BROOKSVILLE - First-year high school runners will get a cross-country primer at the Red Mule Runners Labor Day 5K.
What they won't experience is the purest form of the race, which was moved from McKethan Lake Park for the first time in its 22 years.
Saturday's open event, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at Ernie Wever Youth Park in Brooksville, serves as the unofficial start to the prep cross-country season.
"For some of the incoming freshmen and even some sophomores who have never run a 5K before, it's a reality check," said Chuck Boldt, president of the Red Mule Runners and coach of the Springstead boys team.
"For some of these kids, it's, "Ah, this is what it's all about,"' he said.
A mixture of asphalt, limerock road and grass, the Ernie Wever course is similar to layouts used by many high schools but more challenging than the popular McKethan course, which is closed because of flooding. Also, since the Ernie Wever course is hillier and has sharper turns, times should be slower and more in line with regular-season performances.
"Kids would run a great time at McKethan Lake, then never run that good until the end of the season if they run that good again, so that won't happen to us this year," Hernando boys coach Ernie Chatman said.
"That'll let them know where they truly are and motivate them a little bit more, I would think."
Springstead has been training in groups of 10 or 12, so being in a field of about 200 should be an eye-opening experience for many young runners. Boldt said the most difficult thing for first-time entrants is to run within themselves.
"I think it will be an adrenaline kick for them to be in a situation where there are a lot of people all out there just doing the same thing," he said, "and I think they'll realize this really is a sport and it's a fun and competitive sport rather than just another day of training."
Boldt said he expects about 200 runners, though he won't know for sure until race day. In past years, as many as 60 percent of entrants waited until the day of the event to register.
About 55 runners have pre-registered, Boldt said, including those from Springstead, Hernando, Lecanto, Citrus, Crystal River and River Ridge, among others. Mitchell's Jeff Masterson, who placed third in the state last season, is another possibility.
"If he were to come, he would be the race favorite," Chatman said.
A notable absence is Jesuit, which typically enters a large group of athletes. Andy Biladeau, who set a course record of 15 minutes, 3 seconds last year, and his teammates are scheduled to compete in the West Hillsborough Invitational on Tuesday at Al Lopez Park.
- Frank Pastor can be reached at 800 333-7505, ext. 1430. Send e-mail to pastor@sptimes.com
