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.
In her first Mountainback 50-miler, Bianca Pourmussa, of Philadelphia, earned top honors in the women’s category, trading off the lead multiple times before triumphing over Jennifer Garis, of nearby Port Matilda, by less than 3 minutes.
“I began the race with a pack of runners, including Jennifer,” said Pourmussa. “We actually had a nice chat at around mile 8. I was aiming to hold a comfortable pace and get a feel for the hills. She is a really strong uphill runner and passed me on all of the uphill sections. I have a lot of fun pounding the downhills and flats and would pass her on those sections. So, our competing strengths made for a tight and exciting race.” At the mile 41 aid station, the two were running within 30 seconds of one another. “From miles 41–46, she was giving an astounding effort on the uphills and reached the final aid station ahead of me. Once I hit the final aid station, someone told me that only downhill remained, so I decided to make a final push for first. I barely passed Jennifer with around 2 miles remaining. Running this race with her was competitive and thrilling, and she has inspired me to run more uphills.”
Pourmussa called the course “visually stunning” and enjoyed the interplay of ultramarathoners and relay teams. “Combining the 50-milers and relay teams on the same course was a great decision because there were always people around to chase and/or run with, and it was fantastic to have cars full of people cheering us on for the duration of the race.”
Brett Mason and Garrett Campbell, both of Pittsburgh, took first and second place in the men’s 50-mile category.
“I chose this race because I’d heard through several running friends that its terrain was well suited for me,” said Mason, who was mostly a road and marathon runner before getting into ultras in 2018. With a steady pace early on, Mason was leading but didn’t want to ask by how much.
“I felt really solid through mile 30, having only had a small rough patch in the mid-30s, which I believe to have been the latent recovery of the big climb in the early 20s. I tried to stay within myself and just keep moving forward as steadily as possible, be it fast or a shuffle when needed. There were some incredible views along the way, when openings in the trees allowed for some sweeping views that spanned miles into the distance. Even as a native western Pennsylvanian all of my life, I was still pretty taken by it.” Mason stopped looking at his watch and ran completely by feel, eventually finishing in 6:38:37, 19 minutes ahead of Campbell.
New course records were set at the 50k. Sarah Morrison, of Philadelphia, won the women’s category in the 50k race while lopping 33 minutes off the course record. Morrison, who has run the relay before, reveled in the 50k course. “I loved the double-track trail off of the road to climb up from miles 22–24. It was peaceful and colorful, exciting and motivating all at once. I found relief and solitude as well as a sense of second coming/refreshing mental state running solo through the trail in the mountains. Tussey is one of my favorite races, and I hope to be back next year or at least at some point to complete the 50-mile feat.”
Sam Lapp, of Pittsburgh, took top honors in the men’s 50k category, slicing more than 4 minutes off the course record. “It was great to feel like I could race at full capacity,” said Lapp, who hadn’t raced in almost two years due to an injury. “I was hoping for some company, but nobody came out at the pace I took out of the gate and up the first 3-mile climb. I didn’t see anyone after the first mile, but I still enjoyed Rothrock in its full October glory and got smiles at the aid stations.” While he was just running by feel, Lapp did have last year’s course record in mind. “All of the first 15 miles, and all of the flats/downhills, felt great. The climbs were really tough though, even tougher than I expected, especially the Bear Meadows Road climb (beginning around mile 19).”
It was a milestone day and first ultra for both Chris Weller, of Westminster, CO, and Steven Getselevich, of Scarsdale, NY. The two attended NYU together more than 10 years ago and have raced several events since, beginning in 2016, including half marathons, triathlons and a full Ironman in 2021. The two reeled in the 50-miler together under the course’s 12-hour limit.
“Last year I moved from the East Coast to Colorado,” said Weller, “and we wondered what the next challenge would be. Steven found this race and the 50-miler looked perfect for us. So, unlike past years, this time we trained independently. But we still followed the same 19-week program, and it paid off.”
Ultra spunk can be measured in years of tenacity—41 relay teams took part in this race, but one stood out in its own way. The Old Men of the Mountains, comprised of eight runners age 65 or older, executed their 17th consecutive circuit of the 50-mile course with precision under the guidance of team captain George Etzweiler, a retired engineering professor, a sprightly 103-year-old. Etzweiler’s own 3.4-mile sojourn on the course included two 3-minute pauses, but he finished the route with a smile.
Each year, in preparation for race day, Etzweiler calculates the expected performance for each of the team’s eight runners, based on the distance, estimated pace and percent grade of hills over the course’s 12 segments that comprise the 50-mile loop in Rothrock State Forest. When the team’s final runner crossed the finish line near the end of the day, the team’s cumulative finishing time was accurate to the minute of his estimation.
Proceeds from the 2023 Tussey Mountainback support Nittany Greyhounds, which provides care and finds new homes for retired racing greyhounds.