NOTE: PLEASE USE THIS LINK TO ACCESS THE 2022 DISCOVERY SERIES PAGE: https://www.tusseymountainback.com/events/mountainback-discovery-series/discovery-clockwise-ccw-course
The series for 2022 will use the CCW (counterclockwise) course direction.
The schedule below is not used for 2022.
MAY THE FOREST BE WITH YOU!
For runners interested in training on the Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK 50 Mile Relay and Ultramarathon course, or just some beautiful runs on rolling forest roads, this staged series of weekly runs covers the 12 segments of the course, one or two at a time. The 8-week schedule is provided below. All runs take place on Saturday mornings. There are no trails on these runs or on the 50-mile race course.
NOTE: For 2022 all the Discovery Series runs will be out and back, so there will be no shuttle vehicles. Please wear a mask when not running and plan to social distance before and after the run.
THE COURSE WILL BE RUN IN THE (ORIGINAL) COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION THIS YEAR. THE DISCOVERY RUNS WILL ALSO USE THAT DIRECTION.
DRIVING NOTES: Allow extra time for travel to each run.
Runs are on Saturday mornings. Runners meet at the Tussey Mountain Ski Lodge parking lot for the first run and at other locations as noted below. Runners will meet at the place noted at 8 AM. To avoid the need for shuttling of runners, all runs will be done as out-and-back, so you can choose the mileage you'd like to run.
Go here for a flyer on the Discovery Series. You can view a course map here or an elevation profile of each leg of the course here.
For more information, contact Mike Casper at 814-424-1314 or email info@tusseymountainback.com.
See details below (the schedule below was used in 2019 with the CW course direction)
Date |
Course |
Distance (mi) / |
Meeting |
Arrive |
Run Start |
Shuttle Drivers |
Sep 4 |
Leg 1 |
8.0 - moderate/easy |
TMSL |
8:00 |
8:00 |
Out and back on Leg 1, 4 miles each way. No shuttles needed for this run. |
Sep 11 |
Leg 2 |
5.3 - easy-moderate |
CL |
8:00 |
8:20 |
CL 8:00 - take runners to start of |
Sep 18 |
Leg 3 |
5.5 - moderate-hard |
CL |
8:00 |
8:00 |
Drop off vehicles at PRSP by |
Sep 25 |
Legs 4 & 5 |
7.2 - easy/hard |
PRSP |
8:00 |
8:00 |
Drop off vehicles at TZ#5 by |
Oct 2 |
Legs 6 & 7 |
7.8 - hard/easy |
ASNA |
8:00 |
8:20 |
ASNA 8:00 – take runners to |
Oct 9 |
Legs 8 & 9 |
9.0 - easy/moderate |
WDSP |
8:00 |
8:20 |
WDSP 8:00 – take runners to |
Oct 16 |
Legs 10 & 11 |
7.8 - easy/hard |
WDSP |
8:00 |
8:00 |
Drop off vehicles at TZ#11 by |
Oct 23 |
Leg 12 |
6.4 - moderate/easy |
TMSL |
8:00 |
8:00 |
Out and back on Leg 12, 3.2 miles each way. No shuttles needed. |
*Directions to Meeting Locations:
TMSL = Tussey Mountain Ski Lodge – park in second (far) parking lot on left.
WDSP = Whipple Dam State Park parking lot – access via SR 26 south; after turning in the park driveway, take the first right.
ASNA = Alan Seeger Natural Area parking lot - access via US-322 east; turn right onto Bear Meadows Rd for 9.2 miles, left on Stone Creek Rd, immediate left into parking lot; OR access via SR-26 south; turn left onto Miller Rd, becomes Slate Hill Rd, becomes (left?) Alan Seeger Rd, becomes Stone Creek Rd (5.9 miles); left into parking lot just past Bear Meadows Rd. NOTE: There is bridge work in progress on Alan Seeger Road WEST of the intersection with Bear Meadows Road. This is scheduled to be completed before race day.
PRSP = Penn Roosevelt State Park - access via SR 322 east, through Potters Mills, turn right onto Crowfield Rd. (at start of 4 lane) and travel 5.8 miles to the park (veer left at Crowfield & Boal Gap intersection).
CL = Colyer Lake - access via SR 322 east, turn right onto Taylor Hill Road (shortly after Shaner ball fields), right onto Church Hill Road, right on Bubb, right on Lake Road, follow to parking lot on right (park in back of lot).