Welcome to the 26th Annual Tussey Mountainback. This event combines varied terrain in a unique natural setting for an unforgettable solo or team run. The race has become a favorite event of the year for both recreational and competitive runners. What follows is essential information you will need to complete this race safely and in accordance with event guidelines and land use regulations. PLEASE READ IT COMPLETELY. Lack of knowledge of the course and the required racing procedures for this event can result in injury to yourself, to others, or race disqualification. Have a fun race!

Violations of the following rules will result in you or your team being disqualified and unrecognized at the Finish.

1. No Bicycles.

No bicycles are allowed to accompany runners on the race course. Runners or crews found riding the course are assumed to be accompanying runners and in such cases the team or runner will be disqualified.

2. No Listening Devices.

Wearing of ANY listening devices while running is strictly prohibited for safety reasons. Runners reported doing so will be disqualified.

3. Relay Runner Rotation and Dropouts.

By or before the registration deadline, relay teams submit an absolute rotation order that must be continued in the same order when the rotation repeats. You may not shuffle the order of rotation after each runner has completed their first leg. No alternates may be used once your team has started. No runner may drop out of the race solely for the purpose of substituting a faster runner in their place. If a runner is forced out due to injury, they may not be reinstated into the team lineup. The team must finish with the remaining runners rotating in their current order.

Race officials will be monitoring the team rotation, and violations will result in team disqualification. Race officials may also ask for injury or dropout reports.

4. Navigation.

The courses are marked, including all turns and mile markers, and course maps are provided at check-in. Runners and teams are responsible for ensuring that their runners are familiar with the route of the course they will be running. If a wrong turn is made, the runner must return to the course on foot to the point on the course where the error occurred and resume the race. Deviations or short cuts will result in disqualification.

There are no trails on the course.

5. Vehicle Support.

Each team or ultrarunner must have only one support vehicle. Mega teams must have a van. No vehicles 6’6” or wider, or longer than 19’. No motor homes, buses or limos are allowed on the course by any team or team support. If you have doubts about the legality of your vehicle, you must have it checked at the start by a Race Official. As mentioned above, vehicles must not lead, pace, or follow runners on the course.

6. Public Nuisance Rule.

Runners who are reported to have littered, urinated, or defecated on public or private property will be disqualified and may be banned from future events.

Please use your judgment and be considerate of property owners along the course.

Restrooms, garbage containers, and portable toilets are available at several transition locations as well as at the Start and Finish area. A map describing their location is available on the website. Please plan accordingly. Problems with protection of the environment and private property along the course could jeopardize the future of this event.

The following guidelines have been developed in order to preserve the integrity of the Rothrock State Forest lands and the safety and welfare of all participants and spectators. All participants must adhere to these guidelines, the race Rules and Regulations, and DCNR rules and regulations. Participants must agree to these guidelines, rules and regulations and sign a waiver before starting the race. Deviations may result in disqualification from the race, fines, or other penalties.

• RUN ON THE LEFT; DRIVE ON THE RIGHT. The course is open to the public. Vehicle traffic flow cannot be anticipated, so runners and drivers must exercise caution at all times. If a runner deems it necessary to switch to the right side of the road for safety reasons, immediately following the safety concern the runner must return to the left-hand side of the road.

• WAVE START. At the beginning of the race, before each starting wave of runners, the wave’s corresponding support vehicles will be dispatched to begin advancing toward the first aid station. When driving the course, drivers must exercise extreme vigilance at all times for runners on the road. Maintain a safe lateral distance between your vehicle and runners at all times, and between your vehicle and other team vehicles.

• KEEP ON THE ROAD. Vehicles navigating the course must stay on the roadway at all times between transition zones. Support vehicles must travel nonstop, safely but efficiently from one transition zone to the next. DO NOT CRUISE beside runners or stop along the course. Trust us, they don’t want either your exhaust or the dust.

• SLOW DOWN. The speed limit in the State Forest is 25 MPH. When around runners, keep it below 10 MPH to reduce the dust.

• AID STATION PARKING. At aid stations, follow direction from race officials. Vehicles MUST park only on the designated road edge or parking lot. Relay vehicles may drop off their runner near the TZ before pulling forward to park. At road-edge transition zones, pull past the transition zone area and always pull as far forward as possible to make room for other vehicles to park behind yours. Subsequent vehicles should park as close as possible to the vehicle in front of them while allowing sufficient room to pull out.

• AID STATION CHECK IN. Upon arrival at each transition zone, a team representative or vehicle driver must check in with the transition zone official to identify the team name, the runner who will be covering the next leg. While parked at transition zones, non-running team members may walk forward or back of the actual zone to cheer runners on, but should stay as far off the road as possible. Relay runners preparing to begin the next leg should be at the transition zone, positioned to receive the baton well before the arrival of the runner completing the previous leg. Handoff MUST be made within the transition zone.

• SLOW DOWN. When departing from a transition zone, start slowly to avoid disturbing the roadside or roadway elements. Be aware that runners may be arriving behind you as you are leaving, and may also be just ahead of you.

• SPECTATORS. Race spectators are welcome. Because of the number of runners, cars, and public forest users, spectators should view the race from designated spectator zones only. These are: Whipple Dam State Park (transition zone #3), Alan Seeger Picnic Area (TZ #5), Penn Roosevelt State Park (TZ #6), Colyer Lake parking lot (TZ #9) and the Start/Finish area. Spectators must stand clear of the transition zones and aid stations at all times to allow runners and vehicles unimpeded access.

• CARPOOL TO THE RACE SITE. Conserve our limited parking space and save on gas. Coordinate with your crew or team to ride in a single vehicle to the event.

• CAR TROUBLE. Fill your gas tank before race day. Fifty miles of slow driving will use more fuel than you think. Make sure you know how to change your tire. In the event your vehicle breaks down for any reason, move the vehicle as far off the road as possible. Flag down the next support vehicle and let them know to inform the official in the next transition zone. The official will contact race authorities at the Start/Finish. For safety reasons, there is no provision of replacement vehicles in the event of breakdown; vehicle breakdown may result in the inability to complete the race.

• INJURY OR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. Medical personnel will be on site to monitor runner safety and provide support where indicated. Experienced EMS personnel and Wilderness First Responders will be on hand for the duration of the race. In the event a participant sustains an injury that requires medical attention, two courses of action could result: For Relay Teams: The runner (or person assisting) should flag down the next support vehicle and ask to be transported to the next transition zone to meet the support vehicle. At the point where the relay runner is picked up, the runner should leave the baton on the left side of the road, off the roadway. The injured runner or the runner’s team must then inform the transition zone official of the details. The official will contact race authorities at the Finish as needed. If the team wishes to continue the race, the team vehicle must retrace the course to the point where the runner left the baton, at which point the next runner in the rotation takes up the baton and completes the leg, and the support vehicle returns to the transition zone. The team would then rotate to the next runner at that transition zone. For Solo Runners: Flag down the next support vehicle and ask to be transported to the next aid station. Inform the transition zone official of the details. The official will contact medical personnel and race authorities at the Finish as needed. DO NOT leave the course without first informing race officials.

• FOOD AND WATER. Hydration is available for any participants at each aid station. Relay teams can receive a food ration at check-in. Food items at Ultra Feed Zones on the course are for ultra participants only. Medical supplies at these stations may be accessed by anyone in need. For ultra participants, the Mountainback will provide delivery of drop bags for 50M runners to aid stations 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, & 11; for 50K runners, stations 1, 3, 11, 50K, & 1 (return). Relay teams are expected to provide sufficient food and liquids to sustain their team through completion of the course. Food and refreshments will be provided at the Finish.

• REST ROOMS. Facilities – including extras provided by the race – are available at the Start/Finish area and at all aid stations.