What is the spectator experience like at the Tallahassee XC course?

That thumbnail photo doesn't look appealing. Looks like a very cramped spectator space with no seating. I feel bad for short people if they don't get a spot in front along the fence.

Viewing is pretty crowded. Apparently they are adding a bridge to help out, but I don’t know much about it. When spectating 5k, you can see the athletes 4-5 times during the race. The busiest times each year is the XC State Finals, where it seems like every team that exists in Florida comes. Definitely crowded and need to fight for your spot.

That being said, the course is beautiful and the 10k is run on a smaller loop that the athletes will run 5 times. I have to imagine this increases spectating ability. The experience is fun, but spectating is best if you are active and can move around to get a good spot.

Also, we have amazing trails here in Tally. So if you are an active runner I would say it is worth the trip to check out the course, get some runs in, and experience the beautiful weather of North Florida in the winter.

Thank you! That's helpful. Seems like it would be exciting to be part of the experience. It's been many years since World XC was hosted in the US, which makes me think it'd be cool to see it in person. Even better if all our best guys are running and we can field competitive teams.

The idea of doing some running down there in January is one of the reasons I'm thinking of going. Which trails do you recommend?

Check out the trails by Forest Meadows Tennis Center/Maclay school, the trails around Tom Brown Park, the Miccosukee Greenway, and hit a king run on Old Centerville road by Bradley’s country store

Normally in the US outside to California whay you have to insert High School races between the adult races to get fans to show up. That's what Penn Relays, Texas Relays, Eugene meets, etc. does.

I've run Club XC in Tallahassee a couple of times, and you can see the runners twice on each loop if you're willing to jog back and forth the relatively short distance through the woods from one side of the loop to the other (inside the loop of course).

I believe USATF Club XC Nationals, which allows individual runners, will take place on the same course on the next day, so you may want to consider running that. From what I can tell, at least in the older age groups you don't have to be one of the best in the country, just locally good (say 80% age graded) to participate without embarrassing yourself. Seems like it would be fun to run on the same course as the world's best, but I imagine that standing up for several hours the day before watching the pros might trash my legs.

I've run of course many times, and my daughter has completed at States each of the last two years (and hopefully the next two, also!). As noted above, it's pretty easy to get back-and-forth between the 0.5 mile mark and the 2K mark, as noted on the Loop 1 map for the 10k. It's pretty easy to navigate through the woods, but it's pretty hard to get anywhere else, particularly to the right hand side of the map, as it's all roped off during race day. You can also watch the athletes come down the hill towards the finish line, but that's where the biggest crowds tend to be, so it is hard to see.

No bleachers at all for States, I imagine the same for Worlds.

Because FL has 4 divisions, it may seem like a lot of teams are there, but I can assure you it is competitive to qualify for the state meet. As is sometimes the case in cross country, the backend teams may not be terribly strong, but Florida has, like many states, a cut throat system, show up and put up at your regional meet, or go home disappointed. In fact, with more than 2000 high schools in Florida, and only 32 making it in each division, that comes out to approximately the top 7% of high school teams qualifying; Not exactly 'every team that exists in Florida'.

It's unlikely that there will be bleachers for the spectators. Spectators usually stand but I don't think that folding chairs are prohibited.

They have talked about adding a bridge to the course for the runners to run over, like a mini hill. I don't think that there will be a bridge for the spectators.

The hill on the course is real, not a 'florida hill'. Other than the last loop when you cut it short to head to the finish, the hill takes at least 90 seconds to climb for a high schooler, maybe longer. I've done hill repeats, its no joke, with a pretty steep part in the middle.

Raced there a couple of times. There are few places to put any type of seating. Maybe near the starting line?

There is a large video board just past finish area, with cameras around the course, so very few “blind” spots, Even scoring throughout via timing mats around course.

Have they released any of the top names in the field yet? It's only a 4 hour drive for me, so I was planning to go watch it as well.

At the very least, I think you'll be able to see some of the best runners in the world pre and post race. Are the Brojos and Jonathan Gault going to be there?

Used to have bleacher seating across from finish/video board, but removed it a couple yrs ago. Would be a nice addition for World’s.

Can I ask in this threads… shoe thoughts on this course? Spike? Super shoe? Coming for Club Nats from So Cal..anyone have thoughts. Thanks

Florida hs xc is cut throat? That is laughable!!! New York State XC states is a joke. The largest schools with nearly all the best hs xc teams only had NINE teams race and an additional 45 individuals. There are only 4 races. Only 2 of 4 races have a representative from all 11 areas of the State. For one of those regions, it is the same school every year!!!

So, back on topic.....the Tallahassee course is amazing and worth the trip. There are multiple spots to spectate if you are willing to run a little. This is no different than a hs xc race.

I brought my two kids to the 2017 junior Olympics nationals hosted by Florida State.

Several people have described it accurately. You can cut back and forth and see two parts of the course. Those parts may be pretty crowded if Grant, Graham, Cole, Yates, Ethan, Drew, etc show up to protect the honor of their home country course.