Follow the Nittany Valley Running Club on Twitter

The Nittany Valley Running Club is now on Twitter. We plan to post links to articles on our own web site and on other sites with running-related content, links to podcasts of interest, and more. Follow us. Our handle is @nittanyrunning.

Run For God 5K Challenge Class

Tim Scitti will be leading a Run For God 5K class that will be starting in a few weeks.

The Run For God class is designed for runners of all levels and is focused on developing a spiritual walk along with fitness with the goal being to run a 5K race. There is particular emphasis on those who have never run, or it's been a while. The running portion will be similar to a "Couch to 5K" program.

We will meet weekly with a short devotion, some running education, and then go for a group run. The class will run for 12 weeks with a goal race the end of May. All are welcome.

If you, or someone you know might be interested, a sign up sheet can be found here - http://www.runforgod.com/class/state-college-access-church-run-for-god, or please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Running Club Coach Needed At Friends School

The State College Friends School is seeking a coach for Running Club on Mondays and Wednesdays, starting in March. Running Club occurs from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Prior coaching experience is required. Running Club is open to children in grades K-8. The winter season starts in early March. In general, we pay $20.50 an hour to club leaders. This depends on the experience of the coach. We ask coaches to teach in accordance with Quaker values, including peacemaking, respect for the child, and appropriate choices and consequences. For more information about Friends School, please visit our web site at scfriends.org

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Johanna Jackson, Extended Care Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Join the 2017 Marathoners For Medicine (M4M) Team

Are You Running a Spring Marathon, Half-Marathon or Long Trail Race?

Make your race extra meaningful! Join the Centre Volunteers in Medicine Marathoners for Medicine (M4M) Challenge Team. Combine your love for running with fundraising for Centre Volunteers in Medicine and help your neighbors without health insurance receive affordable medical and dental care.

For more information on Marathoners For Medicine, see the M4M information page. To join the team, contact Tara Murray at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Jaimie Wright at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We will hold a kick-off dinner on February 16 at 6 PM at John Domico's house. If you need John's address, contact Jaimie above.  Hope you join us!

NVRC Supports 2016 United Way Day of Caring

For the sixth year in a row, Cheree Jones and Sheryl Balkey helped to organize a crew of bushwhackers for the United Way Day of Caring,. The project was again the golf course perimeter bikepath/jogging path, this time along the south and west edges of the Penn State Blue Golf Course near the corner sand traps and cart paths. The usual saplings, bushes, brush, shrubs, and branches had encroached on the jogging path. 

The volunteers were: Penn State Build Brigade and the Penn State Men's and Women's Fencing Team (over 20 volunteers from among these groups), Joe Hughes--Penn State Golf Courses PGA General Manager/Head Golf Professional, who helped tremendously with the planning and execution, and Sheryl Balkey and Cheree Jones. The crew cleared the way so that runners have a clear treadway and golfers can see runners so they can yell "fore!". The NVRC chipped in to pay for some food and refreshment. Here are a few pictures.

pix dayofcaring 16 group

The Penn State Build Brigade and other volunteers stand in front of a conquered brush pile

Read more: NVRC Supports 2016 United Way Day of Caring

The NVRC Winter Blood Drive A Big Success

Winter is a vital time for collecting blood for area hospitals, so kudos go to the NVRC and supporters who turned out on Thursday for the NVRC’s Winter Blood Drive. With your generosity, we collected 30 units! Donors were treated to fresh Pizza Mia pizza, tasty cookies, movies and friendly conversation. Whether you gave or not at this drive, be sure to put the NVRC’s Fall 2017 Blood Drive, set for Thursday, Sept. 7, on your calendar.


Special thanks to Meira Minard, George Conrad, and Jake Clements for donating of their time to help staff the drive! The presenting blood donors, volunteers, and those whose lives may be saved by those donations were all winners from this drive.


Drawing prize winners are:

Jim Sellmer – Beidleheimer Sidewinder 10K entry (May 13)

Tricia Farrell – Crack O’ Dawn 5K Run/Walk & Pancake Breakfast entry (June 24)

Jim Maras – Nittany Valley Arts Festival Races (5K-10K-10M) entry (July 16)

Lincoln Kennedy – Allegheny Front Trail Run (50K or 13.1M) entry (Aug. 5)

Margie Costello – Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK 50M mug

When can you give? As often as every 56 days: If you didn’t donate on 1/19, we encourage you to donate now at a drive that’s convenient for you. We hope to see you at the Sept. 7 NVRC drive.

Thanks for supporting the American Red Cross and the NVRC!

Tom Cali To Receive 2016 LT Michael Murphy Distinguished Citizen Award

Local real estate professional and avid runner Tom Cali has been selected to receive the 2016 LT Michael Murphy Distinguished Citizen Award. Tom Cali has always believed in giving back to while strengthening our community. He has supported the youth of State College through his involvement as a coach and board member of the Centre Soccer Association, a Cub Scout den leader, a sponsor of the Nittany Track and Field Youth Club, and as a volunteer for Our Lady of Victory School. He is an active supporter of the Center County United Way, the PA Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, Team Ream, Coaches vs Cancer, Nittany Valley Running Club, and the Central PA Festival of the Arts. He served on the board of Centre Volunteers in Medicine, and continues to serve that organization as a member of their facilities committee and the Marathoners for Medicine fundraising efforts. Recently, Tom completed two terms of board membership for the Centre County Women’s Resource Center. He has also served on both the Parish and Finance Councils of Good Shepherd Church.

Guest speaker for the event is Colonel Thomas Manion, U.S. Marine Corps (retired), Chairman Emeritus of the Travis Manion Foundation. 

More information on the Navy League, Tom Cali, and details on how to register to come to the banquet, can be found at this link.