Tired of the Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner?

SEASONAL TRAINING GROUPS

NON-GWTC AFFILIATED AREA RUNNING GROUPS

GWTC Monday Midmorning Run – Mondays

• When and where: Monday, 9:15 a.m., at Ming Tree Cafe
• Contacts:  Chrissy Lee and Ressa Tomkiewicz
• Main purpose or goal:  To bring beginner and seasoned runners together for easy, conversational miles .

Winthrop Park Express – Mondays

• Organizer or main contact: Keith Rowe
• How to connect with group: web site: http://www.wpexpress.org. FaceBook Group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/202263663151219/
• Main purpose or goal of program: This is a group of friends who simply love to run year round. Rain, shine, cold or hot – we are out there running almost every Monday night. We represent all age groups, experience levels and paces. We only ask that you can run more than a 5k before you come out. Other training groups will get you to 5k; we want to take you beyond that distance. Our stated objective is to get folks to run a half marathon for the first time, but many of us keep coming back after attaining that goal.
• When and where: Monday at 6:00 p.m. at Fleet Feet, 1845 Thomasville Rd, #125
• Typical work out. Most of the spring, summer and fall the group runs to a water stop through Betton Hills. It’s 2.6 miles out, 2.6 miles back, but you can add or deduct miles easily in that neighborhood.
• Approximate number of people participating. Sometimes there are thirty folks, sometimes only about five. Each holiday season we run to see the Holiday Lights at Dorothy B. Oven Park which drawers upwards of forty or fifty runners and walkers.
• Other notes: We have temporarily moved our starting point to the Fleet Feet running store due to Betton Rd road closure.  Each spring we move our group to Myers Park to support the Springtime Tallahassee Training Group. Each fall before Thanksgiving we move our group to SouthWood to support the Turkey Trout Training Group. We post any variations in start times on our FaceBook page and our web site.

GWTC Tuesday Morning Intervals

• Organizer or main contact: Gulf Winds Track Club, Gary Droze and Bill Lott
• How to contact: Gulf Winds Track Club website at https://www.gulfwinds.org. email: Gary Droze or Bill Lott.
• Main purpose or goal: planned, supervised workouts for runners intent on improving in distance races.
• Typical workout: Workout totals 3 miles, but changes each week so that runners are not doing the same workout each week. Vary from 3×1600.6×800, 4×1200 and more
• When and where: Tuesday mornings at Maclay School Track at 6:30 a.m.
• Number participating: 20-30
• Additional info: Open to the public, free of charge, and to runners of all abilities. The workouts are held all year around and runners should arrive early enough to warm up before the workout starts. Water is NOT provided, and participants should bring their own. Participants should be able to run at least 3 miles at moderate pace as a minimum fitness level.

GWTC Tuesday Evening Intervals

• Organizer or main contact: Gulf Winds Track Club, Gary Droze and Bill Lott
• How to contact: Gulf Winds Track Club website at https://www.gulfwinds.org. email: Gary Droze or Bill Lott.
• Main purpose or goal: planned, supervised workouts for runners intent on improving in distance races.
• Typical workout: Workout totals 3 miles, but changes each Tuesday so that runners are not doing the same workout each week. Vary from 3×1600.6×800, 4×1200 and more
• When and where: Tuesday evenings at the FAMU track, 6:30 p.m.
• Number participating: 20-30
• Additional info: Open to the public, free of charge, and to runners of all abilities. The workouts are held all year around and runners should arrive early enough to warm up before the workout starts. Water is NOT provided, and participants should bring their own. Participants should be able to run at least 3 miles at moderate pace as a minimum fitness level.

GWTC Midtown Midweek Miles – Wednesdays

• When and where: Wednesday, 5:30 a.m., Whole Foods Market
• Contact:  Gulf Winds Track Club Training Groups Facebook page
• Main purpose or goal: To bring beginner and seasoned runners together for easy, conversational miles and to grow our running community.

Wednesday Evening Interval Group

• Organizer or main contact: Sam Howard
• How to contact: email: Sam Howard; Facebook
• Main purpose or goal: Running Intervals for a variety of speeds and abilities -Improve 5 or 10k running times.
• Typical work out: 3 miles of intervals on the track, with speed parts varying from 400s to 1 mile.
• When and Where: Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. (daylight savings time) or 5:30 p.m. (standard time), Harriman Circle Park
• Number of participants: 6 to 3 dozen.
• Additional information: Warmup beforehand and bring your own hydration.

Optimist Park Thursday Night Run Group

• Organizer or main contact: Chika Okoro and Tom Biance
• How to contact: Gulf Winds Track Club Group Runs Facebook page
• Main purpose or goal: A chance to run 3 miles through Indian Head Acres. We utilize the same course that is used for the Women’s Distance Festival and Nene Fest races. Our primary route can be viewed in the RunGo app.  All paces are welcomed including run/walkers and walkers.
• When and Where: Optimist Park on Thursdays at 6 PM
• Number of participants: Usually 5 to 10
• Additional information: We are a friendly group that likes to have fun and meets up for dinner several times a year at locally-owned restaurants near Optimist Park after the run.

Monday Night Springtime Training Group

• Goal for group: Free 7-Week Specific Training for Springtime 10K
• Duration: Approx 7 weeks; Starts February 19, 2024, and ends April 1, 2024
• Time:5:45  p.m.
• Location: Myers Park at the Picnic Pavilion overlooking the pool (904 Myers Park Drive)
• Preparation: Please be prepared to run 2 miles at your own pace on the first day
• Training plans: Training groups will be available for different groups based on the needs of the participants. It is expected to include groups for beginning, intermediate and advanced runners. There will be at least one Run/Walk group option available.
• The training run will begin with a two-mile loop that all runners will run the first week. More advance runners may add on miles by running extra loop(s). Additional miles will be added as the training run progresses.
• Helpful Hints: Be prepared to begin running at the starting time and be dressed appropriately with proper running shoes and reflective clothing. Running headlamps could be helpful as well. Running partners are encouraged, but solo runners are welcome as well.
• Requirements: No fees. We will be training on sidewalks and on the road on portions of the actual Springtime course. All participants are responsible for their own safety. Weekly run maps will be posted to the Facebook event page. All participants who follow the program will be able to successfully complete the Springtime 10K run.
• Participants are responsible for their own Springtime 10K entry fees and are also encouraged to join Gulf Winds Track Club.
• Participants must register on RunSignup.
• Contact: springtime10K@gmail.com for more info about the race.
• Have questions about GWTC Springtime 10K Training Group 2023? Contact springtime10K@gmail.com

GWTC Youth Runners & Striders, including SMIRFs – Winter

• Organizer or main contact:  David Yon for Gulf Winds Track Club:  email: david@radeylaw.com or text 850-321-8768
• Main purpose or goal: The purpose of this program, sponsored by Gulf Winds Track Club, is to provide opportunities for students in elementary, middle and early high school to improve their running skills and endurance.  The program is recommended for students age 6 and above who can run at least one mile.
• When and Where: Monday and Thursday afternoons at 4:30 p.m., Forest Meadows Soccer Complex by the playground, 4750 N Meridian Rd
• Winter program begins January 4, 2024, and continues until February 28, 2024.
• Number of participants: 15-30 runners of varying skill levels per day
• Additional Information and Registration – RunSignup

GWTC Beginning Running Group

• Organizer or main contact:  Elizabeth Kamerick and Brandy Fortune
• How to contact: gwtc_coaches@yahoo.com
• Main purpose or goal: To prepare the beginning or returning runner to complete a 5K (3.1 mile), either using a run-walk-run method or by continuous running
• Start Date: September 20, 2023
• Duration: We will meet as a group each Wednesday through November 15, 2023.
• Time: 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Korean War Memorial at Cascades Park (1001 South Gadsden)
• Who: Everyone is welcome! We’ll start with the mile then gradually increase the goal distance each week.
• 3 Groups each week
  • Run-Walk Only Group: These runners complete the goal distance each week using a set 1 minute run:1 minute walk ratio. This won’t change from week to week (i.e. Week 1 is 1:1 for 1 mile, Week 2 is 1:1 for 1.25 mile, etc.).
  • Run-Walk-Run Group: Training Week 1 started with a 1 minute run:1 minute walk – or 1:1 ratio – for 1 mile. Each week, the number of minutes running increases as the goal distance steps up (i.e. 1:1 for 1 mile, 2:1 for 1.25 mile, etc). These runners progress toward continuously running 3 miles by the 8th week.
  • Running Only Group:These runners progress toward running 3 miles continuously with little to no walking by the 8th week. They will increase running distance by ¼-mile each week, without taking a walk break if possible, adding roughly 2 to 3 minutes to their running endurance per week.
• Note – Participants under age 14 must be accompanied on all runs by an adult.
• Register: Register and sign waiver on RunSignUp
• Training Plans – TBA
• 10 minute After Workout Stretching Routine. Free Online Flexibility Video
• Flyer: https://www.gulfwinds.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BRG-flyer-2023-vOCT-FF.pdf
• For more information email gwtc_coaches@yahoo.com

GWTC Turkey Trot Training Group

• Organizer or main contact: Ashlee Blake
• How to contact: Gulf Winds Track Group Runs Facebook Page or email Ashlee Blake, Ashlee_FNP11@yahoo.com
• When  Every Monday at 6:00 p.m., from September 25, 2023, until November 20, 2023
• Where:  Four Oaks Park by Southwood – located on Four Oaks Boulevard between School House Road and Tram Road.  We will meet near the volleyball courts.  You may park at the main entrance to walk down or enter off of School House Road to park closer to the volleyball courts.
• Main purpose or goal: To help runners prepare for the Tallahassee Turkey Trot that will take place on Thanksgiving Day
• Additional Information:  Cadence Running powered by Trail and Ski will help provide pacers.  Winthrop Park Express Group will be adjusting its location to join us and provide support.  We hope to have at least three groups going at different paces including one run/walk group.  All paces and abilities welcome!  The distance will be adjusted each week as we run different parts of the Turkey Trot race courses.  Restrooms and water fountains available in park.

Sunday at Forest Meadows

• Organizer or main contact: Unorganized. David Yon or Felton Wright
• How to contact: email: David Yon; Felton Wright; Mary Jean Yon
• Main purpose or goal: Medium to long run.
• Typical work out: Group 1 5-6 miles, 10 minute pace, some walking. Group 2 10 miles at 8:00 minute pace. A lot of variation though
• When and Where: Start at Forest Meadows Tennis Club 4750 N. Meridian Rd. 7:30 a.m. on Sunday
• Number of participants: Group 1 – 4-6. Group 2 3-8
• Additional information: Run is mostly trails on Lake Overstreet Property, Maclay Gardens and the Phipps Park Property. Runners should either have a state park pass or contribute $2 to run around Lake Overstreet and Maclay Gardens.

Imitation Adults

• Organizer or main contact: Jay Silvanima and Nancy Stedman
• How to contact: Facebook.
• Main purpose or goal: Long run support for those doing near marathon training distance and longer
• Typical work out: Everybody does whatever they need to do according to their training program. We don’t run as a pack and there is no set pace, which allows for a wide variety of runners.
• When and Where: Sunday mornings, usually at 7:30. Where is announced each week on Facebook and GWTC list serve.
• Number of participants: Typically 15 – 30 people show up on Sunday mornings
• Additional information: We usually have a team or two at the local races that do the team thing.

Workaddict(s)

• Organizer or main contact: Worth Corn and Erik Davis
• How to contact: Facebook ; http://www.workaddicts.net
• Main purpose or goal: To push and support others into reaching their goals and/or striving for goals they never thought possible, whether it’s on the run, the bike, in the pool, etc. All paces and levels are welcomed, including Beginners and Run/Walkers.
• When and Where: Mondays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Capital City Runners (Midtown). Many Sundays, location varies (announced in Facebook  group). Other times/days/disciplines as well, as announced on Facebook.
• Number of participants: Usually 5 to 15 for runs. Other disciplines may vary.
• Additional information: workaddict(s) started as a community with a focus of encouraging and enabling individuals at various points of the fitness spectrum to achieve their goals. That community has become a family of folks who push each other, support each other, and celebrate each other’s successes as much as their own.