Uh-oh. Tallahassee Democrat, 11 April 2006:

Palace Saloon 5K gives you several reasons to run

Running community column by Gary Droze
DEMOCRAT CORRESPONDENT

This column occasionally mentions upcoming races. Typically, events are lightly described, and I use a soft-sell approach, leaving it to the reader to seek deeper details. Not so today.

I completely endorse and urge participation in the 32nd annual Palace Saloon 5K (see gulfwinds.org for entry information). There are many reasons to jettison your original plans for the morning of April 15, and instead head to James Messer Field for the 8 a.m. race. Here are a few:

Tradition: The Palace Saloon 5K is oldest race in Tallahassee that has been run on the same route since its inception. Hairstyles, music, and property values may have changed since 1975, but the Palace Saloon 5K still begins with a flat first mile around Messer Field, a downhill second mile on Jackson Bluff Road, a steady climb past Belle Vue Middle School and a screaming downhill for the last 1/4 -mile. Longtime citizens can use the course to chart their yearly climb to fitness - or decline to sloth.

Personal glory: For those who place a premium on running personal records, this race might well put a smile on your face. It features a net loss in elevation, and yielded the fastest road 5K in Tallahassee last year. FSU doctoral student Lee Willis notched a 16:06 last year. His wife, Irish Olympian Breeda Dennehy-Willis, holds the women's course record of 16:31.

Post-race fun: The finish line for the Palace Saloon 5K is co-located with the doorstep of the Palace Saloon, which, as fate would have it, will be open for revelry this Saturday morning. How convenient is that?

Homage to a legend: Meet director Herb Wills won't tout his own past 5K performances. He's simply conducting this race out of a love for running and for keeping traditions alive. When you thank Herb on Saturday for making this race happen, understand that you are thanking a multiple Olympic Trials qualifier, a sub-14:00 5K runner, and the fastest ever Leon County high school 2-miler (9:00). Most folks with these credentials are used to catering only to themselves. Luckily for us, Herb isn't most folks.

See you Saturday.

David Yon gave us a plug yesterday (8 April 2006) in his Fragments column, http://gulfwinds.org/Columnists/fragments_040806.htm on the Gulf Winds Track Club site:

Palace Work

If creative marketing helps a race, the Palace should have a great turnout this year. Co-Race Director Herb Wills (Reid Vannoy is his partner in crime) has left his mark everywhere. When I close my eyes at night I see "Palace Saloon 5K" on the back of my eye lids. Every race I have run since the 30K seems to have those words pasted somewhere in sight. Herb and Reid, "I will obey, I will be there." The Palace is at least one of, if not THE oldest, club race. It certainly has the longest running on the same course of any club race. With over three hundred finishers last year it has grown to one of the biggest club races and just might be its most fun. It is great to see the good work put into this race by Herb, Reid, and Jeff Bryan paying off.

From the Gulf Winds Track Club site, http://www.gulfwinds.org/:

Willis to defend title at 32nd Palace Saloon 5K

By Herb Wills

Lee Willis, A Florida State University doctoral candidate in history, will defend his title at the 32nd annual Palace Saloon 5K on April 15. Willis won the 2005 race in 16:06, the fastest 5K road time in Tallahassee last year.

In the women's division, defending champion Breeda Dennehy-Willis is injured and will not be competing. An Irish Olympian, Dennehy-Willis' 2005 time of 16:31 is the course record for the Palace Saloon 5K. She also won the race in 2004. Four other women (Jane Johnson, Vikki Saga, Karen MacHarg, and Janice Gage) have recorded back-to-back Palace Saloon Championships. The only woman to have won three straight Palace Saloon races is Sarah Docter-Williams (1997, 1998, 1999).

The Palace Saloon 5K will start from James Messer Fields Park at 8:00 AM ET on Saturday, April 15. Race day registration and packet pick-up will take place near the starting area from 6:45 - 7:45 that morning. The course is USATF certified and finishes in front of the Palace Saloon on Jackson Bluff Road. Sponsors of the event include the Gulf Winds Track Club, the Palace Saloon, and Tri-Eagle Distributing.

About Lee Willis:
http://campus.fsu.edu/profiles/willis/

About Breeda Dennehy-Willis:
http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/athlete=70755/BioPopUp.html

Palace Saloon 5K Champions:
http://palacesaloon.com/champions.html

Palace Saloon 5K Entry Information:
http://gulfwinds.org/Fliers/palaceapplication_2006.pdf