Christmas Eve Community Run!

It looks like we'll have higher than normal temps on Christmas Eve day.

So how about this: let's see how many people we can get out for a "community run" on Wednesday! This will be a non-competitive, just-for-fun, watch-out-for-traffic, bring-a-friend, burn-some-calories-before-gorging event.

If you have EARC gear (hat, shirt, speedsuit), put it on and show some local pride.

Here's the plan:

• Meet at 8:30 AM on December 24 at Penn Eben Park (intersection of W. High/N. Julian)
• Walk, jog, run the Turkey Trot course (do more or less if you want)
• Bring furry companions, jogging strollers, whatever.

We hope to see you out on Wednesday. Happy trails and happy holidays!!!

Turkey Trot: We're Almost Full... And Bring Non-Perishables!

If you haven't signed up for the Turkey Trot yet, register online now because we are very close to our limit. Registration will probably close by this weekend, so don't delay!

Also, if you are not running but are available on Thanksgiving morning, we could really use your help volunteering. Please see this previous post about volunteer duties, and e-mail Kate Remillard if you can lend a hand.

Finally, for everyone participating in this event, PLEASE bring non-perishable food items and/or hygiene items to the race. We will be collecting them and handing everything to Saint Francis University's Dorothy Day Center. We started the food drive in the first year of the Trot, and it has grown alongside the race ever since.

So let's keep on helping the DDC, Turkey Trotters!

Please help us fill the DDC's truck again!

Turkey Trot: We Need Volunteers!

Shirts are boring. Run the TT this year and graduate to the knit cap!

 The 5th annual Ebensburg Turkey Trot is just around the corner!

The race is a wonderful community event that includes hundreds of walkers and runners. Proceeds from the race support the Dorothy Day Center at Saint Francis University, Dauntless Fire Company, and EARC events/outreach.

If you haven't signed up, make sure to register online soon. We're already close to hitting our limit, and we have some terrific "race swag" this year (see image above).

If you aren't planning to run, but you'll be in the area, we are in need of a few good volunteers. Past races have been largely successful due to our enthusiastic volunteer corps. Generally, we need volunteers to help with:

1. Packet pick-up on Wednesday evening November 26, 2014 from 4-7pm (Dauntless Firehall).
2. Packet pick-up (Dauntless Firehall)  and course set-up on Thursday morning November 27, 2014 from 7-10am.
3. Race course safety during the 5k. This requires standing on a street corner to point runners in the correct direction and slow/stop traffic. We provide you with an orange safety vest and specific instructions. The race begins at 9am and walkers/runners are typically through the course by 10am. If you live in town, we do our best to position you at a point along the course closest to your home.

If you are willing to volunteer, please e-mail Kate Remillard. Even better, if you have friends and family willing to help, please put them in touch with Kate too!

Happy trails!

The Turkey Trot course. It's got everything: uphills, downhills, and even a flat section or two.

Student Veterans of America 5k

Looks like October 11 is going to be a busy day out at Saint Francis!

In addition to the Solar System 5k that starts at noon, they have the Student Veterans of America 5k at 9:00 AM. So early risers and later risers have options. Or you can just do both...

Details for the Veterans 5k are below, or you can find the registration form here. Proceeds will benefit homeless veterans.

Solar System 5K

Will Neil deGrasse Tyson run this one?

The Solar System 5k will be hosted by the Science Outreach Center at Saint Francis University on Saturday, October 11 at noon.

More information can be found at the race's Facebook page, as well as the registration form. 

Here is a description of the course and its cosmic design:

The course will begin on the mall in front of the Science Outreach Center. Solar 5 unifies health and natural sciences into one event. We scaled down the Solar System to five kilometers, so it is much more manageable for us to reach the boundaries of the Sun’s domain (the Solar System). We will run or walk (or stroll) from the center of the Sun to the finish line near Pluto! As we run (walk), we will learn how the Sun generates energy in its core and how we use it on Earth. We will encounter planets and their moons, cross the Asteroid and Kuiper belts, meet asteroids and comets, and learn some tips from health specialists on how to stay healthy through-out our life’s journey.

LHTA passing on a great deal to EARC

Laurel Highlands Therapeutic Academy (LHTA) has been good to EARC over the past several years and remains the house name in massage therapy in the Mainline area.     LHTA is a licensed massage therapy school that has produced hundreds of certified massage therapists over its 10+ years.   LHTA's student therapists need hours to graduate and get certified so LHTA allows them to massage the greater Ebensburg public at very favorable rate.  

Well now LHTA is reducing its rate even more for EARC members.   If you are an EARC fan on Facebook, have run any of our races or just have the standard EARC gold shirt that you wear when you run then we have the deal for you.

For the next month LHTA is taking their already very reasonable Hot Stone massage rate and reducing it to the ridiculously cheap rate of $35 for an hour massage.  

Please reserve while supplies last.

Thanks LHTA for reaching out to the running club.   We do get sore.

Click on their page here: http://www.lhtacademy.com or call 471-6871

Hollidaysburg Haul 5K

Saturday, September 20, the 11th Annual Hollidaysburg Haul 5K, followed by a free kids "fun run."

The 5k kicks off at 9:00 AM from the Diamond in Downtown Hollidaysburg (300 Block of Allegheny Street).

Registration is online, or complete the form below.

The All-Comers Track Mile

The "All-Comers Track Mile" is organized by Doug Hoover, an EARC regular and the head track/cross country coach at Saint Francis. While this is a "no-frills" event (with no entry cost), it is is a good, competitive experience for all participants. See below for details...

The Brother Shamus Shuffle

Here is a fun, non-competitive event to benefit the Dorothy Day Center at Saint Francis University. I just received word that they extended the shirt-guarantee-date to August 8. So you still have time to secure a shirt.

Here are the details...

The Brother Shamus Shuffle is a fun community event that will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2014. The event will begin at the Ghost Town Trail in Ebensburg at the Memorial Field Pavilion. Bicycle riders, runners, and walkers are all welcome to participate and will depart at 9 am, 9:15 am, and 9:30 am respectively. There is not a minimum distance to travel. The registration fee is $20 and registrants will receive a shirt, refreshments, and personal satisfaction of helping a good man and worthwhile cause. For more information about the shuffle or to register, call 814-472-3004 or 814-472-3150. To receive a shirt, please register by July 31, 2014. Download the registration form here. 

Carrolltown American Legion Riders 5k

A nice 5k up in Carrolltown on Saturday, August 23rd. The race starts at 9:00 AM, and it benefits the Wounded Warrior Project.

The registration form is below, and a PDF version is here.

Homecoming 5k and Onward New Runners!

Yet another fantastic showing by EARC and especially the Beginning Runners group at the Ebensburg Homecoming 5k! Chris Geddis of the Gingerbread Man Running Company was on hand to time the event, and you can find results at his site here. Below are some pictures taken by EARCite Stephen Baker, most of which are from the turnaround point in the race.

If you were part of the Beginning Runners group and couldn't attend on Saturday, we will have your EARC shirts at the track this Wednesday. Indeed, our Wednesday "track night" sessions will continue through the summer, and we are hopeful that our new runners will become regulars. We realize that many people find themselves in a challenging place after finishing the C25K program. With the race in the background, it is now up to you to decide what you want to do.

So what can you do now? Consider these three options:

1. Maintain. Keep doing approximately 30-minutes of jogging at least 3 times per week.  And keep running 5ks. This second step is important. Races help keep you motivated. They give you something to train for.  Each winter, I hit a point where I DO NOT want to step outside for a run. It's usually around this point when I sign up for a spring race. If I don't have something forcing me out the door or on to the treadmill (or as I call it, the "dreadmill"), then I'll pack it in. So keep an eye on this blog for upcoming 5ks, or bookmark sites like Miles of Smiles, the Runner's High, the Indiana Road Runners, the Nittany Valley Running Club, and the Hollidaysburg Area YMCA.
2. Improve your 5k. The 5k is a great distance. It's long enough for the challenge of a distance run, but short enough that you don't wreck your body. If you're at a point where you'd like to improve your 5k time, then start exploring training programs like Hal Higdon's "Intermediate" 5k program. If you scan the schedule, you'll notice that he has Wednesdays reserved for interval training. I know of a certain club that does intervals every Wednesday...
3. Go longer. How about a 10k? Or a half-marathon? Yes, if you've done the C2K5 program, you can potentially do either of these distances. And the Hollidaysburg YMCA hosts a 10k and half-marathon in October. Or maybe you'd like to travel to a race. The website Marathon Guide is the most comprehensive source that I know of for races of all distances (despite the site's name) across the nation. As for training programs, take a look at Hal Higdon's website. EARC's half-marathon training group is currently working through the "Novice 1" program. If there were enough motivated people from the C25K group, I could envision another group training for a half later in the fall.

OK, so with that, we say congratulations to our "graduated" new runners, and happy trails!

Three for Wednesday

Three things for EARC-ites as we await the Homecoming 5K in almost two weeks.   See some of you at the track tonight.  



1) Friend EARC - Gold Rush Diamonds and Boutique is having a Patagonia release party tomorrow Thursday July 17.  


Click here for info:  LINK


Now you can get your outdoor and active wear the same place you get your Vera Bradley and your jewelry!

2)  The very popular Jackson Hertiage 5K is this Saturday.   We'll probably see a lot of the same runners that will be at the Homecoming Race in two weeks.

Click here for race info:   HERE










3)  Finally, the official Polka player of EARC, Weird Al Yankovic debuted a new album this week and is releasing a new video everyday.   His parody of Royals is below:

A Road Closing, a Track Night Surprise, and a Homecoming 5k Reminder

If you are driving to track night this evening, please be aware that Schoolhouse Road from West Highland is closed. There is some construction at the bottom of the hill, and while foot-travelers and bicyclists can still go this way, motorists will want to reroute to the 422 entrance.

As always, we will begin at 6:15 PM this evening. The C25K bunch will be running for 25 minutes. The half-marathoners have 4.5 miles on tap, while the interval group will be doing their usual 2-3 miles of quality. After the workout this evening, we will have a special... surprise! But you'll have to come to the track to find out what it is.

Lastly, as a reminder to anyone who hasn't signed up for the Homecoming 5k/Duathlon, the entry form is posted below and you can find a PDF here. We have enjoyed seeing this race grow and develop over the years, and we hope that you will help to make this year even bigger and better!

Train, Don't Strain

Words of wisdom from Mark Remy at Runners World...

Track Night and a Request

For this evening's track night (6:15 at the CCHS track), the interval group will be doing their standard 2-3 miles of quality, and the half-marathoners will be running 3.5 miles. Meanwhile, Beginning Runners are in week four of the C25K program, so the workout is:

• Jog 3 minutes
• Walk 90 seconds
• Jog 5 minutes
• Walk 2-1/2 minutes
• Jog 3 minutes
• Walk 90 seconds
• Jog 5 minutes

Next, we would like to make a special request to all runners in the Ebensburg area to sign up for the "Bulldog Crawl" this Saturday in Nanty Glo. The race has a Facebook page, and you can find a PDF of the registration here.

As we mentioned before, Paul Galko is a special friend of EARC. He was part of last year's Beginning Runners group, and unexpectedly passed away in December. So we hope to see plenty of yellow shirts on Saturday to show our solidarity and support for Paul's family and friends.  

In the Event of Thunder Storms...

Yes it's track night, and no a little rain won't stop us from running. 

But if you see/hear thunder and lightning when you're getting ready to leave, consider our session this evening cancelled. 

We'll be out as usual on Saturday morning at the Memorial Field for a run on the Ghost Town Trail. The half-marathon group meets at 7:00 AM and the C25K people at 8:00 AM.  

Bakerton Firecracker Mile

Here's a terrific race, which also happens to be free! Click here for a PDF copy of the race entry.

Firecracker Frolic 5k

Here's a new one in the area, the Firecracker Frolic 5k in Summerhill. Click here for a PDF of the race info, and here for a PDF of the registration form.

National Running Day and Track Night

Here's a nice coincidence: 

National Running Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in June, is a day when runners everywhere declare their passion for running. 

Since 2009, the country's foremost running organizations have worked together to celebrate our sport with thousands of participants on the first Wednesday of June. 

We encourage runners to join in by planning a run, spreading the running bug to a friend, signing up for a race, or setting a new goal. 

It would seem that you have no choice but to come celebrate National Running Day with your favorite local running club tonight at 6:15. As always, we meet at the Central Cambria track. If it's raining, we're still running. If thunder and lightening starts, then consider our National Running Day gathering postponed.

Our Beginning Runners enter week 2/day 2 of the C25K program. On tap is a cycle of 90 seconds jogging/2 minutes walking for 20 minutes. The half-marathon group will be running 3-4 miles. And if we have folks there for a speed workout, well... they'll figure something out.

Additionally, Chris Geddis of the Gingerbread Man Running Company will be on hand for a shoe clinic. This is a great chance to learn about running shoes and to figure out what works for you.

So happy National Running Day, and we'll see you at the track!

2014 Training Groups!

Our fresh crop of Beginning Runners AND a terrific turnout for the half-marathon training group.  Thanks everyone for coming out, and we look forward to seeing you in the forthcoming weeks!

EARC on Our Town!

Just in case you missed "Our Town" on WPSU last week, the section on EARC starts at around 1:25. Many thanks to Sandy Evans for all of her hard work in putting this together!

Track Night Resumes! Wednesday, May 28, 6:15 PM

Tomorrow it all begins!

This Wednesday we will be kicking off our Beginning Runners group at 6:15 PM at the Central Cambria High School track! We will have waivers and registration forms for you to fill out when you arrive. The cost is $20, which can be paid in cash or check (made out to "Ebensburg Area Running Club").

A reminder that we are following the "Couch to 5k" plan. We encourage participants to follow this plan to their own degree. In other words, challenge yourself, but don't hurt yourself. Overall, this plan works and works well, but you have to be smart about your limits and abilities.

Also, if you have a smartphone, you can download a C25K app. This is a great way to follow the program and not strain your brain thinking of the workout for the day.

If you can't make it on Wednesday, join us on Saturday morning at the Ghost Town Trail at 8:00 AM. And if you're away on the weekend too, you can still sign up during week 2. After that, we have to get in shirt orders and such. So we will not be able to accept registrations after Saturday, June 7.

In addition to our new runners, plenty of experienced runners will also be at the track. We are starting our first ever marathon and half-marathon groups. Please click here for more details. And there will be the usual crew doing a track workout. I'm guessing that the group will decide to do something like 8-12 x 300s, with a 100m recovery jog.

None of these groups (marathon, half-marathon, speed training) have a participation fee. However, if you are interested in getting your very own EARC shirt, please find someone with a yellow shirt and we'll figure out the details.

One last note... our rain policy. If there is thunder and lightening, consider track night canceled. Otherwise, running in the rain is one of the joys of the sport. So we'll be out there.

Punxsy Dash 4 Diabetes

From the race website...

The Punxsy Dash 4 Diabetes 5K Run / 1 Mile Walk is held on the  scenic Mahoning Shadow Trail / Punxsy Rails To Trails, located in Punxsutawney, PA. Starting at the Punxsy Skate Park. Accessible via Route 36 South.  Just off ELK Street. 

For interactive driving directions with maps, click HERE

Registration is an affordable $15 before May 24, 2014. You can sign up online as an individual or as a family. Entry form is copied below, or you can download a PDF.

Saturday Runs for Beginning Runners, and a Half-Marathon and Marathon Training Group!

As mentioned in the post below, our annual Beginning Runners group starts later this month. Also worth mentioning, we will have group runs on Saturdays at 8:00 AM for our new runners. We will congregate near the Memorial Field in Ebensburg, where S. West Street intersects with the Ghost Town Trail. All runs will be on the trail. So the Beginning Runners will have two opportunities each week to run with a group! Also, for anyone who cannot attend on Wednesdays, feel free to join us on Saturdays.

Next up, I am excited to announce that two ambitious EARCites will be leading half-marathon and marathon training groups. These groups will also meet on Wednesdays at 6:15 PM at the CCHS track, as well as on Saturdays at the Ghost Town Trail. The Saturday runs, however, will begin at 7:00 AM so that the runners can beat the heat.

The half-marathon crew will be led by Stephen Baker. He will be following Hal Higdon's "Novice 1" training plan, with one slight modification. Higdon has longer runs on Sunday, but Stephen plans to do these on Saturdays. So we will shift the schedule back a day, meaning that Wednesday runs (for example) will follow Thursday's schedule. Got that? If not, or if you're interested in knowing more, e-mail Stephen or just show up on the 28th for the first group run. If you are a regular runner and you are interested in trying longer distances (10k or higher), this is a terrific option for you.

For those with their sites set on 26.2, Sandy Evans will be leading the aspiring marathoners. She is also a Hal Higdon fan, and Sandy will be following his "Intermediate 1" program (with the one-day-back shift, just like Stephen's group). Please contact her via e-mail with questions or join us at the end of the month.

Happy trails!

Beginning Runners Group 2014

It's that time of the year again, when we invite a invite aspiring runners to try the "Couch to 5k Program"!

Please see below for details. Also posted is the race flier for the Ebensburg Homecoming 5k. You can find a PDF here.

In addition to the group for new runners, we are intending to start an "intermediate" group. This will be for people who have been running consistently or are comfortable at the 5k distance and want to try a new challenge. So perhaps the Altoona 15k is a goal, or the Great Race in Pittsburgh. Or maybe you're eyeing up something longer, like the Buffalo Creek Half-Marathon.

OK, so here are the details... PLEASE share far and wide with anyone who you think might be interested.

-----------

WHAT: Training group to prepare beginning runners to complete a 5K (3.1 mile) race

WHEN: Wednesday evenings at 6:15pm, May 28, 2014-July 23, 2014

WHERE: Central Cambria High School Track

WHO: For brand new runners, recreational joggers (people who can complete 1-2 miles), and people looking to get back into shape

COST: $20.00 payable at first training session (cash or check).  Cost covers weekly training sessions, an EARC shirt, and an entry fee to the Ebensburg Homecoming 5k on July 26, 2014 (gradation race!). If you have participated in one of our previous 5k training groups, you can join us again at no cost. Or you can choose to pay the $20, which will get you a new EARC shirt and entry for the Homecoming 5k.

ETCETRA: Wear running shoes and comfortable running attire, and bring your own water bottle. Participants must complete a registration and waiver form, which will be available at the first training session. Runners under age 18 must be accompanied on all runs by an adult. All participants are responsible for their own safety.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Art and Kate Remillard, ebensburgrunners[AT]gmail[DOT]com

The Paul Galko Memorial Bulldog Crawl 5K and Walk

The EARC crew became fast friends with Paul Galko when he joined our "Couch to 5k" group last summer. And we were all devastated when we learned that he passed away unexpectedly back in December. In a fitting tribute to their friend, the Nanty Glo Fire Hall will be holding the inaugural, "Paul Galko Memorial Bulldog Crawl 5K and Walk" on Saturday, June 21, at 9:00 AM. 

Please support this event if you can. I'm sure that Paul's family and the Nanty Glo Fire Hall would appreciate it. 

The registration form is posted below and you can find a PDF online.  

Bud Shuster Run for Your Life Race

This will be the sixth year for the Bud Shuster Run for Your Life Race, hosted by the Hollidaysburg 
Area YMCA on Saturday, April 19 at 8:00 AM. In addition to the 5K run, 2 mile run, and 2 mile walk, this year will also feature a 2-person 10k relay. So grab a friend and give this one a try!

You can sign up online or mail in a brochure. Additional details can be found on their website.

The 14th Annual 5k/10k Race/Walk to Stop Violence

Here's an upcoming race put on by Family Services Incorporated in Altoona. The 5k/10 will be held on the PSU-Altoona campus.

Registration is online, and timing is courtesy of Herb Cratty and Miles of Smiles.

Here are some details from their website:

Race Information
The 5k/10k Race/Walk to Stop Violence begins at 8am on Sunday, June 1, 2014 at Penn State Altoona. The starting line is located at the Parking lot near the Chapel. Race will be held rain or shine. 

Runner’s Course
A scenic rolling hill, loop course around Penn State Altoona. Course certified by ‘USA Track & Field – Road Running Technical Council’. No walkers to weave through, can you post your best time? 

Walker’s Course
A scenic marked, loop course inside the perimeter of the beautiful Penn State Altoona Campus. Separate course from the runners. Strollers and leashed pets welcome. Bring the entire family!! 

Lollipop RaceThe 2014 Lollipop Race offers a variety of activities for children ages 3-10. The $10 fee covers the following activities:

• Race around the pond

• Craft Activity

• T-shirt

• Childcare (for those parents wishing to run or walk the 5K or 10K events, Family Services Inc. will monitor your kids during the race!)

• Participant Medal

• Healthy snacks and refreshments

Electronic TimingTiming now provided by Miles of Smiles Timing Services. This year disposable timing bibs will be used. 

Awards
Trophies will go to the top 3 male/female finishers. Medals will go to the top 3 male/female finishers in each of the following age groups:

• 14 and under 

• 15-19 

• 20-24 

• 25-29 

• 30-34 

• 35-39 

• 40-44 

• 45-49 

• 50-54 

• 55-59 

• 60 and over

No medals or trophies will be awarded in the 5K Fun Walk. 

Early Bird Registration

• Register for the 5K/10K or Walk before May 1st for $20 

• After May 1st registration is $25 

• Late entries after May 24th will be $30

The Half & Half Duathlon

Leave it to Central Cambria cross country/track coach Randy Wilson to think up another creative way to use the Ghost Town Trail.

This time, it's the "The Half & Half Duathlon," a 13.1 mile run followed by a 13.1 mile bike on Saturday, May 17. The run starts in Vintondale and finishes in Ebensburg, and the bike route retraces this route in reverse. So it's a net uphill run, and screaming downhill bike.

More details are below.  And here is a PDF of the race entry. As an added bonus, proceeds for the race benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Burning quads, for a good cause!

UPDATE (4/3/14): The race organizers have decided to include a 2 person relay!  One person runs, the other bikes. Cost is $35 per participant.

The 4th Annual April Fools 5K

If you're looking for an excuse to visit State College, check out the 4th Annual April Fools 5K, on Saturday, March 29 at 9 AM.  The race begins at Medlar Field and winds through campus. So it's a relatively flat and fast course.

You can send in a registration form or sign up online. The race also has its own Facebook page.

Beer Runners: Best. Kickstarter Campaign. EVER!!!

Here's a cause EARCites can get behind...

A recent Runners World newswire alerts readers to Beer Runners, an unfinished documentary about a Philadelphia-based group known as the Fishtown Beer Runners.

To raise funds for the documentary, the filmmaker, Justin Wirtalla, started a Kickstarter campaign. The project site describes the origins of this unique running group:

The Fishtown Beer Runners began with two friends on a run, discussing studies that were done in Spain with exercise and beer.  After giving it a try, they decided they needed to share that experience, and the Beer Runners were born.  Every week they run to a different bar and conclude the exercise with a craft beer or two.

The club presently has over 100 members, and Wirtalla wants to travel to Spain to interview the researcher who first conducted these studies.

At first blush, Beer Runners appears rather whimsical, showcasing two things that seemingly contradict each other. But after you watch the clip and read the description, you might be convinced as I am that this merry band of beer runners is on to something.

So check it out for yourself.  And now that Pour on Center has brought new life (and craft beers) to Ebensburg, perhaps it's time for EARC to give this a try!


 

Dirty Kiln Trail 5-Mile and Half-Marathon: Early Registration Ends Today!!!

If you like trail running, check out the Dirty Kiln Trail 5-Mile and Half-Marathon on Saturday, April 5th. And if you're interested, hurry up and register now on their site because the price goes up after March 14th. Also, there is no day-of-race registration, and the field is limited to 350 runners. Our friends the Allegheny Trailrunners host the event, and they are promising awards, door prizes, and discounts from REI, Salomon, Subaru gear and more. Looks like fun!

Here is some information from the race's website:

Description 

The third annual “Dirty Kiln Trail Races at Canoe Creek State Park” brought to you by Allegheny Trailrunners, Inc. will be Saturday, April 5th, 2014! WE ARE A "TRAIL RUNNER MAGAZINE" RACE SERIES EVENT! Trail runners will have a choice to run the 5-mile course up Moore’s Hill and around the lake. The half-marathon course will go around the park a second time but on a more hilly and challenging half-marathon course! Both courses have a lot of variety of trails from wide paths, winding singletrack, stream crossings and mud… lots of mud.
Course maps, descriptions, photos and more are on the website - http://www.alleghenytrailrunners.com/dirty-kiln-trail-race/ 

The Course 

The First Loop Around the Lake (5 mile)
Runners will start in the ball field in a long mass start before heading down a slight hill toward the lake. You will cross a paved service road and then onto Limestone Trail past the Blair Limestone Company Kilns on your right and onto Moore’s Hill Trail which circles the hill before climbing to the top and then down the other side. At the bottom, you will pass the remains of another kiln on your right and the first stream crossing and onto Beaverdam Trail back to the lake to a boat mooring area near Pavilion #3 and a water stop. 

After the mooring area, it is single-track to the breast of Brumbaugh Dam. The trail then hugs the shoreline which lots of rolly-polly up and downs until you make it near the spillway, up a grassy service road up a hill, and second stream crossing. The last half mile is a service road past the spillway, and past the main park grounds and to the 5-mile finish. 

FOR HALF MARATHONERS: After passing the 5 mile mark with the other runners, continue past the 5-mile finish. Instead of bearing right toward The Limestone Kilns, runners will run up the hill to the left called Smith Hillside Trail, along the edge, then back to Limestone Trail but running opposite direction you did on the first loop. Next, you will take a sharp left onto a nice limestone grade up to Hartman Trail as it climbs up above the quarry cliffs to the top. Runners will reach a four-way intersection – continue straight down the hill toward a water tower, and back up the top of the hill to The Horse’s Back. The trail will drop down the spine of the hill back to rear of the Limestone Kilns. Behind the kilns, you make a left and uphill to another climb, then down, then back up, down and back up again Moore’s Hill until the final downhill on the backside of Moore's Hill to the first stream crossing you made on the first loop. Follow the same course you did around the lake past the breast of the dam and the stream crossing. (4 stream crossings for half marathoners). Before the finish, runners will make a left past the wastewater plant instead of going straight. From here you will zigzag along a few of the horse trails before reaching the finish.

Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5K

If you're gearing up for a spring marathon or half, here is a good tuneup race. While it's nearly a 2 hour drive from Ebensburg, the 11:00 AM start gives you plenty of time to get there. 

From the Cook Forest website...

30TH ANNUAL COOK FOREST HALF MARATHON AND 5K RACE 

It’s time to get out your running shoes! The Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5K are scheduled for Saturday, March 29th, 2014! Click HERE to register online! (Or HERE for the registration form)

Half Marathon: 11:00 am – 5K: 11:15am

          Entry Fee:

Half Marathon: $25.00 until March 14th, then $30.00 (pre-registration guarantees T-shirt)
5K: $20.00 until March 23rd, then $25.00 (pre-registration guarantees T-shirt)
Current Clarion University Students – Half Marathon – $20, 5K – $15

Location:
Cook Forest State Park, Cooksburg. Twenty minutes north of Clarion and Brookville. From I-80, take exit 78 and Rt 36 North, or Exit 60 (Rt 66 North), then right onto Rt 36. From Pittsburgh, take Rt 28 North to Brookville, then Rt 36 North to Cook Forest. 

Course:
The half marathon is flat to gently rolling entirely on river Road along the beautiful Clarion River. Course is out and back on traffic controlled roads. The 5K event is also out-and-back on the same road. 

General:
Event is organized and managed by Clarion University Cross Country/Track & Field Team & Timing with Champion Chip by Runner’s High 4 water stations on the course, each mile is marked. No shower facilities come dressed to run. No bicycles permitted on the course and no pets permitted on the course.
Start and finish near Pale Whale Canoe Rental.

Path of the Flood Historic Half Marathon & 5K

Now here's an interesting way to mark the 125th anniversary of the Johnstown Flood. From the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (they have a Facebook page too)...

Commemorate the past and celebrate the present while reliving the history of the Johnstown Flood. Imagine yourself as part of the infamous wall of water while "roaring" along the Path of the Flood Trail. Following the Conemaugh River, Path of the Flood Historic Half Marathon participants will be challenged by a rolling hybrid road/gravel trail course that offers expansive views of the gorge through which the waters of the 1889 flood poured, celebrates the resiliency of the communities of South Fork, Mineral Point and Johnstown, and showcases the newly completed portions of the trail.  

Runners will also pass through the National Park Service's Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel constructed in the United States. Why just read about history when you can be part of it? 

Our 5K course will allow participants to feel the power of the last 3.1 miles of the flood's course on the same route as the half marathon. This route begins in Franklin Borough and will remain on roads to the finish at Peoples Natural Gas Park within site of the famous Old Stone Bridge. 

Event schedule and times 

May 30 - 31, 2014: Packet Pick Up, Times and location TBD 

June 1, 2014:

• 7:30 a.m. Bus loading Commences 

• 9:00 a.m. Half Marathon and 5K Start 

• 10:00 a.m. Post Race Celebration commences at Peoples Natural Gas Park 

Award ceremony to follow as soon as results are compiled. 

Cost is $50 for half-marathon participants, and $25 for the 5K. Runners 18 years of age and under may participate in the 5K free of charge. Click here to register online! 

3rd Annual Bunny Dash 5k

Not just trophies; bunny trophies.

Last year, I made my way to Portage to run the Bunny Dash 5k. In addition to having a beautiful day, everything about the race was terrific. The course was challenging, but not ridiculous. There was no shortage of enthusiastic volunteer support. The post-race had both great food and a festive atmosphere. And our friend Herb Cratty of Miles of Smiles Timing Services did the results--and you can never go wrong with Herb.

So yes, this race comes highly recommended. This year, the Bunny Dash will be held on Saturday, April 19. It starts and finishes at the Portage Football Stadium. You can sign up online or by completing the registration form below. For updates, go ahead and "like" their Facebook page. They are capping the race at 500, so make sure to sign up early!

Ken Brumbaugh Memorial Race

Lots of local runners have good things to say about the Ken Brumbaugh Memorial Race, hosted by our friends at the Hollidaysburg Area YMCA. It's a perfect time to blow off the winter rust, especially if you're looking ahead to a spring half-marathon or marathon.

The race is on Sunday, March 30th, and it starts at 1:00 PM.  There is a 5 mile run, 2 mile run, and a 2 mile walk.

You can register online or by mail.

Back and Running: 3rd Annual Run for the Troops 5k

OK, so this blog has been sorta inactive for a while.  Alas, the winter months do this, as EARC regularly enters a dark period in between the Turkey Trot and spring.

So let's get this thing rolling again with the 3rd Annual Run for the Troops 5k, to be held on March 29th at 9:00 AM in Clearfield.

See the entry form below for more details, or download the PDF.