BROOKSVILLE - After three years on the road, the Flatlanders Challenge is returning to familiar roads - those of downtown Brooksville.
For the 25th annual 10K race, organizers and the City Council agreed last summer that such a move seemed fitting. Whether the race stays downtown is another issue, but for now a field of 250-300 is expected for the return Saturday to the same streets run by thousands in the event's history.
"There's been a lot of excitement in the running community," said Chuck Boldt, president of the Red Mule Runners Club. "Everybody that I've talked to is excited to go back to the city, the hometown course, the tree-lined areas, the brick streets."
The event moved to Spring Lake in 2001 after city residents complained of congestion and police expressed concerns over the race's demands on its staff. Over three years, the event fared well - last year's field of 240 was the largest of the Spring Lake era - but the rural setting was not particularly spectator-friendly. This year, with the recent beautification of downtown and the continuing promotion of the Good Neighbor Trail (connecting downtown to the Withlacoochee State Trail), the city welcomed back the runners, volunteers and spectators.
Red Mule Runners Club member Ernie Chatman said the course is tough (though not as tough as Spring Lake) and that most runners find their times to be at least a minute slower than on flatter 10K layouts. Yet that never has stopped people from coming and, for some 140 runners had registered by Thursday. With walk-up entries, organizers hope the field can approach 300.
