Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK

It ain’t quite spring yet, but the 2009 Tussey Teasers await anyone itching to get back to - or discover - some superb running venues in Rothrock State Forest. Four of the five Teaser runs are free; the other one is age- and gender-graded (WAVA style) to level the playing field. Details on our “Events” page. Here is the schedule. Runners completing all 5 Teasers are eligible for a grand “door prize.”

March 14: Tussey Teaser #1: Laurel Run Switchbacker 10K. 10 AM. Out and back on Leg #1 of the Tussey Mountainback 50 course. Free.

April 11: Tussey Teaser #2: Tussey to Whipple 11 Miler. 9 AM. Legs 1, 2 and 3 of the Tussey Mountainback 50 course. Free.

May 9: Tussey Teaser #3: Beidleheimer Sidewinder 10K. 10 AM. Leg 4 (in reverse) of the Tussey Mountainback 50 course. Registration, individual and team age- and gender-graded awards.

June 6: Tussey Teaser #4: Treaster Kettle Test-Your-Mettle 10.6 Miler. 8:30 AM. Out and back on Leg #10 of the Tussey Mountainback 50 course. TKTYM shirts available. Free.

June 28: Tussey Teaser #5: Bear Meadows Made-in-the-Shade, 7 or 10.6 Miler. 8:30 AM. Two single loops with the same start and finish at Bear Meadows Natural Area. Run 7.0 or 10.6 miles, you choose the distance. Free.

More than a challenging run took place at the Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK 50 Mile Relay and Ultramarathon, host of the American 50 Mile Championships in October in central Pennsylvania’s Rothrock State Forest. The event also raised $5,000 for a State College based nonprofit organization, Centre Volunteers in Medicine.

Race director Mike Casper presented a check to CVIM representatives tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the bimonthly meeting of the Nittany Valley Running Club. Top individual and team fundraisers were also recognized. Top individual fundraisers/donors were George Etzweiler and Pamela Scott. Top team fundraisers were AE Ladies and Thor Legth.

Centre Volunteers in Medicine serves the health and wellness needs of qualifying medically uninsured Centre County residents and their families. “We are thrilled at the enthusiastic support shown by participants of the Mountainback race,” said Executive Director Kristen Houser. “CVIM depends on support from community organizations and events such as the Mountainback to provide medical and dental care to our uninsured neighbors in Centre County.” A number of the agency’s staff, volunteers and board members volunteered or took part in the event.

Sponsors of the 2008 race included the Central Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors Bureau, Steve Bodner and Tom Cali of RE/MAX Centre Realty, Anthony G. DeBoef Esq., Appalachian Outdoors, The Bicycle Shop, The Hartman Agency, McClarren Financial Advisors, Nittany Valley Running Club, The North Face, The Resident Experts, Restek Corporation, The Sign Stop, and Tussey Mountain Family Fun Center.