News

Now in its 45th year the FTC Junior Champs Program seeks to encourage children to become fit and have fun using basic Track and Field and Running skills.  Emphasis of the program is to have youth feel positive about fitness regardless of age or ability level.

Click below or email Donita Higgins at ftcjuniorchamps@yahoo.com for more info:

https://www.facebook.com/wherechampionsaremade/

Book Review

Running With the Kenyans: Passion, Adventure, and the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth

Adharanand Finn

Review by Brady Holmer, FTC and TeamFTC member, Graduate Research Assistant, Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory, University of Florida

 “In Kenya, do you have runners like that? People who are just running to get fit?

… “In Kenya, there are only athletes.” “…if you are an athlete, you run. If you aren’t, you don’t”

This dialog between author Adharanand Finn and Olympic 5000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot resembled an underlying theme of the book “Running With the Kenyans.” Namely, in Kenya, running is life.

Finn, once a young runner himself, tells of his early fascination with Kenyan runners and provides this as the impetus for him moving his family of five to Iten, Kenya, one of the most well-known stomping grounds for the world’s best runners. He wants to live and train with the best. He wants to find out, “what the secret” is.

“Running” however, is more than a self-indulgent journey of one writer to get faster. As Finn interacts with the locals and learns from them, readers too learn the Kenyan “secret:” that there is no secret at all. Iten is literally a 24/7 training camp for athletes young, old, fast, and “slow.” Local cross-country races held nearly every weekend where, yes, the children and adults mostly run barefoot. There are no running programs, we learn, only 5:30 a.m groups runs that you either show up for, or regret missing. In Kenya, running is quite literally, a way out, and this sense of urgency pervades their training and their culture.

What makes “Running” interesting is the oddness of the author training with a group he doesn’t fit in with, yet is accepted by with open arms. The Kenyans, it seems, are willing to give anyone a try, anyone with the joy of running. Finn immerses himself in Kenyan running culture, and even when he falls back on long runs on the dirt roads, someone is waiting to give him a water bottle.

The journey culminates with Finn competing in a local marathon, really, “26 miles of wilderness” as he likes to describe it. How often do you see a pack of Zebras on your run. Training, it seems, has been paying off, he’s the first mzungu (yes, white guy) to finish the race.

The book makes one want to pack up their things and head to Iten, if only for a short while, just to see the goals that could be achieved if fully immersed in a lifestyle conducive to running success. The main route to success, however, comes in an off-hand conversation Finn has with his daughter before heading out on a run.

“Why are you running?” She asks.

“Because it’s fun.” He replies.

Thanks for the book review, Brady! Do you have a running book you would like to see reviewed or have read a book you would like to recommend to the FTC?  Email us at thefloridatrackclub@gmail.com

The FTC has scholarship money available to all club members to use for travel/race registration/lodging, etc.  If you have an upcoming race this spring for which you could use some financial support, please submit an application! The questions for the Steven Detweiler Florida Track Club Racing Scholarship is below. Please email your answers to the application questions and a budget in either a Word Document or PDF file to: thefloridatrackclub@gmail.com.  Deadline for submission is April 1st at 11:59PM.

Florida Track Club Race Scholarship

Goal: To financially support athletes within the Florida Track Club when representing the Club at races.

 

Moneys

Total Funds: $500 allotted biannually ($1000 per year)

Maximum allotment per individual per term: $100-250 (Recipients per term: 2-5)

Maximum allotment per individual per year: $250

Timeline       Each applicant may submit one (1) application per bi-annual term. The application must be submitted by 11:59 pm on November 1^st, for races in January through June and by 11:59 pm on April 1^st for races in July through December. The application includes a Questionnaire Form and a Budget Form. The applicant will be notified approximately two weeks after each deadline.

Reimbursement      The travel grant will be used to cover racing fees, transportation, and lodging. Other expenses, such as meals, souvenirs, etc. will not be reimbursed. The recipient of the award must keep all itemized receipts. After the event, they must fill out the reimbursement spreadsheet and submit all receipts through email to: thefloridatrackclub@gmail.com. The awarded amount indicated prior to travel is the maximum amount the recipient will be reimbursed. If the individual doesn’t submit receipts they will receive $0.

Transportation        Plane fare can be reimbursed as long as the total funds for the trip do not exceed the allotment per individual per term ($100-250). Gas receipts from en route travel days and MapQuest/GoogleMap (etc.) directions to and from race will suffice for reimbursement.

 

Lodging         Lodging expenses can be reimbursed as long as the total funds for the trip do not exceed the allotment per individual per term ($100-250).

Expectations                        If receiving a sponsorship, the participant is required to:

1) Give an oral race report at a FTC meeting within 6 months of the event

2) Deliver a written race report submitted to the Executive Director, Betsy Suda (esuda@chem.ufl.edu) for the FTC newsletter within 1 month of the event

3) Represent the Florida Track Club! Submit a photo wearing the Florida Track Club singlet at the race.

Review

The application will be reviewed based on the following characteristics:

1) Active membership in FTC

2) The applicant’s prior service and involvement within the FTC and the Gainesville running community

3) The significance of this race to the individual

4) Competitive potential

5) Financial needs of participant

Questionnaire  for Applicants:

Are you an active member of FTC? If so, how long have you been a member?

What other activities (especially fitness, running, and community service related) you are involved in, within the community and the state?

What are your running goals for this race, this season, and long term?

Please share why you would like to run this race and how the funds from FTC are important.

Are you able to do an oral (within 6 months of event) and written race report (1 month following event) and wear the FTC singlet for a photo at the race? (requirement to receive funds)

 

Budget Spreadsheet (Application)

Applicant Name	1	(name)
Race Name	2	(Race name)
Date(s) of Race	3	(MM/DD/YY)
Dates(s) of Travel	4	(MM/DD/YY)
Location of Race	5	(Anywhere,USA)
Race Entry Fee	6	$
Mode of Transportation	7	(Car/plane/running)
Approximated Distance	8	(x miles)
Approximated Travel Cost	9	$
Expected Accommodations	10	(Friends/family/Hotel
Approximated Lodging Cost	11	$
Notes	12
Total race cost	13	#VALUE!

Book Review by Brady Holmer, FTC and TeamFTC member, Graduate Research Assistant, Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory, University of Florida

When I lace up a pair of Nike Air Pegasus, rarely do I think about the origin - the history, of what I'm putting on my feet. That all changed after reading "Shoe Dog" - in more ways than one. Nike shoes are not just pieces of rubber and cloth upper - but a story of a man who transformed an industry.

 

From page one, Phil Knight took me on a journey with him, beginning with Blue Ribbon Sports and continuing with his many fateful and sometimes unbelievable interactions with international tycoons. His lucky breaks are sometimes unbelievable (some may call it fate?) Did you know the name "Blue Ribbon" was essentially plucked out of thin air by Knight - after he was probed by Japanese businessmen about the name of his company on a trip overseas?

 

The best aspect of the book is Knight's ability to interweave his own love of running, his desire for perfection in sport and in life, with the shoe company he was similarly trying to perfect. Original shoe ideas came from experimentation literally, on his own two feet. Knight knew what runners and athletes would want from a sportswear company, and his memoir provides every last detail on how he made this a reality. It makes one wonder whether Nike would be the company it is today without a founder who was once as obsessed with his own performance as he was with that of his company.

 

At many points, I felt Knight’s anxiety and fear for the future of his company, despite knowing the outcome. The times he was out of money, short on time. But that is the art of a true story teller; one who is able to take you deep into their story and make you forget about how it unfolds, just for the moment.

 

Oh. And the little “moments of Zen” sprinkled throughout “Shoe Dog” provide only more reason to appreciate Knight for the wise man he is.

 

“I remembered that the best way to reinforce your knowledge of a subject is to share it.”

Thanks for the book review, Brady! Do you have a running book you would like to see reviewed or have read a book you would like to recommend to the FTC?  Email us at thefloridatrackclub@gmail.com

I was excited and nervous as race weekend approached.  The week before the race, my knee began giving me some problems when running, and the hamstring continued to give me grief as well. I was not sure how my legs would hold up for the race, but I was determined to try.  Thomas Kipp gave me a “tune up” the day before we flew out.  He reassured me that it was all muscular, and that I was not going to injure myself if I just pushed through the pain. 

The travel to Sacramento was uneventful.  I followed the nutrition plan.  I rested.  I felt cautiously optimistic.  Race morning, the weather was near perfect with temps in the low 40s.  I stayed on the shuttle bus for about 30 min after arriving to the start to rest my legs and stay warm.  I got off the bus about 30 min prior to the start to adjust to the outside temp and warm up my legs. 

The race began right on time.  I did not see the other Team FTC athletes prior to the start, but I knew they were up ahead.  I made it to the start about 2 min after the race had officially started, as there were thousands of runners and no corrals other than for the elite runners.  The first few miles were extremely crowded!  I had never been so crowded in any of the other races I had done.  I was elbowed and pushed a few times.  My pace was determined by those around me as I could not get around anyone.  Almost immediately, my knee and hamstring started acting up.  I reminded myself that Thomas said I wasn’t going to really injure myself, so I ignored them and “accepted that challenge” (as Enoch had coached me to do ).  There were lots of hills during the first half of the course. I followed Enoch’s advice to keep same effort not same pace, and was able to get around some of the other runners on those hills.  I mentally broke the race into segments based on the timing mats (10k, half, 20 mi).  I zoned out mentally and did not pay attention to pace other than at the mile splits.  I ran based on feel, slowing when my legs acted up and speeding when they felt better.  I was holding fairly consistently between 830-845 for the first 16 miles.  I don’t remember much of the specifics about the race other than realizing at mile 17 (after stopping the first of 3 times to refill my water  bottles), if I could just hold a “recovery run” pace of under 930, I would BQ…and if I could push it a bit faster than recovery pace, I could break 3:55.  I began feeling hopeful that I could really actually do this.  I hit mile 20, and the legs were really giving me grief.  I again did the math in my head and told myself I could BQ if I could just keep it under 10s.  At mile 22, the 352 pace group caught up with me.  I tried to speed up and stay with them, but my legs were not having it.  I reminded myself I didn’t need a 3:52 and to just do the best I could, keeping in the mid 9s. A couple of miles later, I rounded a corner and realized I was on L street.  I had run this street with Laura the day before and knew I was almost there!  I knew the finish was off of 8^th.  I began counting down the blocks…19^th, 18^th..17^th…. Before I knew it my watch chimed mile 26.  I realized at that point I could break 3:55 if I hurried.  I picked up the pace to sub-8 and crossed the finish in 3:54:40.  A new PR…and finally BQ!! And there was Coach waiting for me! With the amazing news that he qualified for the Olympic Trials! 

Submitted by Steven Detweiler Scholarship Recipients, Georganne Watson and Kelly Griffin

We raced the St. Petersburgh half marathon on Sunday, November 19^th in downtown St. Pete. It was part of the St. Pete Run Fest that was held throughout the whole weekend which also included a 5k, half marathon relay and kids races. The race began at 7:00am and the course took us through historic neighborhoods of downtown St. Pete, through Tropicana Field and finished on the scenic waterfront. The flat course was helpful on a humid and sunny morning. The evening prior to the race we were able to get our families together for a pre-race dinner in downtown St. Pete. As you can imagine there was a lot of spectator planning for our husbands and families, which payed off as they were able to see and cheer for us several times throughout the race. Kelly debuted her first half marathon with an impressive 3^rd overall female finish with a time of 1:23.39 (6:24 per mile pace). Georganne was just behind as the 4^th place overall female finisher with a time of 1:25.52 (6:34 per mile pace). 

The weather outside was frightful, but at the Frank Shorter Mile Kumar and Watson were delightful

Herb Willis https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2018/01/frank-shorter-mile-2018.html

For nearly 40 years, Gainesville was home to the only indoor track in Florida. The University of Florida removed the track during renovations to the O'Connell Center after the 2015 indoor track season. Now, there's never a day in Florida so severe that you need an indoor track. In fact, there are very few days in the Sunshine State when you'd even prefer to race indoors. But Monday, 1 January 2017, was one of those days. Shortly after sunrise the temperature dropped into the 30s and stayed there for the rest of the day. The wind made is seem even cooler, as did the occasional light rain. It even snowed.

It was the kind of weather that inspires bond issues for indoor track and field facilities. It was not the kind of weather that Visit Florida wants people to know about.

Nevertheless, it was the weather in which 76 athletes showed up at Gainesville's Westside Park for Florida Track Club's third annual Frank Shorter Road Mile. Ravi Kumar won the men's mile race, circling the two-lap course in 4:49. Georganne Watson took the women's mile with a 5:18.

The two-lap course in Westside Park was a new addition in the third year of the race. So was the introduction of two separate races, one for the men and one for the women. The men raced first, with a scheduled starting time of 12:00 noon. Kumar, a FTC-Elite athlete, won that opening race with a 4:49. Behind him, Seth Funderburg outkicked Oakleaf High sophomore Dylan Nelson for second, 4:52 to 4:53. Rich Smith was fourth in 4:53. Dan Stoner of Gainesville was the first master runner in the men's mile, placing fifth overall in 5:13. Abraham Lincoln Middle School eighth-grader Anton Matchev took sixth with a 5:20.

The women's race followed at 12:35 PM. Betsy Suda had claimed the women's title at the first Frank Shorter mile, running 5:30 in that 2016 race. In 2017, though, Suda was second in the women's standings to Georganne Watson, who went 5:13 to Suda's 5:23. Both runners were back in 2018 for a chilly rematch. Watson prevailed, successfully defending her title while edging Suda 5:18 to 5:20. A few steps back, Laura Ragland took third in 5:23. Sharon Beckwith and Caroline Worrall dueled for the top master runner spot in the women's race, with Beckwith getting the nod 7:05 to 7:06. Beckwith and Worrall placed eighth and ninth overall.

76 athletes finished the 2018 Frank Shorter Road Mile, 45 in the men's race and 31 in the women's race. Start 2 Finish Race Management timed the event.

Tom Walker ½ Marathon & 5k 2017!

  

November 11, 2017 @ 8:00 a.m

Boulware Springs Nature Park, 3300 SE 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32641

 

If mailing in entry please send this form to:

 Florida Track Club (Tom Walker Races)

c/o Betsy Suda

4190 NW 50^th Drive, #7305

Gainesville, FL 32606

Mail in entry deadline: November 8^th, 2017  Day of registration will close @7:30 a.m.

 

Last Name  ___________________________________________ First Name  _________________________________

 

Gender (check one):   oM           oF                   Age (race day)  __________________________________

 

Address  _________________________________________City/State/Zip  ___________________________________

E-mail Address ______________________________________ T-Shirt Size  oS   oM   oL   oXL

                                                                               (check one – tshirts are first come, first served)                 

Contact phone number  _____________________________________________ 

 

I am participating in the (check one):   oHalf-marathon o5k

 

FTC Member?  oYES                        oNO

 

Interested in joining the Florida Track Club ($30/year)? See the benefits at www.floridatrackclub.wildapricot.org

                                         

Half-marathon

Early registration (before 9/16/17) $35, (9/17-11/8) $40  (FTC members take $5 off) 

Race day: $45 everyone

 

5k

Early registration (before 9/16/17) $22, (9/17-11/8) $25 (FTC members take $5 off)

Race day: $30 everyone                

 

Total enclosed $  ____________ 



Kids under 13, $5 (no shirt)                        

 

I know that running a road race is a potentially hazardous activity.  I should not enter and run unless I am medically able and properly trained. I agree to abide by any decision of a race official relative to my ability to safely complete the run. I assume all risks associated with running in this event including, but not limited to: falls, contact with other participants, the effects of weather, traffic, and the conditions of the road, all such risks being known and appreciated by me. Having read this waiver and understanding these facts, I, for myself and anyone acting on my behalf, waive, and release, the members of The Florida Track Club, and all other sponsors and their representatives from all claims and liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation of this event even though that liability might arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of persons named in this waiver. I understand and agree to abide by the insurance restrictions, which prohibit the use of portable sound systems, wheel conveyances (excluding racing wheelchairs) but including skateboards, roller skates or blades, bicycles, etc. Illegible applications may result in disqualification. My entry in this race authorizes the Florida Track Club, organizations conducting races, or sponsors to record the race and its results in any medium and use those recordings in its discretion for any purpose. The Florida Track Club, organizers, or sponsors in no manner guarantee the accuracy of recording or reporting of results of any race.

 

__________________________________________________________________

Signature of Participant or guardian if Participant is under 18

39^TH MELON RUN JULY 4^TH 2017!

  

July 4^th:  3 mile @ 8:00 a.m., 1 mile Kids Fun Run @ 9:00 a.m.

 

If mailing in entry please send this form to:

 Florida Track Club (Melon Run)

c/o Betsy Suda

4190 NW 50^th Drive, #7305

Gainesville, FL 32606

Mail in entry deadline: June 30^th  Day of registration will close @7:30 a.m.

 

Last Name  ___________________________________________ First Name  _________________________________

 

Gender (check one):   oM           oF                   Age (race day)  __________________________________

 

Address  _________________________________________City/State/Zip  ___________________________________

E-mail Address ______________________________________ T-Shirt Size  oS   oM   oL   oXL

                                                                                                       (check one)                 

Contact phone number  _____________________________________________ 

 

I am participating in the (check one):   o3-Mile Melon Run                    o1-Mile Fun Run

 

FTC Member?  oYES                        oNO

 

Interested in joining the Florida Track Club ($30/year)? See the benefits at www.floridatrackclub.wildapricot.org

                                         

Early registration $25 ($20 FTC)               Race day $30                

Total enclosed $  ____________ 

Kids under 12, $5 (no shirt)                        

 

I know that running a road race is a potentially hazardous activity.  I should not enter and run unless I am medically able and properly trained. I agree to abide by any decision of a race official relative to my ability to safely complete the run. I assume all risks associated with running in this event including, but not limited to: falls, contact with other participants, the effects of weather, traffic, and the conditions of the road, all such risks being known and appreciated by me. Having read this waiver and understanding these facts, I, for myself and anyone acting on my behalf, waive, and release, the members of The Florida Track Club, and all other sponsors and their representatives from all claims and liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation of this event even though that liability might arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of persons named in this waiver. I understand and agree to abide by the insurance restrictions, which prohibit the use of portable sound systems, wheel conveyances (excluding racing wheelchairs) but including skateboards, roller skates or blades, bicycles, etc. Illegible applications may result in disqualification. My entry in this race authorizes the Florida Track Club, organizations conducting races, or sponsors to record the race and its results in any medium and use those recordings in its discretion for any purpose. The Florida Track Club, organizers, or sponsors in no manner guarantee the accuracy of recording or reporting of results of any race.

 

_________________________________________                        _________________________

Signature of Participant                                                                            Signature of parent or

guardian if Participant is under 18

We hope to see you all come out to the 2nd Annual FTC Twilight Track Meet on June 6th!  All proceeds from the meet will go towards the Steven Detweiler Racing Scholarship.  Read below for the specifics on the scholarship and the questions and budget form to be filled out as the application.

The FTC has scholarship money available to all club members to use for travel/race registration/lodging, etc.  If you have an upcoming race this spring for which you could use some financial support, please submit an application! The form for the Steven Detweiler Florida Track Club Racing Scholarship is below. Please email completed forms to: thefloridatrackclub@gmail.com.  Deadline for submission is November 1st at 11:59PM.

Florida Track Club Race Scholarship

Goal: To financially support athletes within the Florida Track Club when representing the Club at races.

 

Moneys

Total Funds: $500 allotted biannually ($1000 per year)

Maximum allotment per individual per term: $100-250 (Recipients per term: 2-5)

Maximum allotment per individual per year: $250

Timeline       Each applicant may submit one (1) application per bi-annual term. The application must be submitted by 11:59 pm on November 1^st, for races in January through June and by 11:59 pm on April 1^st for races in July through December. The application includes a Questionnaire Form and a Budget Form. The applicant will be notified approximately two weeks after each deadline.

Reimbursement      The travel grant will be used to cover racing fees, transportation, and lodging. Other expenses, such as meals, souvenirs, etc. will not be reimbursed. 

Transportation        Plane fare can be reimbursed as long as the total funds for the trip do not exceed the allotment per individual per term ($100-250). Gas receipts from en route travel days and MapQuest/GoogleMap (etc.) directions to and from race will suffice for reimbursement.

 

Lodging         Lodging expenses can be reimbursed as long as the total funds for the trip do not exceed the allotment per individual per term ($100-250).

Expectations                        If receiving a sponsorship, the participant is expected to:

1) Give an oral race report at a FTC meeting within 6 months of the event

2) Deliver a written race report submitted to the Executive Director, Betsy Suda (esuda@chem.ufl.edu) for the FTC newsletter within 1 month of the event

3) Represent the Florida Track Club! Submit a photo wearing the Florida Track Club singlet at the race.

Review

The application will be reviewed based on the following characteristics:

1) Active membership in FTC

2) The applicant’s prior service and involvement within the FTC and the Gainesville running community

3) The significance of this race to the individual

4) Competitive potential

5) Financial needs of participant

Questionnaire  for Applicants: (Please create a separate Word Document with your answers and email to the above address)

Are you an active member of FTC? If so, how long have you been a member?

What other activities (especially fitness, running, and community service related) you are involved in, within the community and the state?

What are your running goals for this race, this season, and long term?

Please share why you would like to run this race and how the funds from FTC are important.

Are you willing to do an oral (within 6 months of event) and written race report (1 month following event) and wear the FTC singlet for a photo at the race?

 

Budget Spreadsheet (Application)

Applicant Name	1	(name)
Race Name	2	(Race name)
Date(s) of Race	3	(MM/DD/YY)
Dates(s) of Travel	4	(MM/DD/YY)
Location of Race	5	(Anywhere,USA)
Race Entry Fee	6	$
Mode of Transportation	7	(Car/plane/running)
Approximated Distance	8	(x miles)
Approximated Travel Cost	9	$
Expected Accommodations	10	(Friends/family/Hotel
Approximated Lodging Cost	11	$
Notes	12
Total race cost	13	#VALUE!