event of all—the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, expected to draw over 500 athletes and 10,000 spectators from 60+ countries, generating an estimated $2.7 million in direct local spending.”

Also worth celebrating: Leon and Chiles tracks are now open to the public during non-school hours. And the Holy Comforter Episcopal School track—our club’s partner project—is steadily progressing through construction. The long “no-track” drought is finally easing.

Finally, I’m thrilled to share that GWTC has been named the Outstanding Community Organization by the Big Bend Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals! We’ll be honored at a luncheon in November for National Philanthropy Day. These awards go to individuals, businesses, and nonprofits that make a meaningful impact.

A quick glance at our website shows that we closed out the 2024–25 year at an all-time high: $131,200 in contributions to schools, community causes, and research organizations. These funds come directly from our race directors’ excess proceeds and generous runners.

The weather’s cooling off. Get out there and enjoy the races!