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Runners in the 2020 Pine Creek Challenge cross a wooden bridge on the Pine Creek Rail Trail.

When online registration ended for the five Pine Creek Challenge running events, a total of 230 runners from 23 states and Washington, D.C. plus the Philippines had registered. “This is the highest number of registrants we’ve ever had,” said Pine Creek Challenge Director Steve Hanes of Westfield.

Represented in the challenge this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11 and 12 are the following states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Event organizer is the Tyoga Running Club, a local nonprofit that supports area youth running programs.

Each run will start this Saturday, Sept. 11 in the parking lot at the USGS Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory at 176 Straight Run Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901, including the 100-miler at 6 a.m., the 100-mile relay and the 100K (62.1 miles) at 7 a.m., the 50-miler at 8 a.m. and the marathon (26.2 miles) at 9 a.m. Each course follows a portion of the runner friendly Pine Creek Rail Trail, a converted railroad bed that begins at Wellsboro Junction and ends in Jersey Shore.

Registrants can pick up their swag bags at Wild Asaph Outfitters at 71 Main Street in Wellsboro between noon. and 7 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 10 or during check-in this Saturday, Sept. 11 at Asaph before the start of the run they entered.

Runners in the 100-miler, 100-mile relay and 100K will travel on the Pine Creek Rail Trail from Asaph to Wellsboro Junction, from the junction back to Asaph, continue through the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon to Blackwell and then return to Asaph. The 100-milers will run the course twice and travel through the canyon four times. Those in the 100K will do the course once and go through the canyon twice. The course will be open for 30 hours, from 6 a.m. Saturday through noon this Sunday.

Those in the 50-miler will go from Asaph directly to Blackwell and back to Asaph. Marathoners will go directly from Asaph to a point below Tiadaghton and back to Asaph. There will be five aid stations spaced about six miles apart along the course with water and food for registrants.

This not a competitive event between runners but a self-challenge for individuals who want to see how well they can best their own distances and times. The 100-mile and 100K finishers will have a choice of a locally handmade mug or a belt buckle. The 50-mile and marathon finishers will get a glass or wooden medallion based on the distance they complete.

For more information, visit pinecreekchallenge.com.

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
(570) 724-3800