Long-term vision produces ideal course

https://theosceola.com/long-term-vision-produces-ideal-course-for-runners/

What was once tall grass and dense woods has become a runner’s paradise.

Call it a modern-day, cross country take on “Field of Dreams.” They built it and runners – as well as their families – have come to Tallahassee.

FSU track and cross country coach Bob Braman remembers first stepping foot on the Apalachee Regional Park and it was very much a blank canvas. Braman as well as Brian Corbin from Gulf Winds Track Club began painting a picture while often hacking away with a machete to make the dream venue a reality just eight miles south of the Florida State Capitol on Apalachee Parkway.

What you don’t think of with cross country is revenue generation. The FSU Invitational won’t charge an admission to parents or fans. But it has been a financial positive for Tallahassee businesses, especially when meets are scheduled on weekends when FSU football is playing an away game.

“This is about bringing visitors with their money, hotels, restaurants, things like that,” Braman said. “And it’s been it’s been a really, really good partnership.”

There were nearly 2,700 finishers in the 2017 FSU Invitational, the largest in meet history. The 2018 meet was canceled due to Hurricane Michael.) 

Visit Tallahassee is also investing more than $2 million for extensive upgrades on the course, including a permanent structure, operations building, concession area, restrooms and awards stage beginning in December as the preparations ramp up to host the NCAA Championships in 2021. Braman is also optimistic that Tallahassee could be awarded future NCAA championship meets.

The other bonus for Braman and FSU cross country is that the course has hosted the FHSAA meets. When the state’s top high school runners step foot on ARP, they typically like it. And as much as stadiums or arenas help recruit top student-athletes in football, basketball or baseball, ARP does the same for Braman’s program.

“Most of them had a bunch of races, including their state championship on our course,” Braman said. “I would say over 90 percent of the kids that we recruit really like the ARP. And it might for many of be their favorite course. 

“I think that’s a help in recruiting. Having major championships here, that their parents and high school coaches and friends can watch is a big deal because we host a whole bunch of NCAA regional meets here, it won’t be too long before we’ll have another ACC meet here. Two years from this November we’ll have the NCAA championship here. So those things, you get to stay and play at home rather than kids who go out of state and parents don’t get to see them race.”

And because of that familiarity, runners get comfortable at home on the course. They have run it for years in high school and another four years in college. Landing an NCAA Championship meet was long a goal for FSU and ARP has delivered that, too. 

“I felt like it’s something we could do,” Braman said. “I just felt like with the right support and the right vision, that we could build something that would be better than what’s out there. It’s just really cool to finally have a national championship here.

“It can only get better. Each year we do more and more fencing and more and more infrastructure. And by the time you get to the 2021 meet there’s not going to be a place like it in the country.”