ABOUT

Wild and Wonderful, at home in Appalachia

What is iPlayOutside?
We are an online magazine (e-zine) that provides content about outdoor events. Our focus is on people powered sports, in other words, no motors, though we do not entirely exclude motorized sports. If you like to play outside we want to hear about it.

Our Mission
We strive to build the Appalachian tourism market and help sustain the rural areas we play in.

Our Goals
Our intent is to create an online, active community to help areas in and around Appalachia gain local and national attention on the World Wide Web. We are interested in working with larger cities and markets in order to accomplish this.

Our site targets customers who are interested in tourism, outdoor sports, and outdoor activities. By increasing the number of participants who pay to race, tour, and play in Appalachian's natural resources, the number of participatory events will increase and the areas where these events take place become more valuable. These outdoor active events generate money for the communities they serve, attention to their campaigns, and bring more health awareness to our rural area.

The iPlayOutside Management Team
We're proud to be based out of West Virginia, the only state located entirely in Appalachia. It's all wild and wonderful here.

Don Parks Web Developer/DBA, Founder/Co-Owner An IT professional by day I spend my free time playing and working outside. Living in the WV countryside with my wife Heather and two dogs is my own piece of "Almost Heaven". But when there's problems with the web site, who do you call? See Don's photos for more.
Julie Black Director of Operations, Web Developer/Co-Owner Better known as Julz to the outside world, I was basically iPlayOutside's first full-time employee. I love meeting people at races and outdoor events. You'll find me camping with my husband and son most weekends.
Jason Black Business Manager Playing outside is what I like to do. From paddling down rivers to camping on mountains, east coast to west coast, it's my idea of L-I-V-I-N. See ya out there!
JR Petsko Head Photographer/Sales Three of my favorite things in life are photography, sports, and meeting new people. That's what made becoming a part of this team such a thrill for me, it's a dream come true. See more on my site.

Our History

iPlayOutside.com birthed its humble beginnings as WVOutside.com in 1998. The founder, Don Parks, was a local runner and biker who found it difficult to find race results and photos anywhere. He decided to use his web savvy to create an online e-zine to post results, photos, and short stories from local running and biking races. Hence, WVOutside was born.

Back in those days the web was a new and magical thing. Don began to post local races into an online schedule and people took notice. WVOutside became a stomping ground for local racers to find events to participate in, and a place to find event coverage. His dream began to become a reality when he hired a small staff of field journalists.

With the increase in web software, and digital camera technology, WVOutside grew at a rapid pace, and the staff began to cover events in other states. The name was changed to iPlayOutside, the site evolved, and so did its followers.

Today, iPlayOutside is still a state-of-the-art site, catering to the interests of today's outdoor participatory sports enthusiasts in an on-line magazine (e-zine) format. From professional athletes to everyday walkers, the site focuses on positive energy, outdoor fun, and community.

100-Mile C&O Canal Fun Run Crew

Articles and Photos from the WVOutside/iPlayOutside Archives

We'd like to give a shout-out to the old school and generation 'next' iPlayOutside extended family. This section is dedicated to them, the original iPlayOutsiders.

Journal Entries...

Annual 100-Mile Fun Run...

1999- 3rd WVOutside 100-Mile C&O Canal Fun Run, Shepherdstown, WV - Gene and Lisa Vance, Brad Coffman, Don Parks, Glenn Parks, Chas Mick, Karen Jones

1997- 1st 100-Mile C&O Canal Fun Run, Shepherdstown, WV - Eric Deboni, Brad Coffman, Don Parks, Glenn Parks, Chas Mick

Winter Hike, Spruce Knob, WV

Annual Winter Hike...

2003- Winter Hike on the Appalachian Trail Photo Essay - Chas Mick, Emory Rogers, Don Parks, Eric Wick, Greg McCulley

2000- December A Worm in Burkittsville? Burkittsvile, MD - Greg McCulley, Marty Lamp, Dennis Vass,

1999- December 26-29 Annual Winter Hike, Spruce Knob NRA, WV - Brad Yurish, Greg McCulley, Marty Lamp, Dennis Vass, Don Parks, Emory Rogers, Mike Hansrote

1997- December 1st Winter Hike: I Dream of A White Devil, Monongahela National Forest's Cranberry Wilderness, WV - Brad Yurish, Greg McCulley, Marty Lamp, Dennis Vass, Don Parks, Emory Rogers

Marty Lamp, Team iPlayOutside 24 Hours of Snowshoe-2000

Other Adventures...

2000- June 10-11 Team iPlayOutside.com's 24 Hour Adventure, Snowshoe Mountain, WV - Marty Lamp, Lew McGrath, Chas Mick, Brad Coffman

2000- October 5 The Real Beast of the East, Summersville, WV - Julie Black, Jason Black, Bill Bertsch, Joe Bertsch, and the The New Jersey National Guard Raft Crew

2000- December Keeping Up With Tradition, Albright, WV - Jason Black, Pete Daily

2000- February 16 Confessions of a Kayaker, Albright, WV - Jason and Julie Black, Jeff Busch, Jeff Simcoe, and others

1999- October My First Climb at Coopers Rock, Morgantown, WV - Julie Black, Marty Lamp, Greg McCulley, Megan 'Mack', Lisa 'Legs'

iPlayOutsider Photos...

The Amazing Heather Parks, 2007 Francis 'Bud" Murphy Memorial 5K

Generation NeXt Kirk Black, Paddling White Day Creek 2007 at 4 years old

The Unstoppable Lew McGrath, Highlands Sky 40 Mile Trail Run - 2006 Trail Runner Trophy Series, Lew finished 4th overall (Time: 7 hours, 21 minutes)

The King Dave McKain, Valley Falls Challenge - 2001 WVMBA Point Series

The Master Tommy Molecule, 2001 King of the Hill - Lew McGrath Benefit Race

Read the outdoor adventure guide of Flat Stanley, iPlayOutside Corespondent

The New Mascot Anni the iPlayOutside Pup, 2007 Capon Valley 50K

Old Faithful WVOutside Van, Lew McGrath stands in front, YMCA Pacesetter 5K, 1999