NVRC Fall Blood Drive Is September 13

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Written by Martin Mazur Martin Mazur

The Nittany Valley Running Club’s Fall Blood Drive is on Thursday, September 13 and has a running theme. You can participate by donating blood, volunteering, bringing baked goodies or just come to watch a running movie. Hours are 11:30am-5pm at the State College Presbyterian Church Social Hall, 132 W. Beaver Ave., in downtown State College. Note this is a NEW LOCATION for the NVRC drives, with easy parking. All presenting donors have a chance to win a free race entry or running gear. You can make your appointment online at http://www.redcrossblood.org/give/drive/driveSearchList.jsp?zipSponsor=nvrc, just click the arrow to choose your time. Power red donations are possible at this drive. You can use RapidPass to do the Q&A part in advance on the morning before your visit: http://www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass. Non-runners are welcome, walk-in donors too. For eligibility info, visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html

Nittany Track and Field Kicking Off 2018 Track Season

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Written by Mark Fedkin Mark Fedkin

The Nittany Track and Field youth club is kicking off its 2018 track season in a week - on April 30th. 

The club is open to any youth athletes in the age range from 7 to 18, and its main mission is to create environment for the kids to be introduced to the track and field as a sport, learn new skills, and train to achieve their athletic goals. The program is suitable for both experienced athletes and beginners.

Events practiced include: sprints, distance, hurdles, jumps (long, high, triple), and throws (shot, discus, javelin). The practices will be held from 6:15 to 7:45 pm Monday through Thursday at the State College High School track until June 15th. Additional practices will be organized at other venues. The lead coaches for the summer program are Mark Fedkin, Josh Litofsky, Andrew Maguire, Matt Lindenberg, Wyatt Kline, and Jayson Jackson.

If you have children or friends who are interested to join our track team this summer, be sure to sign up soon! Here is the link to the registration page: http://www.ntfxc.com/registration.html (both online and mailed registrations are available). We are also looking for volunteers and support coaches for various groups and events, so if you have any interest to be involved, please email Mark Fedkin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The NTF will hold an informational meeting (including Q&A and uniforms try-ons) at Park Forest Middle School Cafeteria this coming Thursday (4/26) at 7 pm. 

For more information about NTF club and our summer and fall programs, please visit our website www.ntfxc.com or connect to our Facebook page. Also Mark Fedkin will be happy to answer any questions about the program. Email Mark at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Minutes of the June 5th 2018 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), Erika Christiansen (secretary/archivist). Others present: Jake Clements and family, Cheryl Keller Capone, Tim Scitti.

Membership Meeting:

Club officers present: Bob Shafer (president), Dave Eggler (treasurer), Marty Mazur (communications director), Erika Christiansen (secretary/archivist). Others present: Jake Clements and family, Liz Kisenwether, Dave DeGroote, David Lloyd, Rev. Carl Miller, Monica and Bil Mahoney, John Iceland, Tony Kwasnica, Cheryl Capone, Tim Scitti. Please welcome a new member, Conor Lewis.

The officers discussed the idea of a NVRC picnic / summer party! With the previous year’s attendance being low the club is trying something new. The next club meeting will be held Tuesday August 14^th(instead of August 7^th). The meeting will be held at Hi-Way Pizza Pub West on 1301 West College Avenue. The Club members are welcome to park at Hi-Way West and run a loop around the Golf Course (Blue loop, White loop or both!) before the meeting and party. This run isn’t mandatory but we thought it would be fun way to start the summer party. Participants who want to be apart of the run may bring a White Elephant gift for an awards ceremony. This gift maybe something simple as a re-gift, a bottle of Gatorade, or a race t-shirt. We will have a reservation outside at Hi-West Pizza Pubs patio. 

Please save the date for the NVRC Fun Run Summer Pizza Party Tuesday August 14^th. More details will be announced by the newly appointed Co-Chairs Marty Mazur and Cheryl Keller Capone. 

Read more: Minutes of the June 5th 2018 Meeting of the NVRC

Fitness Study Participants Needed

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Written by Martin Mazur Martin Mazur

Are you interested in learning about the optimal time and intensity to be training for maximal fitness?

If so, Dr. Jinger Gottschall has a research opportunity that may be of interest to you. To participate, you must be between 20 to 55 years of age and train over 8 hours per week (with at least 10 minutes per week at an intensity greater than 85% heart rate max).  Examples of this intensity include: interval training during swimming, cycling, running, or group fitness classes; exercises that involve jumping, squats, lunges, or burpees; team sports such as volleyball, basketball, soccer, or rugby.  The study will include collecting heart rate data during your regular training sessions during a 3-week period followed by the completion of 2 high intensity training sessions on a single day. Dr. Gottschall is the professor leading this investigation within the Kinesiology Department. The purpose of this research is to assess the relationship between time and intensity for individuals who train regularly. We will collect survey data on your current activity, feelings, and sleep. In addition, we will collect 6 saliva samples during the high intensity session day to analyze substances related to stress. Each participant will earn a Polar A370 watch and H10 chest transmitter as well as feedback on their training quality.

If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please contact Jinger Gottschall at 814.404.6639 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Required Study Dates:

Information Session and Consent (45 minutes):  

Friday, February 2 at 6:45pm or Sunday, February 4 at 1pm

Surveys, Exercise Familiarization and Heart Rate Maximum Test (90 minutes):

Saturday, February 10 at 1pm

Experimental Day_High Intensity Interval Training Sessions (2 x 120 minutes):

Sunday, February 25 from 10am-12pm and 2:30pm-4:30pm

PA Biathlon Race Report

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Written by Cheryl Keller Capone Cheryl Keller Capone

May 20, 2018

Yesterday, Tara Murray, Dean Capone, Brian Capone, and I, participated in a PA biathlon event in Nescopek, PA, which is about a 1hr 45 min drive from State College. As you know, it rained yesterday morning, and while the rain seemed to let up in State College, it continued to downpour in eastern PA the entire morning throughout the event.  

The biathlon was set up as follows:

• 1 mile run
• 25m shoot in prone (5 shots)
• 1 mile run
• 25m shoot in standing (5 shots)
• 1 mile run

The run is a 1 mile out-and-back course, mostly flat, through a corn field, and you have to take a 70m penalty lap for each shot missed before heading back out for the next mile loop.

Read more: PA Biathlon Race Report

NVRC 2018 Winter Blood Drive Is Successful

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Written by Mike Casper Mike Casper

A hearty thanks to everyone who came out to donate, invited someone to donate, or helped someone get to the Nittany Valley Running Club’s Winter Blood Drive. The NVRC’s reason for hosting blood drives is to encourage healthy, able donors to come out because in some areas of the country, it hasn’t been possible. Thanks to you, we were able to help the American Red Cross in several key ways.

• January is National Blood Donor Month, the perfect time to resolve to give more life by being a blood donor.
• Winter weather and illness can make it difficult for the American Red Cross to maintain a sufficient blood supply at this time of year. Healthy, eligible donors are urged to give at this time.
• Severe winter weather has had a tremendous impact on blood donations already this year, with more than 200 blood drives forced to cancel, causing more than 6,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.
• Donors in areas unaffected by the weather may be helping patients close to home or patients in areas where donors are unable to give because of inclement weather.

With your generosity, we collected 17 units at this drive. That translates to saving up to 51 lives – which is no small accomplishment!

Our presenting donors were treated to fresh Pizza Mia pizza, treats, movies (including the comedy “Run Fat Boy Run”) and camaraderie. Whether you were able or unable to participate in this drive, we encourage you to take a moment to put the NVRC’s Fall 2018 Blood Drive, set for Thursday, Sept. 13, on your calendar.

The presenting blood donors, volunteers, and those whose lives may be saved by those donations were the winners. Drawing prizes went to:

Nick Pagano – Beidleheimer Sidewinder 10K entry (May 5)
Grace Collins – Crack O’ Dawn 5K Run/Walk & Pancake Breakfast entry (June 16)
Emily Knell – Nittany Valley Arts Festival Races (5K-10K-10M) entry (July 15)
Jim Sellmer – Allegheny Front Trail Run (50K or 13.1M) entry (June 2)

When can you give? As often as every 56 days: If you didn’t donate on 1/18, we encourage you to donate soon at a drive that’s convenient for you. We hope to see you at the Sept. 13 NVRC drive.

Thanks for supporting the American Red Cross and the NVRC!