Thursday Track: Track Schedule For The Summer

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Written by Bwana Bwana

June 1, 2017

We’ve been having trouble lately using the PSU tracks. The outdoor track seems to be open intermittently, but not reliably. And there have been events at the indoor track the last couple of weeks. On June 1, the outdoor track will be hosting the opening of the Pennsylvania Special Olympics. If it’s like most years, we should be good to use the track as the opening ceremony is later, but athletes are arriving as we do our workout.

Future weeks: For June 8, we’ll try the outdoor track and if it is closed, we'll use the MSF indoor track. After that, if the PSU outdoor track is still not open to use, State High will be on summer break and we’ll use the State High track as we did last year. Hopefully, there will be some decision on access to the PSU outdoor track before State High begins the next academic year.

You can run with the group from Rec Hall (about a mile-and-a-half warm-up). They leave around 12:10. Or meet at the track for the workout at about 12:25.

NVRC Fall Blood Drive: Sign Up Now!

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Written by Mike Casper Mike Casper

Online signup is now open for the Nittany Valley Running Club’s Fall Blood Drive on Thursday, September 7. Your participation can help save a life. You can schedule the time of your donation in just a minute or two. Hours are from 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the gym of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, in downtown State College. The online appointment calendar is here, where you can click the arrow to choose your time. Walk-in donors are also welcome! Power donations (double-red) will also be possible at this drive. Please feel free to share this with family, friends and co-workers.  

You can also use RapidPass to do the Q&A part on the morning before your visit: http://www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass 

If you like treats, incentives, entertainment, we’ve got ’em:

TREATS: Homemade cookies. This supplements the other snacks and beverages at the post-donation canteen.

INCENTIVES: Every presenting donor will have a chance to win a random drawing prize, such as a free race entry for the Nittany Vally Half Marathon, Resolution 5K, $50 individual or relay team discount for the Tussey Mountainback, or useful running gear.

RUNNING FILMS: We’ll screen them to get you charged up for the fall and winter and racing season!

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Here are several ways you can help make this drive successful: 

• Volunteer for an hour or more (no experience needed)
• Make a treat for the post-donation canteen
• Donate blood yourself• invite your family and friends to donate

For useful tips to keep in mind before your donation, visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/tips-successful-donation.

2017 Race Series Cup

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Written by Marty Mazur Marty Mazur

The 2017 Race Series is well underway. So far we've had 5 races in the Series with another one (the Beidleheimer Sidewinder 10K) coming soon. Tallies are available right now for the first two races, First Night and the Indoor Mile Series. More will be added as we catch up.

Check your tallies here. If you spot an error, please contact Bob Shafer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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.

Minutes of the June 6th 2017 Meeting of the NVRC

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Written by Erika Christiansen Erika Christiansen

Board Meeting

Club officers present: Bob Shafer (president); Dave Eggler (treasurer), Marty Mazur (communications director), Marty Klanchar (membership director), Erika Christiansen (secretary / archivist). Other present: Jake and Sarah Clements, Cheryl Keller Capone and Dean Capone.

The officers discussed with Jake Clements the final approval from the University Police on the Arts Festival Race Course. Dave Eggler suggested that Penn Dot will need to be aware of the course and mentioned the contact at Penn Dot. Currently there are 18 registered for the 10 miler.

The officers continued to discuss the access to the Penn State Outdoor Track and don’t have a resolution.

The officers approved the Sponorship Grant request for the NT&F youth club and the donation to The TUSSEY mOUnTaiNBACK relay and ultramarathon.

Read more: Minutes of the June 6th 2017 Meeting of the NVRC

Thursday Track Report: Star-Crossed Track Lovers

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Written by Bwana Bwana

July 20, 2017

Ushered in by "Arts Fest Weather”, dog days of summer are here, and we’ve got some Sirius heat and humidity. It was hotter than the surface of Betelgeuse as Tom Cali, CJ Wagner, Tara Murray, Mike Casper, Jaimie Wright, Mike Zimmerman, John Wilcock, Mark Lee, Michael Goldfine, Bob Shafer, Mike Martin, Dan Coughlin, Seth Senior, Logan Midill, Rich Harter, Adam Ilgen, David Lloyd, and Marty Mazur headed for the track. Bwana had gotten there early and found only Lloyd, Ilgen, and Harter. Then a woman showed up at the track whom Bwana didn’t recognize from 100 yards away, until, that is, she started running. It was the familiar gate of Tara Murray. Long time no see! Greeting Bwana, she said, “Do I get a gold star just for showing up?” Well, coming all the way in from Bellefonte on the hottest day of the year so far deserves some kind of accolade! And Tara had just gotten back from Phoenix, where she’d been running in the desert heat, albeit before sun up and on flat terrain. The next thing Bwana knew, the rest of the Crew was making the turnstile whirr. That included John Wilcock, visiting all the way from North Carolina, where it may be hotter than here, but it’s a whole lot flatter, at least where he’s located. Yet JW plans to run in Rothrock this weekend!

Bwana didn’t want anyone to be seeing stars on a day like today, so he gave a workout of all short stuff: 8X200, and 12 if you wanted a platinum star (though Adam insisted on doing a roll-yer-own thing of multiple 800s!). The Crew got through the workout safely. No hurling. No ECNALUBMA’s.

This Crew must really love track, and all the star-crossed lovers can paste a gold star on the calendar on their refrigerators, not just for showing up, but for not dogging it!

Nittany Track and Field Youth Club Announces Fall 2017 Program

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Written by Martin Mazur Martin Mazur

Nittany Track and Field (NTF) youth club starts its summer track season the first week of May and invites youth athletes from 7 to 18 years old to join. We create training opportunities in track and field events for both beginners and experienced athletes. Whether the kids have competitive goals or simply want to work on technique, strength, endurance, or just learn new things, NTF is a great place to spend some time during the summer. Practice starts May 2nd at the State College High School Track. The season will go through July 21st. Practices are scheduled from 6:15 to 7:45 pm Monday through Thursday each week! . Registration is open - here is the link to our Registration page with both paper and online forms.

We have a great group of coaches coming back to work with kids this summer, and we plan a lot of different activities and events this season. Again this year, NTF Club will host the USATF-sanctioned Central Pennsylvania Youth Track Meet on June 3rd, which will provide a great competitive opportunity for all our athletes.

The orientation meeting for the summer season will be on April 30th (Sunday evening) at 6.30 pm at the High School Track. Please feel free to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions and also spread the word to anyone who you think may be interested.

For more information about the NTF club, practice schedule, meets, and other details, please visit our website www.ntfxc.com.