Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK

Appalachian Outdoors in downtown State College is the venue, 8 p.m the time for the Xtreme Film Series put on by the mOUnTaiNBACK and the Nittany Valley Running Club. This month’s film is a runner’s running movie: “On the Edge” is billed as one by runners for runners that will inspire the seasoned and beginner alike. Focusing on the nation’s oldest trail race, the Dipsea, started in 1905, it stars Bruce Dern, a runner himself, and features other runners of this storied 7.1 mile race along the Pacific Coast with breathtaking scenery.

Refreshments provided, or byo. Don’t miss it.

The Xtreme Film Series will close the season with a final film on Wednesday, September 10: ‘Fire on the Track’, reputed to be the best of the films chronicling the life and career of American running legend Steve Prefontaine.

Beginning August 14, runners will have a chance to cover the whole 50 mile course of the mOUnTaiNBACK in “digestible” segments through the mOUnTaiNBACK Discovery Series. Runners will cover one or two legs each evening over 8 consecutive Thursday evenings through October 2. The groups runs will meet at specified locations and coordinate transportation to get runners back to their vehicles afterward. Runs range from 4.9 to 8.7 miles each. The first four runs start at 6 p.m., the second four at 5:30 p.m. Runners have found this a great way to experience the course again or for the first time in a noncompetitive group run, and all paces are welcome. The schedule, along with driving directions, mileage and difficulty ratings, is on the “Events” page.

The mOUnTaiNBACK: Discover it again, for the first time.

The 5th annual Beidleheimer Sidewinder 10K gives runners a chance to cover one of the most scenic segments of the course as a 10K run, but also provides unique a competitive opportunity through age and gender grading that gives female and masters runners a statistically calculated edge. This year’s race will be on Saturday morning, rather than a Sunday afternoon, which could also provide a cooler temperature. Awards to top runners and teams. Check out the Events page for details, driving directions and an entry form.

Last year’s race brought a record field of both relay teams (90) and ultra participants (81) to the mOUnTaiNBACK, a great positive for the event, but also saw record vehicle traffic on the course. To reduce the number of vehicles on the course in 2008, this year’s race will cap the number of relay teams at 75, and provide an entry fee discount to ultras who elect to forego a support vehicle. All ultra participants have access to food and drink provisions and medical supplies at the 11 aid stations, as well as the option of using drop bags. There is no cap to ultra participants. As word gets out, more and more ultras are finding the mOUnTaiNBACK a great race to check out - and return to.

The free (no admission) “Xtreme Running Film Series” hosted by Appalachian Outdoors, continues at 8 p.m. on April 9. You won’t want to miss this film, Running On the Sun. Four-time Emmy-winning director Mel Stuart follows 13 runners in the Badwater 135, who compete less against each other than against their own physical and psychological limitations. Many consider this race “the world’s toughest foot race.” Up to 90 of the world’s toughest athletes—runners, triathletes, adventure racers, and mountaineers—cover 135 miles from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in temperatures up to 130F. Here are a few details: The start is at Badwater, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280’ below sea level, the finish is at Mt. Whitney Portal at 8360′. The Badwater course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 13,000’ of cumulative vertical ascent and 4,700’ of cumulative descent. Whitney Portal is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. Competitors travel through places and landmarks including Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil’s Cornfield, Devil’s Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Keeler and Lone Pine.

Where: Appalachian Outdoors, 123 S. Allen Street, State College. Seating will be set up near the back of the store. Refreshments are provided, or bring your own. Tonight’s film lasts 102 minutes. This series is made possible by the Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK and the Nittany Valley Running Club.

Next on the schedule:

May 14 – The Long Run. A Winning Story about Going the Distance. Can an inexperienced runner be transformed into a champion for the toughest race in the world, the Comrades Marathon? 113 minutes.

June 11 – The Runner. Extreme Ultrarunner David Horton’s 2,700-mile run of the Pacific Crest Trail. 77 minutes.

July 16 – Running Brave. American Sioux Indian Billy Mills overcomes racism and takes gold in the 10,000 meters at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. 90 minutes.

The first “Tussey Teaser” run of the year (March 15) brought 30 avid runners to the mountain.

The second run of the “Tussey Teasers” series will take place this Sunday, April 13, with start at 9 a.m. The Tussey-to-Whipple 11 Miler covers Legs 1, 2 and 3 of the Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK 50 Mile Relay and Ultramarathon course. It’s a no-cost run, but water will be provided on the course, and some door prizes distributed at the end. Start is at Tussey Mountain Ski Area, finish at Whipple Dam State Park (beach parking area).

On this run, runners pre-arrange to park some vehicles (especially roomier ones) at Whipple Dam ahead of time to facilitate transportation of the group back to Tussey. If you’re able to help bring runners back, plan to drop off your vehicle at Whipple Dam (beach parking lot) by 8:10 (or no later than 8:20) and catch a ride back for the start.

This is a great run to do as a group and extend your mileage. After the first 3.2 miles of climb on Laurel Run Road, the route levels off to some nice rolling downhill and flat terrain, nearly all on soft packed gravel.

Bring a waiver form to the run, or sign one when you get there. If you can provide a vehicle for transportation, or have other questions before Friday, e-mail info@tusseymountainback.com. If you have questions Friday/Saturday that can’t wait until Sunday, call Bob at 571-2333.

The Thursday evening Discovery Run series is bringing out 30 to 40 runners each week. There are two runs left: September 6 we’ll do Leg 10, one of the toughest, and September 13 we’ll wrap up the series with Legs 11 and 12. If you haven’t taken part, it’s not too late to get a good sense of (or reaquainted with) the terrain and meet other runners while covering parts of the course in a noncompetitive setting. Note that the meeting time for the Sept. 6 run is 5:30 p.m., but the meeting time for the Sept. 13 run is 5:10 p.m., to allow time for shuttling of runners to the start of the run. You can get a complete schedule including driving directions at www.tusseymountainback.com/tips.html.

Alright, someone has asked, so this is to clarify our policy on eartunes. For everyone’s safety, personal listening devices are not permitted to be worn by runners while running on the course at any time during the race. They compromise your ability to hear a vehicle coming your way or approaching from behind you, as well as your ability to respond to native wildlife such as bears and rattlesnakes. In short, they endanger you and everyone around you. Aside from that, alertness is important when you are running on hills, turns and dirt/gravel roads that are not smooth, and even moreso when you are tired. If you are reported to be wearing a listening device while running, you can expect to be disqualified and asked to leave.

Welcome to the mOUnTaiNBACK blog. This blog is designed to provide information regarding questions runners have as well as vital announcements about the mOUnTaiNBACK. If you have questions, send them to info@tusseymountainback.com.

If you are (or think you might be) an ultramarathoner with questions about the race, let us know.

If you are a runner seeking a relay team to join, or a team captain seeking one or more runners to fill out a team, we can get the word out for you.

Welcome to the Tussey mOUTaiNBACK blog!