Nittany Valley Running Club!

Minutes of the June 4th 2019 Meeting of the NVRC

Details: Written by Martin Mazur Martin Mazur

The bimonthly meeting of the NVRC was held on June 4 at the Hi-Way Pizza on N. Atherton. The usual officers pre-meeting was uncharacteristically lightly attended. Several of the officers were not present: Secretary Erika Christiansen, Treasurer Dave Eggler, and Membership Director Marty Klanchar could not attend. President Bob Shafer and Communications Director Marty Mazur were there as well as past officers and race directors Cheryl Capone (with Dean), Amy Blake, Jake Clements. The main topic of conversation was this year’s Sue Crowe Memorial Arts Festival races. Due to increasing core campus restrictions and costs, the races have been moved and will be staged from the Ag Arena on Park Avenue. The cost of University Police and staging at Medlar Field have made running the Arts Fest races on campus unsustainable. The Arts Fest races are the main source of income for the Club and allow us to support numerous youth running activities. Last year, the races netted essentially zero, due in part to the trend in lower participation, but largely to the ever increasing cost of running on campus.

Nittany Track and Field Youth Track Program To Start Season Monday, April 29!

Details: Written by Mark Fedkin Mark Fedkin

Nittany Track and Field youth club is kicking off its 2019 track season this coming week – Our first practice will be on the State College High School track on April 29th. The club is open to any youth athletes in the age range from 7 to 18, and its main mission is to create environment for the kids to be introduced to the track and field as a sport, learn new skills, and train to achieve their athletic goals. The program is suitable for both experienced athletes and beginners.

The practices will be held from 6:15 to 7:45 pm Monday through Thursday (except for the youngest group which practices two days a week), and our season goes until July 18. The lead coaches for the summer program are Mark Fedkin, Andrew Maguire, Matt Lindenberg, and Jayson Jackson. We are also engaging a number of event coaches and volunteers for our practices. The events we are practicing for this season include: sprints, distance, hurdles, jumps (long, high, triple), and throws (shot, discus, javelin). Also we are looking to organize several youth pole vault clinics over the summer.

If you have children or friends who are interested to join our track team this summer, be sure to sign up soon! Here is the link to the registration page: http://www.ntfxc.com/registration.html which has all the information. We are also looking for volunteers and support coaches for various groups and events, so if you have any interest to be involved, please email Mark Fedkin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more information about NTF club and our summer and fall programs, please visit our website www.ntfxc.com or connect to our Facebook page. Also I will be happy to answer any questions about the program.

2019 Winter Blood Drive Is Successful

Details: Written by Mike Casper Mike Casper

THANK YOU!
A hearty thanks to everyone who came out to donate, invited someone to donate, or helped someone get to the Nittany Valley Running Club’s Winter Blood Drive, which was held on January 17 at State College Presbyterian Church! The NVRC’s reason for hosting blood drives is to encourage healthy, able individuals to come out and donate, because currently it is just 4% of the population that provides the blood for the nation’s emergency needs, so you generous donors are invaluable. With your generosity, we collected 19 units of whole blood at this drive and made our goal! That translates to saving up to 57 lives – which is no small achievement. Thank you!

Our presenting donors were treated to fresh Pizza Mia pizza, running films, the new Trail Runner magazine and friendly conversation. Whether you were able or unable to participate in this drive, we encourage you to take a moment to put the NVRC’s Fall Blood Drive, set for Thursday, Sept. 12, on your calendar now. Online appointments will be available about 6 weeks before the drive.

WINNERS: The presenting blood donors, volunteers, and all those whose lives may be saved by those donations were the drive’s many winners.

Drawing prizes went to:

Emily R. – Egg Hill 10 Miler entry (4/7/19)
Details: http://nvrun.com/index.php/racing/club-sponsored/run-around-egg-hill

Wayne W. – Crack O'Dawn 5K entry (6/15/19)
Details: http://nvrun.com/index.php/racing

Hongquyen P. – Arts Fest Races entry (7/14/19)
Details: http://nvrun.com/index.php/racing

Congratulations all!

WHEN AM I ELIGIBLE TO GIVE AGAIN?
If you donated at this drive, you’ll be eligible again on March 7. If you didn’t donate at this drive, you can donate anytime at a drive that fits your schedule. The last date to donate this summer and be eligible to give again at the NVRC’s Sept. 12 drive is July 18.

Thanks for supporting the American Red Cross and the NVRC!

Nittany Valley Half-Marathon Donates $25000 to Centre Volunteers in Medicine

Details: Written by Martin Mazur Martin Mazur

The 2018 NVRC Nittany Valley Half-Marathon, held last December, was a big success. The race has been growing the last couple of years under the direction of Katrina D’Anca and her crew of volunteers. The race had 450 runners in 2016, then up to nearly 500 in 2015, but grew to over 650 last year despite some dicey weather. With that success, the Half was able to donate $25,762 from proceeds of the 2018 race to its beneficiary, Centre Volunteers in Medicine. The NVRC has been a significant contributor to the CVIM through its Marathoners for Medicine team (over $600,000 in the last 15 years) and the Nittany Valley Half-Marathon.

Marathoners for Medicine Team to Hold Kick-Off Dinner January 30

Details: Written by Jaimie Wright Jaimie Wright

The Centre Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) Marathoners for Medicine Team will hold its kick-off dinner on Wednesday, January 30 at CVIM (2520 Green Tech Dr unit D, State College, PA 16803) at 6:00, and we'd love to have you join us if you're racing this spring. We take all racers and all distances.

The Marathoners for Medicine team raises money to support CVIM, a fantastic community organization that provides free and assisted medical and dental care to low-income people who live and work in Centre County and their families. It's a fantastic opportunity for you to combine your love of running with a chance to benefit our community.

Come learn about the team, tour the clinic, and enjoy good food and fellowship with your fellow runners. Please sign up to bring a dish to share by January 26. Depending on the headcount, we may adjust the quantity of food and paper products on the signup.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e044bafa823a31-marathoners

Please sign up for the potluck or respond to Jaimie Wright if you can come so she can get an accurate count by Saturday, January 26.

CVIM is a fantastic cause, and we hope you'll consider joining us on January 30.

Contact Jaimie Wright with questions at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Minutes of the February 5th 2019 Meeting of the NVRC

Details: Written by Erika Christiansen Erika Christiansen

Board Meeting
Club officers present: Bob Shafer (president), Dave Eggler (treasurer), Marty Mazur (communications director), Erika Christiansen (secretary/archivist). Others present: Cheryl Keller Capone, Dean Capone.

Membership Meeting
Club officers present: Bob Shafer (president), Dave Eggler (treasurer), Marty Mazur (communications director), Erika Christiansen (secretary/archivist). Others present: Cheryl Keller Capone, Dean Capone, Dave DeGroote, David Lloyd, Rev. Carl Miller, Doug Schunk, Chris Hunsberger.

The officers discussed a date for the Give ‘Em 5! race. November 10^th which is two weeks after the Tussey Mountainback will be the set date for the race and very appropriate since Monday November 11^th is Veterans Day. This race is dedicated to honoring the sacrifices and commitments of our community's brave veterans. Funds raised from this race will be made available to veterans in need of financial assistance through the Veterans Assistance Fund.

NVRC Supports 2018 United Way Day of Caring

Details: Written by Martin Mazur Martin Mazur

A crew of weedwhackers and bush trimmers headed for the Penn State Golf Course on October 4 for the United Way Day of Caring. The project was again the golf course perimeter bikepath/jogging path. The trail has been a Centre County United Way Day of Caring project each year from 2011-2018. This year there were 72 volunteers working in shifts to clear brush from wooded portions of the trail. Joe Hughes--Penn State Golf Courses PGA General Manager, Liz & Jim Kisenwether, and Cheree Jones coordinated project

Volunteers: The Penn State men's lacrosse team, KBB Realty employees, Joe Hughes--Penn State Golf Courses PGA General Manager, a representative from KidTech Inc., and several individuals worked tirelessly to clear brush and make the trail safer.

NVRC, as usual, chipped in for food and drinks (lunch).

Here are some highlights of the day.

pix united18 crew

This year's golf course path cleanup crew for the United Way Day of Caring