Articles by Mike Casper

Tumbling Records at Tussey Mountainback

Late October meant dark skies at the start of the 24th Tussey Mountainback 50-miler in central Pennsylvania’s Rothrock State Forest. The event’s 50k option was introduced last year, which incorporates a rocky stretch into an otherwise unpaved but non-technical single loop on fire roads, with bursts of fall colors covering the wonderland terrain.

Young and Old Converge at Tussey Mountainback

Wacky weather greeted runners on race day with light rain dampening the early miles on this 50-mile loop. Made up of mostly of unpaved fire roads in central Pennsylvania’s Rothrock State Forest, the course received a few rays of sunlight after the rain subsided in the afternoon.

Tussey Mountainback Perseveres

Five waves of runners dispatched from the start under cool air as the skies lightened. This year’s race took runners in the original counterclockwise direction on 82% unpaved fire roads with just over a mile of elevation gain in central Pennsylvania’s Rothrock State Forest.

Tussey Mountainback

Put a gaggle of enthused runners at the starting line of a forest ultramarathon, and it’s almost a sure thing that there’ll be serious adventures, good conversations and a few surprises. That’s what happened at the 2016...

Tussey Mountainback

Pre-race rain is almost a staple at Tussey. A light drizzle brushed away the dark in the final minutes before the start and low clouds over the gold and red foliage created a misty venue. Then, like the dawn, a new histo...

The Allegheny Front Trail Run

In central Pennsylvania’s Moshannon State Forest, temperatures eased into the upper 50s as runners lined up at Mid-State Regional Airport for the fourth annual Allegheny Front Trail Run 50K. This year’s race featured a t...

Tussey Mountainback

Temperatures were stretching to reach 40 degrees and the wind blew a misty rain around in the darkness as nearby mountainsides of gold, red and orange waited to announce themselves. Runners toed the line, and two distinc...