The Stockville

The Stockville Takes Racers on A Big Adventure in the Wilds of Pennsylvania

Press Release / 08.12.2016

Rootstock Racing, a nonprofit race promotion company based out of Philadelphia, recently closed out its inaugural season, and one of the highlights of the year was the Stockville. Modeled after Europe’s mountain marathons, this two-day foot and navigation event took teams through the rugged wilderness of Pennsylvania’s Tuscarora State Forest.

The race was timed to coincide with the region’s famed fall foliage, and the colors were on full display as competitors lined up early Saturday morning. The day began with a steep climb up to one of the two ridges that traverse the length of the park. From there, teams traveled overland and by trail, across technical boulder fields, along steep pitches and narrow ridgelines, and through dense thickets, to retrieve ten mandatory checkpoints en route to mid-camp. For those looking for more challenge, there were an additional seven optional checkpoints that tested the racers for several hours once darkness fell. At the conclusion of Day One, participants reached mid-camp – AKA Stockville – a lit-up “town” in the middle of a remote field.

There, racers were reunited with their stoves and tents (they carried all other gear and food with them) and were treated to blazing fires, cooking water, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and all the s’mores they could eat. Then it was off to bed to rest up for another day on their feet. Racers set off early Sunday morning, many even before the sun rose, for nine more controls en route to the finish line.

Tuscarora State Forest was the consummate host, reviewing the course, giving race personnel access to off-limit roads to ensure smooth gear transfer, and even mowing the mid-camp field. Said race co-director Abby Perkiss, “we’re so grateful for the support of the forest in making this event happen. They bent over backwards, even directing us to a new tract of land when construction at one of their established campsites threatened to cancel the race. We look forward to cultivating a long relationship with the folks at Tuscarora.”

The late change in venue meant long days for racers. Because of the nature of the available land, participants had to cover a minimum of forty miles over the two days in order to retrieve all of the mandatory checkpoints, and an additional ten miles for those completing the full course.

But they didn’t seem to mind. Said longtime adventure racer Mark Montague, “this race was one of the toughest that I have participated in the last couple years, and I cannot WAIT until next year to see what they have in store for all of us!”

A total of fifty racers lined up for the start, including Jim Gordon, originally of Cononbridge, Scotland and a three-time veteran of the Original Mountain Marathon, and 25 cadets from the West Point Orienteering team. The undergraduates brought fresh energy to the race, said Val Nordquist of Team Nerdquist, which took second place in the coed category. “They always seemed to be in good spirits and were a lot of fun to talk to on the course.”

The West Point Orienteering Team, joined by Zoe Freedland, two-year-old daughter of RDs Abby Perkiss and Brent Freedland

Said co-race director Brent Freedland, “We were pleased with the field for the first running of the Stockville. The numbers were likely affected by its proximity to the US Adventure Racing Association’s National Championship, which took place just a week earlier, but everyone who showed up was excited for a weekend of adventuring, and they all seemed to have a great time.”

Racers echoed those sentiments. Said Brian Gatens of Team Mattherin Maddogs, “I've been kicking around the endurance racing world for over a decade now, and simply put, I loved the Stockville. It was a challenging, well-designed course that didn't pull any punches and enabled competitors to test their limits. Organization was excellent and the supplied materials enabled competitors to navigate with enough challenge to make it worthwhile, but not so hard that it was a frustrating experience. In addition to the excellent organization, the special touches of the organizers - overnight camping, community feeling as we all bundled up together, encouragement and support - all added up to a wonderful experience... Dare I say that races have 'personalities,' and the The Stockville, in my estimation, was the racing equivalent of a good friend who you not only have a blast with, but who takes you to places that you otherwise wouldn't go. Challenges you greatly, but doesn't leave you hanging out there.”

Teresa Burke of Team NYARA-Lama-Dingdongs, winners of the coed division, agreed. “Two days of battling rocky ridges, steep reentrants, and trails peppered with autumn leaves equals happy racers!  Add in excellent maps, accurate checkpoints, great course design, and twinkling lights, hot chocolate, and tea at mid-camp, and you have euphoric racers.  One of my favorite events ever.  Flawless and crazy fun.”

The Stockville will return to Pennsylvania October 14-15, 2017. For the second running, racers can expect more route choice and opportunities to extend or shorten their distance.

Whatever course they choose, they’ll be greeted with the same hospitality and good cheer at mid-camp.

For more details on the race see http://www.rootstockracing.org