Ultra Support

Aid Stations
Course Map
Cutoff Times
Drop Bags
Entrants List
Food, Drink & First Aid
Merchandise Expo
Pre-Race Check-In and Packet Pick-Up
Pre-Race Dinner
Race Day Check-In
Support Vehicle Guidelines
Winning Times by Year

Aid stations are located at 11 preset points along the course - see map. Aid stations are designated on the map by a circled "T#" (for "transition") and on the course by ULTRA FEED ZONE signs. For a list of stocked items, see "Food, Drink and First Aid" below. All aid stations are staffed by race officials with radio communication links to emergency medical staff and the race directors.

A course map is available here. A Race Handbook containing a course map, race rules and regulations, and detailed course description will be mailed to each registered runner. A copy of the course map will also be provided to each runner on race day.

Runners have a 12-hour time window in which to finish. The race begins at 7 a.m. and the course closes at 7 p.m. Runners should have reached Transition Zone #6 (about 25 miles) by 1:00 p.m.; Transition Zone #10 (about 36 miles) by 3:45 p.m.; and Transition Zone #10 (about 42 miles) by 5:05 p.m. Runners arriving at these points after these times will be required to stop their run at that point.

Runners have the option of using drop bags for support, which will be delivered by race staff in advance to a maximum of SIX ULTRA FEED ZONES. Prepare your drop bags carefully: For each bag, clearly and legibly print your name and the Transition Zone number (NOT your bib number). Drop bags are permitted at the following Zones: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10/11. (See map.)

An Entrants List will be posted and updated beginning in July, and after registration closes September 8.

The following items will be available at every aid station/ULTRA FEED ZONE: Food: Pretzels, M&Ms, potato chips, dried fruit and nut mix, PB&J sandwiches, baked potato cubes, salt, cookies; Drinks: Gatorade (original flavor, premixed at 50-50), spring water, de-fizzed Coke; First Aid: Band-aids and tape, aspirin, Tylenol and/or Advil, Rolaids, Vaseline.

An expo of mOUnTaiNBACK and other fitness manufacturers gear will be set up on Friday, September 21 at the packet pickup from 5:30-7:30 p.m. See Pre-Race Check-In below for directions.

If you are traveling from outside the local area, we suggest you plan to arrive by Friday, Sept. 21 so you can have time to relax, pick up your race packet, review the initial running stages of the course and plan any last minute strategies. Ultra participants can pick up race packets between 5:30-7:30 p.m. the evening before the race at The Autoport, which is located at 1405 S. Atherton Street (business route 322) in State College, about 5 miles west of SR322 & Bear Meadows Road, where the race starts and finishes. There will also be a small merchandise expo and AYCE pre-race dinner ($10/RSVP by Sept. 17) during those hours (see dinner details below).

A Friday pre-race dinner is available to all participants and their crews: for $10 you get all-you-can-eat pasta buffet with choice of sauce (marinara, pesto or alfredo), tossed salad, roll, beverage, and dessert. You can sign up for dinner when you register, or pay separately. You may also pay at the door, but to ensure an accurate food count you will need to let us know via phone or e-mail no later than Sept. 17 if you plan to eat dinner. The dinner is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Autoport, which is located at 1405 S. Atherton Street (business route 322) in State College, about 5 miles west of SR322 & Bear Meadows Road, where the race starts and finishes.

On race day, ultra participants should check in at the Tussey Mountain Ski Area Go-Kart facility between 6:00-6:45 a.m.

Each ultra runner may have one support vehicle. Support vehicles must adhere to all applicable guidelines in the Race Handbook. No vehicles 6'6" or wider, or longer than 19'. No motor homes, buses or limos are allowed on the course. Vehicles must not follow or lead runners on the course. Ultra runners must register their support vehicles between 6:00-6:30 a.m. The driver must provide a valid driver's license at the time of vehicle registration. If other passengers will share the driving, their driver's licenses must also be presented. No one may drive on the course without a valid driver's license. Any vehicles not used during the event must be parked in the gravel parking lot across from the go-kart area and pavilion trail. Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK is not responsible for vehicles or personal belongings. Vehicles traveling anywhere on the course must travel at safe speeds for the topography and no faster than 25 mph. When driving in the vicinity of runners, vehicles must slow to 10 mph.