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.