Each time we meet for a Run Tampa Group Run at Flatwoods, it's a challenge to make sure everyone finds us.
Probably most people in the running community have heard of Flatwoods Park. Some people would say it's in New Tampa; others would say it's near USF. Still others would say it's in Thonotosassa. Guess what? They would all be right!
Flatwoods Wilderness Park is a huge park with two entrances, one on Bruce B. Downs in New Tampa and one on Morris Bridge Road in Thonotosassa. Between the two entrances is a 7 mile paved loop, and there are entry roads extending to that loop, about a mile long, from each entrance.
Many runners are only familiar with the paved loop, but there are several miles of beautiful off road trails traversing the center of the loop.
For a bit of added confusion, you can also access the trails of Flatwoods from Trout Creek Park, which is also on Morris Bridge Road. If you're not confused now, you should be.
It's a challenge, but Flatwoods is well worth finding. Once people run on the off road trails there, they always return, sometimes every week.
By the way, Fletcher Avenue, the street that borders the north side of USF, turns into Morris Bridge Road about the time it passes beneath I-75, which is east of the Fletcher/56th Street intersection.
When the Run Tampa group runs at Flatwoods, we meet either at Trout Creek Park or the Morris Bridge entrance to Flatwoods. The reason is that it's much faster to get to the off road trails from these two destinations, and the off road trails are just beautiful, but equally important, they are also much cooler due to the shade.
The trails are marked, but, understandably, many people don't want to venture out and explore them alone. All the trails connect, but it helps to be with a group to learn the trail system.
One reason for the confusion is that there are several other parks that are part of the Wilderness Parks. These are Morris Bridge Park, which has two entrances on Morris Bridge Road, Four Rivers Park, and Trout Creek Park.
Map here.
If you do long runs, it's good to know that trails connect all these parks, making it possible to run a lovely 15 mile loop. A warning, though: At this time of year, many of the trails become quite wet, and, sometimes, even flooded. It's not uncommon for some of the trails to be closed due to standing or flowing water. At such times, the paved loop is a good alternative if you mind the water. Some people relish it, of course, so it that's you, you'll love it.
These trails are usually dry at least 9 months of the year.
If you have tried to meet us for one of our Flatwoods runs and failed to find us, please try again, and put my phone number in your phone. Also, make sure you have the right day. We usually meet on Saturdays, but if there are several races on Saturday, we may meet on Sunday. Just check the schedule.
If you don't find us right off, please call me, Debbie Voiles (813-416-4638), even if it's 7 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday morning. You know I'm up, right? I'm already at the trail head and hoping you make it to join us. I always carry my phone as well. Please do call. Many people call me to say they are running late, they have questions, or they can't find the park.
I always put a big Run Tampa sign behind my car, a black Acura; so, if you are at the right place, you'll find us. If you get there after we've left, call me, and I'll give you directions. I don't mind stopping; I run back and forth, running with different people all morning, so stopping is not going to interfere.
One more comment: Sometimes people come late, and they head out and figure they'll find us because we'll be a large group. This may not work because I encourage everyone to run at their own comfortable speed. This means we spread out quite a lot. We usually have people running an 8 min. per mile pace on up to 13 minute per mile pace and some doing a walk/run.
I encourage this. I don't want anyone running uncomfortably fast to keep up with the front runners, and I don't want people trotting along at a slower than comfortable pace to stay with the group. It's important that people do the run they want to do at their desired pace.
Since we usually have walkers and always have some people doing an easy walk/run, anyone running any pace and any distance should be comfortable joining us. And, everyone tends to hang out for a bit at the parking lot when we return, giving everyone a chance to meet everyone else.
By the way, there are two trail races in Flatwoods each year. They are both put on by Tampa Races. One is the Flatwoods Four Trail Race, which is on Valentine's Day in 2011, and the other is the Trout Creek 5k and 15k Trail Runs. The latter begins and ends in Trout Creek Park, but much of the race is in Flatwoods.