International trail running event coming to Happy Valley. What to know

Photo by Pablo Lopez

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (by Josh Moyer) – A prestigious, international trail running event is coming to Happy Valley in May. And with it will come trail improvements, a bigger spotlight - and an opportunity to qualify for a championship race in the Alps.

UTMB World Series, which annually hosts more than 50 trail-running events around the world, announced Tuesday morning that its newest race would take place May 16-17, 2026, in Rothrock State Forest near Tussey Mountain. Rothrock is one of only eight spots in the U.S. to host a race next year; other picturesque destinations include those in Argentina, Thailand and New Zealand.

One of UTMB's senior directors, a graduate from the University of Arizona, acknowledged the only thing he used to know about central Pennsylvania was Penn State football. But, on his first visit, he realized Happy Valley's beauty felt right at home among UTMB's more exotic stops.

"When I flew in and saw the mountains, I was like ‘Whoa - I didn't expect this,'" said Paul Huddle, senior director of global trail running operations. "I don't know what I did expect. But I didn't expect that. ... My mind was blown. I thought, how is it possible that somebody who absolutely loves the outdoors, wild spaces and trails missed this? You guys have been holding out."