The beginnings of the Flatlanders’ Challenge can be traced back to the 1970s when a group of runners from Brooksville competed regularly in races throughout the state.  Eventually their group grew until they decided to form their own local running club under the direction of Radiologist Dr. Jim Cuffe.  Since the club held its meetings at the Red Mule Pub in Brooksville, they decided to name it the Red Mule Runners Club.

For the club to be sanctioned by the Road Runners Club of America, it had to sponsor a race in the area.  Dr. Cuffe first envisioned the eventual Brooksville race course while running on a flat beach course in St. Petersburg.  As he heard the runners complain every time there was the slightest incline, he thought of the hilly roads he usually ran in Brooksville.  The Brooksville runners loved the idea of having a race complete with hills, and Weiland Rogers (although Norm Pingley still contends it was his idea) suggested calling it the “Flatlanders Challenge” thinking that the hills would be quite a challenge to those runners used to running on the flat land of Florida.
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Once the race plans were put in place, it was necessary to find sponsors which proved to be quite a feat.  Finally, due to the involvement of his family, Clarence Eppley persuaded First Federal Savings to be the title sponsor.  Thus the first race was called the “First Federal Flatlanders Challenge,” and was held in December 1978 in conjunction with the annual Brooksville Christmas parade.  Despite being a frigid 28 degrees and having to compete with the parade, the first Flatlanders Challenge was a success.

 FLC
Almost 30 years later, the Flatlanders Challenge continues to be a success.  Throughout the years hundreds of runners have been challenged by the hills of Brooksville including international and Olympic running celebrities such as Bill Rogers and Frank Shorter.  The race continues to thrive and is now being run by the second generation of Red Mule Runners.  For the third year the race directors will be Jay Pingley and Addison Sullivan, who are the son and son-in-law respectively of original Red Mule Runners Norm Pingley and Ernie Chatman.  With the 30th running two years in the making, 2011 should prove to be the best Flatlanders ever!