So here's the press release for this:
50 RATTLING MILES MARATHON
featuring
Quite Possibly the Very Best Singletrack in Pennsylvania
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 20, 2007; Conshohocken, PA, USA: “These trails and the Rattling Creek Single Trackers club’s approach are models that should be implemented and followed throughout the entire country,” so says Mike Kuhn, promoter of the 50 Rattling Miles Marathon Mountain Bike Race on Saturday, July 28. And he should know. As the director of the Hammer Nutrition Endurance division of the DelmarvaJobs.com Mid-Atlantic Super Series, Kuhn is familiar with all the large-scale trail networks across the huge Mid-Atlantic region. And, as an ad spokesman for VisitPA.com and a member of the VisitPA.com racing team, it’s his responsibility to know all about the best in PA. When it comes to the Rattling Creek Trail Network’s construction techniques, Kuhn minces no words, “This should be showcased as how it should be done.”
So what makes Rattling Creek so special? “While we mountain bikers constantly find ourselves facing new restrictions on trail usage,” continues Kuhn, “the crew at Rattling Creek Single Trackers (RCST, ) has engaged in a cooperative relationship with Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) that has led to more and more miles of trails being built and opened every year since RCST’s inception. Their willingness to go “above-and-beyond”, as evidence by their adherence to the IMBA guidelines and code of ethics and working closely with the foresters to make sustainable and beneficial trails is what has solidified their relationship with DCNR and other outdoor sportsmen -- a local hunting club even made an unsolicited donation to the RCST as a token of appreciation for their great trails! And “IMBA - approved” definitely doesn't mean boring or easy. The trails are stellar, have great flow, and showcase some really creative trail building and obstacles. They will challenge everyone from beginner to pro.”
Pre-registration for the 50 Rattling Miles Marathon is already open on BikeReg.com. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Blue Butterfly Fund (bluebutterflyfund.org) which assists the families of victims of childhood cancer. The race is being billed as an ideal first time marathoner’s course that is sprinkled with trails that will challenge the most experienced and fastest racers. The course is more balanced than the other, more extreme, races on the calendar, the obstacles are entertaining, the views are outstanding and the actual distance is a little shorter than the named 50 miles (“but who’s counting?” says Kuhn) There is also a nice swimming pool where riders can cool-off following the race.
The race takes place in Pennsylvania’s Weiser State Forest. The actual start and finish location on July 28 will be the Small Valley Girl Scout Camp, located just north of Carsonville, Pennsylvania (Mapping address: 88 Hemlock Rd, Halifax, PA 17032). In the event of inclement weather, the race will still be held, but course detours will be made to protect the Rattling Creek trails so they will forever be known as “quite possibly the very best singletrack in Pennsylvania”
For more information, see BikeReg.com.