Weekend Group Runs

The Nittany Valley Running Club has been holding Saturday morning group runs since the middle of July 2003. Lately, we've been getting several options every weekend, and we even have a Sunday option fairly regularly. As we make our way through winter, the long distance crowd likes to get some training runs in to prepare for Boston. Keep an eye on the Group Runs page on the NVRC web site (http://www.nvrun.com/groupruns.html), or join the Yahoo! Discussion Group NVRC to get the current week’s run plan.

Though the weekend group runs attract a wide range of ability, they are not meant for novices. The group usually covers 6-12 miles at a 8-10 minute/mile pace, depending on the route, the conditions, and who comes. There is usually an option to go shorter, which some runners take, and an option for those who want a longer training run. The whole group is usually together for at least a few miles.

If you are a beginner, or are not up to the distance or pace of the weekend group runs, check out the new NVRC Beginners Runs. And the Bellefonte Road Raiders also have frequent weekend group runs.
We are looking for an organizer for each of the Saturdays into the really cold days of winter. All it requires is for you to let us know, show up at Rec Hall on the appointed date, and choose a route. Email Marty Mazur at mxm14@psu.edu if you can help! Here's the schedule so far:

Group Run Schedule - Can You Organize One Of The Open Dates?

August 9                             --  Sunny Side Up “Greet the Dawn” Run / Mountain Goat Duathlon / YANGLE
August 10                           --  Rosie Ruiz Radio Home! / Escape To Paradise /  Rothrock Trail Run With Otto's Chaser
August 16                           --  Open
August 17                           --  Open
August 23                           --  Open
August 24                           --  Open
August 30                           --  Open
August 31                           --  Open

This Weekend's Runs

We'll probably have a few, so check back:

Saturday, August 9: Sunny Side Up “Greet the Dawn” Run / Mountain Goat Duathlon / Yet Another Game Lands Excursion

(1) This run is at 5 AM. Runners meet at Tussey Ski Area at 5 a.m. for an 11.8-mile run including a “greet the dawn” pause at a favorite vista on Wampler Road. This is an out and back run on legs 12 and 11 of the Mountainback course, and a farewell long run for Meghan Mason, who’ll be headed for Minnesota very soon. There will be water at Bear Meadows (miles 4.2 and 8.2). Afterward runners will meet at the downtown Waffle Shop for a sit-down version of Sunny Side Up! Those sleeping in may join us for breakfast, but prepare to be roasted. Questions, call Mike Casper at 238-5918 or e-mail mcc4@psu.edu.

(2) Andrew Webb has spent the last couple of months in flat, soggy Holland and has been doing nothing but running in the mountains since he got back. If you'd like to do about 15 mountain miles in Rothrock, meet Andrew at the Whipple Dam State Park parking lot at 8 AM. The plan is to start at Whipple State Dam, go up Leg 4 of the mOUnTaiNBACK to Greenlea Road, up across Bear Mountain and down Laurel Run Road. Since Andrew misses the soggy part of Holland, there'll be an optional swim at the end as well!

(3) Marty Mazur will lead Yet Another Game Lands Excursion. If you want to do about 7-10 miles of easy trail running, meet him at 8:30 AM at the Patton Woods parking lot off the north-south running section of Circleville Road. The lot is about a quarter-mile south of Circleville Park.

Sunday, August 10: Rosie Ruiz Radio Home! / Escape To Paradise / Rothrock Trail Run With Otto's Chaser

(4) Brett Michaud will lead a group on the Rosie Ruiz Run in Rothrock. He'll do something that Rosie would never do. He's adding on the out-and-back to the radio towers from the crest of Laurel Run Rd. That adds a little more than a mile to the uphill and the same to the downhill, making the whole run about 15 miles. If you want to join Brett, meet him at the Tussey Mountain Ski Area parking lot at 7 AM.

(5) Denise Weaver is planning a nice, easy, 7-8 mile run along Spring Creek in Bellefonte. Meet her at 8 AM at the Bellefonte CVS parking lot. The group will run to the Fish and Boat Commission building at Fisherman's Paradise and back. Some of the group will be running Saturday's sunrise run, so they'll be running this one at a very easy pace.

(6) Joel Niemann is planning on running on the trails in Rothrock on Sunday morning. The length all depends on what people want to do. Joel is aiming for about 12 miles.  Meet Joel at 9:30 AM at the trail-head parking lot... not the Tussey parking lot... go another few hundred yards and turn left into the gravel parking lot (if you cross a bridge, you went too far). There's more shade there than the Tussey lot.  The one trail he plans to take is a little steep and moderately technical (rocky) at times.  Then he'll follow a trail along a ridge through the section of forest that got scorched by the May 2006 forest fire.  He'll probably end up near the Bear Meadows shrine, where Sinking Creek begins. From there who knows, but there are ways to make it as short as 9 miles (or less if you just want to turn around at some point), and ways to make it as long as you want, and ways to include more fire roads if you want.  Joel is not a fast runner, and the pace will be even slower given the steep, and rocky terrain.  Plus, there are plenty of scenic views that will be great to take in from time to time. Note: Joel won't be traveling on the trail through the burnt section of woods if there are high winds, as suggested by the warning signs posted all over that area.  Not worth the risk.  Also, he might have to alter our path if it's rainy and we decide to stay clear of the slippery wet rocks. Joel plans to be thirsty after the run. The group can join him at Otto's afterward for some food and a pint.

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