2014 Race Series Cup

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Written by Marty Mazur Marty Mazur

The 2014 Race Series is completed. The tallies for the Race Series Cup, which started with First Night on New Year's Eve 2013 and went and through the Nittany Valley Half-Marathon in December, are now available. Alan Effrig has won the Series again this year with 143 points. (Alan was actually the top point-getter in 2013, too, but was 'on hiatus' then due to a Series rule that does not allow winners to take the top prize in back to back years.) Tom Cali was the second point-getter with 131 points, but is on hiatus this year due to winning last year's Series.  Dan Craighead was the next highest point getter with 129 points and so takes second in this year's Cup. Third place goes to Tara Murray, who amassed 120 points. Full tallies to date are shown here. These three will receive awards at the NVRC Meeting on February 3. In addiiton, others who scored high in the Race Series will receive achievement awards, from gift certificates to NVRC logo magnets, according to the award point schedule here.

In addition to racing awards, volunteering awards are given based on accumulated volunteering points. (The volunteering awards are non-competitive based on the award point schedule.) This year we had one Gold level volunteer (Dave Eggler), two Silver level volunteers (Jaimie Wright and Mike Casper), and a Bronze level (Marty Mazur). There are other achievement awards to be given, and I'm sure the number of awards would have been greater if people bothered to report their volunteering! Full tallies to date are shown here.

Check your tallies here. If you ran or volunteered at a Series race as an NVRC member, your points should appear on the page for that race. If you spot an error, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The 2015 Series is under way. Check here for rules and here for the list of Series races. There are also numerous opportunities to earn Volunteer points: Helping out at NVRC races, at the NVRC/Centre Parks and Rec Youth Cross-Country Meets, Volunteer coaching with the Nittany Track and Field Youth Group, and donating blood at the NVRC Blood Drives, and many more. But to participate, you have to be an NVRC member to participate. Join the Club! More information on the Series is here.

Self Defense For Runners

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Written by Tara Murray Tara Murray

The Nittany Valley Running Club together with Monarch Martial Arts on Benner Pike is offering a 2-hour workshop on self defense geared toward runners on March 13 from 6-8pm. (Note this Friday is the end of Penn State's spring break.)

The workshop is open to adults and youth ages 12 and up.

Registration is $15 for NVRC members and $25 for non-members -- or join for $10 and then pay the member rate! http://nvrun.com/index.php/club/membership

Registration for the workshop is online: http://www.imathlete.com/events/SelfDefense
Don't wait because we have a 20 person limit for this workshop!

Any questions, please contact Tara Murray at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 814-880-4882.

Thursday Track Report: It's All Downhill From Here!

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Written by Bwana Bwana

February 26, 2015

I know it doesn’t seem like it, but we’re on the downward slope of winter. The long range forecast is calling for better weather pretty soon. (And you know it’s been a long, hard winter when “better” means 35 degrees with freezing rain). But for now, it’s still cold, and Judd Michael, Andy Maguire, Ron Cunfer John Wilcock, Mike Zimmerman, Mike Renz, Jeff Welsh, Rob Peterson, Alex Wouden, Rich Harter, Carole Dudukovich, Dave Lloyd, newcomer Ronnie Mack, and Marty Mazur were all that braved the trip to the track.

To ease our glide into winter, Bwana prescribed a downward ladder: 5-4-3-2 laps in lane 5. Start with 5 laps at about 5K race pace. In Lane 5, that’s about 0.7 miles, so that pace shouldn’t be too wearing. Then do each successive rep at a slightly faster lap pace than the rep before. That adds to the challenge, but it’s not so bad because we’re going "downhill". Just so we didn’t need a runaway truck lane for the 2-lapper, Bwana made the rest short: 1 lap jogging rest. The workout gives you about 2.5 miles of running at race pace and faster with short rests thrown in.

Somebody asked about Thursday Track and Spring Break. Spring Break is the week of March 8-14. We always have Thursday Track, though attendance may be light. The MSF building should be open, but we’re hoping the downward glide into spring continues and by two weeks from now, we can take it outdoors!

NVRC Winter Blood Drive Results

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Written by Mike Casper Mike Casper

Thanks to all who braved the wild winter weather, baked, volunteered, and came out to donate at yesterday’s NVRC blood drive. The drive collected 15 units, and we had two first-time donors! That and the unbeatable NVRC energy made the day enjoyable. If you weren’t able to donate at this drive, we hope to see you at the next one!

Special thanks to Bob and Kathleen Crowe for volunteering, Sarah Clements for child care and homemade treats (she took care of the Clements’ two children while Jake donated), and Jaimie Wright and Meira Minard for more delicious treats.

Winners of the prizes drawn at the drive were:

Rebecca Stewart – free entry to Arts Fest Races (5K, 10K, or 10 Mile)(7/12/15)

George Lesieutre – free entry to Crack O’ Dawn 5K (6/28/15)

Chris Menseck – free entry to Beidleheimer Sidewinder 10K (5/9/15)

Kassidy Colton – free entry to Linden Loop 5 Miler (5/3/15)

George Conrad – free entry to Allegheny Front Trail Run (20K or 50K)(7/25/15)

Kathy Moir – winter fleece or cap

Jake Clements – winter fleece or cap

It’s never too early to put the next installment of this unique drive on your calendar. The next drive will be on Thursday, Sept. 10, a few days after the 2015 Mount Nittany Marathon (Sept. 6).

Thanks for supporting the NVRC and the American Red Cross!

Weekly Hill Workout: See Saw, Run Ran

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Written by Mike Renz Mike Renz

February 24, 2015

It was a brisk 1 degree temperature with a real feel of wtf-are-we-thinking as CJ Wagner, and Mikes Martin, Zimmerman and Renz decided to put their lungs to the test with a see-saw hill workout of the Sunset Park bike path and Curtin Rd hills. Renz had the definite early advantage with his seemingly endless supply of hot air contained within, but was quickly outrun by not-so-seemingly-injured Zimmerman as he effortlessly passed him on the second hill, and progressed further and further away up each subsequent hill.

5 total hills were seen and sawed. The chilled four-pack teeter tottered their way uphill while merrily chatting during the down-swings about pleasantries past and unpleasantries present. CJ decided enough was enough after 4 hill repeats and set off to put on some more flatlandish miles. The three mikesketeers decided to mark one more climb in the record books for the day before running off towards the already setting sun, attempting to get back indoors to warm up and prepare to fend off any more school delays or cancellations.

Join the 2015 Marathoners for Medicine Team

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Written by Martin Mazur Martin Mazur

The Centre Volunteers in Medicine Marathoners for Medicine Challenge Team is looking for runners who are competing in a SPRING MARATHON or HALF-MARATHON to join our team. Raise money to help your friends and neighbors without health insurance receive affordable medical and dental care.

Combine your love of running with an opportunity to make a difference to the individuals who receive care at CVIM, their families, their friends, their employers, their communities and all the people they touch in their lives.

For more information or to join the team, contact Jaimie Wright at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Note: The CVIM Marathoners for Medicine team will hold its Media Day on March 2 at 5:30 at Rec Hall. Please come if you are on the team or interested in joining the team.