Description:

2024 USATF 50 Mile Road Championship

The race starts and finishes at Tussey Mountain Ski and Family Fun Center, just southeast of Boalsburg on state route 322, whose address is 301 Bear Meadows Road, Boalsburg, PA 16827. The race is easily accessed by air (University Park Airport) and interstate (I-80 and I-99). Visit the Accommodations page for suggestions on where to stay.

The ultra division event will start at 7 a.m. The relay division start will be in waves beginning at 8 a.m. Finish time: no later than 7 p.m. Because the relay start includes several waves, runners participating in the relay should plan to have the whole day available. We regret that we cannot plan the start based on personal schedules.

The 2022 race will be run in the counterclockwise direction. USATF-certified, 50-mile single-loop 82% unpaved course on fire roads through central Pennsylvania’s scenic Rothrock State Forest during peak foliage season. Ultramarathon: Support vehicle and drop bag options. Stocked, staffed aid stations available to all ultra participants are provided at predetermined locations every 2.9 to 5.6 miles along the course. Relay: The relay consists of 12 pre-determined legs of lengths varying from 2.9 to 5.6 miles. Relay teams select a specific runner rotation order, rotating to the next runner at each transition point, and maintain that order through the 12 race legs. All teams must provide ONE team vehicle to transport runners to the transition points where the batons are exchanged.

The course terrain includes uphill, level and downhill grades, with shaded and open segments and some overlook vistas. The course takes in Whipple Dam State Park, Alan Seeger Natural Area, Penn Roosevelt State Park, Colyer Lake and Bear Meadows Natural Area. Total elevation gain: 5,485 ft. See the Course Maps link or Elevation Profile link for a more detailed description and an elevation profile. See the Course and Leg Description page for a description of each of the course segments.