Gulf Winds Track Club’s SMIRF and Strider Running Camp

07/08/2026

SMIRFs is going strong with Coach Alyson leading the way today on hill repeats! Side note: I lost again in ‘Are you faster than a 2nd grader?’, and it’s just getting worse as she gets into even better shape 🤣

07/04/2026

Yesterday, the SMIRFs ran some hills back in the woods and we finished with the ‘ski slope’. One more week down and STILL no kids lost! Happy 4th of July everyone!

07/01/2026

Today, well over 50 SMIRFs welcomed home Tallahassee’s own Alyson Churchill, who grew up in the youth running community in Tallahassee. Alyson talked with the runners about how her love for running was built with the help of supportive teammates. Alyson is a 3-time high school state champion with Lincoln and Chiles and a 4 time collegiate all-American with FSU and Northern Arizona University. She qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials in both the 5K and the 10K, and she wowed the runners with her low-15s 5K time and 4:31 mile! Inspired by her talk, the SMIRFs did a long run with the more experienced kids doing the longest run so far this summer - a 3 miler with Alyson and Coaches Hawthorne and Kara! And of course we finished with popsicles and downed two full 36 packs! All kids from Elementary age up are welcome to join us!

06/26/2026

The first time trial is complete! 38 SMIRFs finished a mile time trial today with fantastic times and a benchmark to grow on. They still had energy for sharks and minnows afterwards!

06/24/2026

Week 4 is in full swing with relays, games and some great runs! We have had big crowds and about 40 elementary and middle schoolers every day! BIG NEWS for Thursday and Friday, June 25 and 26: Thursday is Rubber Duck Scavenger Hunt, a definite fan favorite!! Friday is our first time trial with a real race clock and either an 800 for new runners or a mile for our more experienced runners! Same place as always, Phipps Park at the Meadows Soccer Complex! Hope to see all our runners out there for these fun days!

06/04/2026

We’re Baaaaaccckkkkk!!! SMIRFs is off to a great start with over 50 young runners having fun on summer mornings. Today, we had relays, and tomorrow we will ‘get lost’ in the woods, but not really. And of course, we have sharks and minnows and POPSICLES!!! There’s still time to join us - 7:45-9:00am M-F at the Meadows Soccer Complex!

05/02/2026

It’s that time again!!! A great group for elementary and middle schoolers!! Attendance can be flexible to accommodate other summer activities. All skill levels welcome! We encourage parent participation, as well!

The GWTC Youth Runners & Striders, including SMIRFs is on Monday June 2, 2025 to Saturday August 9, 2025.