Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK 50 Mile Relay and Ultra

About the Event

The Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK 50 Mile Relay and Ultra returns to Boalsburg, Pennsylvania on October 24th, 2026. This event marks the continuation of a beloved tradition in central Pennsylvania’s Rothrock State Forest. Participants can choose from various distances including individual ultramarathons or relay teams, each offering unique challenges through the scenic fire roads and trails.
Race morning will see participants assembling at Bear Meadows Road in Boalsburg to begin their journey on mostly unpaved terrain under the vibrant foliage of autumn. The atmosphere is one of camaraderie among runners as they prepare for a day that promises both physical and mental endurance tests. Weather conditions are expected to be mild, with temperatures ranging from 7.4°C to 16.8°C, making it ideal for long-distance running.
The Tussey Mountainback Race Weekend has been a cornerstone event in the local community since its inception, drawing runners from across Pennsylvania and beyond. Both individual competitors and relay teams contribute significantly to this annual celebration of athleticism and teamwork. The race weekend supports various causes through fundraising efforts and community engagement initiatives that highlight the importance of physical activity and environmental stewardship.
The Tussey Mountainback 50 Mile Relay and Ultra offers a challenging loop course in Rothrock State Forest, featuring mostly unpaved fire roads with aid stations every 2.9 to 5.6 miles. The route winds through central Pennsylvania's scenic landscape during peak foliage season, providing runners with stunning views of the changing leaves. For relay teams, transitions occur at these aid stations where they exchange batons and switch out runners according to their pre-determined rotation order.
On race morning, temperatures in Boalsburg are expected to be around 12°C with a slight chill due to low wind speeds averaging about 10 km/h. Humidity levels will hover near 70%, keeping the air slightly damp but not overly so. There is a small chance of light precipitation at approximately 1.9mm, though most of the day should remain dry and sunny.
The Tussey mOUnTaiNBACK 50 Mile Relay and Ultra offers several distances including an individual 50 Miler (80.5K), a 50k race, relay options for teams ranging from two to eight runners, as well as a half-marathon distance of 21.1 kilometers.

50 Miler
80.5K • Start: 07:00:00 • Fee: $150.00

50k
50K • Start: 07:30:00 • Fee: $125.00

2 Per Relay
Start: 08:00:00 • Fee: $170.00

3 Per Relay
Start: 08:00:00 • Fee: $255.00

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for October in Boalsburg.

thermostat Temperature

7.4° / 16.8°

wb_sunny Feels like

4.5° / 13.9°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

8h 34m

water_drop Avg rainfall

1.9 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

10.7 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

Low

terrain Course conditions

Firm and slightly soft

sunny Max UV Index

Moderate (4.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

70.1%

wb_twilight Sunrise

07:23

nightlight Sunset

18:29

About Boalsburg

Learn more about the host city, Boalsburg.

Boalsburg is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Harris Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a small portion of its northwest corner extending into College Township. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,722 at the 2010 census. The village claims to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. However, that claim was brought into question by Bellware and Gardiner in their book, The Genesis of the Memorial Day Holiday in America, in 2014. In their book, Bellware and Gardiner point out that the Boalsburg story was first published in 1904, forty years after the fact with no indication that General Logan drew inspiration from any activities in Boalsburg and no evidence that it started the holiday.