This past week, the GWTC Executive Board voted to make the single largest donation that we have ever made to become an official sponsor of the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships being held at Apalachee Regional Park, known to most runners as the ARP. If there has ever been an opportunity that perfectly fits the mission of our club, this is it. Our donation will help fund the construction of a permanent bridge that will cross the course at the Corbin Trail, providing a crazy mountain obstacle for the runners in the World Championships, but a new and safer way for spectators to cross the course and view the race about 500 meters in at future races. I can picture Herb Wills grinning as he thinks about the pictures he will be able to take from the bridge. The World Championships are also going to have a number of temporary modifications – swamps, beaches, lakes – all critical aspects of a challenging course, and representative of the state of Florida. There will be a community race also and I can’t wait. I love the ARP. On December 21 last year I was warming up for the GWTC Tannenbaum 6K and I was enjoying the beauty of this course. It really is no wonder why we have hosted the FHSAA State XC Championships for the past 13 years, as well as Middle School, NCAA, and USATF XC Championships. A little while later while I was gasping for air after finishing the race 10 minutes behind winner Alyson Churchill, the difficulty of the course was also apparent. It also sent me down a rabbit hole trying to learn the history of how this course became “the ARP” to cross country runners from around the country, and now, the world.

In 2008, Leon County identified an underutilized portion of its Solid Waste Management Facility as a potential site for a cross-country course. The vision was to create a space that could host competitive events and serve the community. GWTC, FSU and Leon County Parks & Rec donated $10,000 each to spearhead the effort – without this the ARP might never without this the ARP might never have happened. By 2009, the park opened with an 8-mile running trail, marking the beginning of its transformation. It also explains why my colleague and long-time Tallahassee runner Bud Fennema refers to it as “the dump”, which is about as wrong a description as you can get.

Recognizing the park’s potential, Leon County invested in significant upgrades. In 2012, the county allocated $300,000 to widen the course to meet the 10m NCAA standards. Further enhancements in 2021, totaling $3 million, introduced a permanent finish line structure, multipurpose building, restrooms, and improved accessibility features. I can remember a friend from Miami walking around saying, “Wow…” at the state meet the first year the new structures were there. I agree and can’t imagine a better crosscountry facility.

There have been many people involved in the development of this course over the years, but from what I can tell, the original idea, vision, and fighting through significant early resistance was largely the work of recently-retired FSU Coach Bob Braman, “new” Leon High School coach Brian Corbin – both of whom are recognized with trails in their name at the park – and the tireless efforts of GWTC’s Judy Alexander and Herb Wills, who both still frequent and fight for the ARP. Judy is the volunteer coordinator for the World Championship event continuing her years of service to the running community. More recently, Amanda Heidecker, the director of Leon County Parks and Recreation and co-Chair of the World Championships, has taken a lead role in the more recent changes and her vision is impressive. If you haven’t met Amanda, you need to. She’s a former FSU athlete who competed in both cross country and track, and helped the Noles win the 2009 ACC Track Championship with her 3000m Steeplechase performance. She’s also a big reason why people from all over are jealous of our park system.

The ARP’s development has had a significant economic impact, generating over $40 million in direct spending in Leon County according to Visit Tallahassee. It has become a hub for cross-country events, drawing participants and spectators from across the nation and beyond. Apalachee Regional Park stands as a testament to the power of community collaboration and vision. From its humble beginnings as excess landfill property, it has grown into a world-class facility that continues to inspire athletes and enrich the local community. And once a year in December, it reminds this mid-50s runner that the famous ARP “Wall” is no joke!