Kyle Garner is a cyclist, as his phone message announces. He’s also a runner — a good runner.

He’s in the midst of training for the 2015 Boston Marathon after posting a 3:26 in last year’s historic race.

Kyle knows how to train year round in all conditions and he’s here to help you with your spring training. His three-event PREP4PITT series in Mercer County is a distance progression designed to, as Kyle says, “build a better body for the marathon.”

The three events in PREP4PITT add up to the true marathon distance of 26 miles, 385 yards. Garner purposely avoids the 5K racing distance for his events, feeling that there are entirely too many 5Ks on the calendar already.

Because spring marathon training begins in the dead of winter, Garner holds his first event of the series in what is usually adverse conditions. Trout Island Tromp, held this year on Feb. 14, is an out-and-back 4.6 mile run showcasing the Trout Island Trail. Trout Island is the first trail completed by the Mercer County Trail Association.

With the snow and frigid temperatures, Kyle says it was actually good preparation for a marathon.

“In the last miles of a marathon, anything can happen,” he says. “You have to learn how to endure and overcome, to adjust to conditions.”

If you missed this year’s Trout Island Tromp, it’s not too late to complete the other events in Kyle Garner’s training plan. Spring Break 8(.5) on March 14, 9 a.m., is an opportunity for runners to, as Garner says, “ramp up distance and run harder for longer.”

Spring Break 8(.5) starts at Fredonia Presbyterian Church in the small town of Fredonia. The course runs out-and-back on a rural and rolling country road.

Garner says the course is a “tutorial on learning to judge pace.” The beginning and ending miles are relatively flat, offering runners a good assessment of marathon (or half marathon) race pace. The more challenging middle miles give participants a test of fitness and a sense of running effort.

Spring Break 8(.5) is, in Kyle’s words, “good training at a moderate price.” There are no commemorative t-shirts and awards for overall top finishers only. Runners are encouraged to sign up on the day of the event.

For their $20 entry, proceeds benefitting Mercer County Trail Association, participants enjoy a challenging timed course with two water stops, the company of other runners and the warmth of the Presbyterian Church as a staging area.

The final event in PREP4PITT is PREP4PITT Half Marathon and 5K, April 4 at Maurice Goddard State Park in Sandy Lake. The half marathon is a gentle scenic run around Lake Wilhelm on the park’s paved recreational trail while the 5K runs out and back on the same trail.

Kyle says that by April, runners should be at a point in their training to dial in their race pace with a steady, level run. He’s also hoping for a spring heat wave since it can be difficult to train in the cold all winter, then run a hot spring race. It’s all part of preparation for the marathon.

Garner will be running the PREP4PITT Half Marathon course a week early since he’ll have plenty to do on race day. Although he’s training for Boston, he says that this may be his last marathon for a while.

He prefers weekly runs of 90 minutes to two hours on dirt roads or undeveloped rail trails.

For more information about Spring Break 8(.5) or PREP4PITT, call 724-301-6775 or email info@mctrails.org. Visit mctrails.org for information about other Mercer County trail and fitness events.

Upcoming events

Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Winter weekly run. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Brave American 5K/ 10K/ 1 Mile Walk, Sewickley. 412-999-8827 or rveltre262@gmail.com

Saturday, 11 a.m.: Sixth Annual Ellport Borough Community Winter Wonderland 5K, Ellwood City. Scenic 5K with lots of food and drinks. 724-758-2506 or bonnherb@yahoo.com

March 14, 7:30 a.m.: Shamrock Shuffle Half Marathon, 5K and 1 Mile Run/ Walk, Harmony. Challenging half marathon, 5K starts at 10 a.m., 1 mile starts at 11:15 A.M. joella@zoominternet.net

March 14, 9 a.m.: Primary Health Network Charitable Foundation Shamrock ‘N’ Run 5K, Sharon. Breakfast follows the run. 724-758-2506 or sliska@primary-health.net

March 14, 9 a.m.: Irish Heritage 5K/ 10K, Tyrone. 518-669-4988 or kristenhawley@yahoo.com

March 14, 9 a.m.: PREP4PITT-2: Spring Break Eight(point five), Fredonia. Second of three races starts at Fredonia Presbyterian Church. 724-301-6775 or info@mctrails.org

March 14, 9 a.m.: St. Patrick’s Day Distance Festival 10K. 5K, Erie. Starts at Presque Isle State Park Rotary Pavilion. jimlang@bigwhitetrailer.com

March 14, 9 a.m.: Chippewa Twp. St. Patrick’s Day Race, Beaver Falls. Choice of 5K run or 2 mile walk. 724-847-2705 or wissnerc@comcast.net

March 14, 10 a.m.: Judith’s Jig 5K Memorial Run/ Walk, Meadville. Starts at Diamond Park Square. 814-282-1069 or judithsjig@gmail.com

March 21, 8 a.m.: J.C. Stone 50K, North Park. loudeangelo@aol.com

March 22, 9 a.m.: Athletic Trainer River Run 5K and 1 Mile, Pittsburgh. 412-432-3770 or dlugosj@upmc.edu

March 22, 10 a.m.: Fifth Annual March for the Military 5K, Cranberry Township. Run through Graham Park. 724-591-3261 or ota5k@zoominternet.net

March 28, 8:30 a.m.: Just a Short Run 5K, 8.1 Mile, Half Marathon, 30K, North Park. 412-490-0881 or eliterunners.com

March 28, 10 a.m.: Maple Festival 5 Mile Run and 5K Walk, Meyerdale. 814-445-6213 or pamaplefest.com

March 28, 11 a.m.: Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5K, Cooksburg. Flat, out-and-back course along the Clarion River. 814-393-2081 or dbeverino@clarion.edu

April 4, 9 a.m.: Dirty Kiln Half Marathon and 5 Mile Trail Races, Hollidaysburg. Challenging trail runs in Canoe Creek State Park. bmazur@intelmarx.com

April 4, 10 a.m.: PREP4PITT-3, Sandy Lake. Half marathon and 5K on paved bike path around Lake Wilhelm. 724-301-6775 or info@mctrails.org

April 4, 10 a.m.: Lock Stock and Barrel Easter Bunny Hop 5K, Sharpsville. Also half mile kids run. Barrymclaughlin59@yahoo.com

Golden Tide Baseball 5K, Curwensville. debharzinski@atlanticbb.net

April 4, 10 a.m.: Fool’s Run 10K and 5K, Indiana. An area favorite for 37 years. New 5k distance. 724-349-0501 or jswauger@comcast.net

Race results

Cupid’s Chase 5K, Feb. 14: Sean Flanagan, 1st Overall M, 18:26; Laura Quinn, 1st Overall W, 23:00; Tim Campbell, 2nd 40-44 M, 27:02; Dave Williams, 2nd 70+ M, 49:13; Kim Craft, 30:49; Scott Rosengren, 31:18; Natalie Bridge, 31:59; Dana Kruper, 33:13

Spring Thaw 20 Mile, Feb. 28: Daniel Spaulding, 1st Overall M, 1:55:47; Jennifer Bigham, 1st Overall W, 2:13:33; Christopher Rotelli, 2:13:51; Dan Monhemius, 2:20:07; William Huber, 2:26:00; Michael Yankel, 2:27:37; Russ Ochsenhirt, 2:45:24; Catherine Hrach, 2:49:34; Tim Spang, 2:58:00; Edna Spang, 2:58:01; Tony Chan, 3:12:20; Mary Siegel, 3:13:04; Kristen Ochsenhirt, 3:19:21; Aubrey Merkle, 3:33:28; Rita Ciccariello, 3:38:58; Tim Tannert, 3:39:27;

Spring Thaw 15 Mile, Feb. 28: Tim Wu, 1:33:21; Ben English, 1:45:41; Josh Venderlic, 1:48:16; Caleb Rauscher, 2:03:53; John Lemmex, 2:05:29; William Marsh, 2:07:04; Melanie Huber, 2:07:26; Orryn Sledge, 2:08:41; Gregory Reed, 2:13:26; Isao Mukai, 2:21:55; Tisha Frederick, 2:25:14; Lori Fromlak, 2:25:26; G. Ronald Ripper, 2:27:48; Lauren DiMaria, 2:37:33; Karen Steffanina, 2:43:22; Tim Tannert, 2:44:12; Alfred Schnabel, 2:48:38; Andrew Lariviere, 2:51:56; Mary Morgan, 3:00:12;

Spring Thaw 10 Mile, Feb. 28: Daniel Spaulding, 1st Overall M, 57:34; Jennifer Bigham, 1st Overall W, 1:01:27; Ben English, 1st 30-34 M, 59:31; Mark Hunkele, 3rd 40-44 M, 1:05:35; Adam Shoup, 3rd 35-39 M, 1:08:01; Dean Rippee, 2nd 55-59 M, 1:16:15; Lauren Finikiotis, 2nd 15-19 W, 1:18:44; Mary Savage, 2md 55-59 W, 1:28:16; Michelle Wolf, 3rd 15-19 W, 1:31:55; Tim Wu, 1:01:21; Christopher Rotelli, 1:05:55; David France, 1:09:46; Josh Venderlic, 1:10:11; William Huber, 1:10:55; Dan Monhemius, 1:11:46; Michael Yankel, 1:13:31; Robert Waltrip, 1:14:46; Andrew Williams, 1:18:44; Donny Wallace, 1:18:52; Russ Ochsenhirt, 1:19:54; Matt Imhof, 1:21:44; Caleb Rauscher, 1:22:20; William Marsh, 1:24:14; Isao Mukai, 1:24:43; John Lemmex, 1:24:52; Catherine Hrach, 1:24:58; Orryn Sledge, 1:26:33; Edna Spang, 1:27:02; Tim Spang, 1:27:02; Gregory Reed, 1:28:57; Lori McClafferty, 1:31:03; Mike Hucko, 1:31:39; G. Ronald Ripper, 1:32:13; Dan Smiley, 1:33:20; Tony Chan, 1:34:33; Mary Siegel, 1:34:40; Tisha Frederick, 1:34:40; Sally Sherman, 1:37:39; Laurie Searles, 1:37:40; Lori Fromlak, 1:38:10; Phil Crawford, 1:38:41; Kenny Lehman, 1:38:47; Sara Rice, 1:38:57; Kristen Oschenhirt, 1:39:17; Cassandra Smiley, 1:39:55; Dusty Nolan, 1:40:02; Sean Nolan, 1:40:06; Cloey Wallace, 1:40:25; Heather Pence, 1:40:32; Jamie Kohler, 1:42:36; Alice Wiesner, 1:43:04; Becky Miller, 1:44:00; Lauren DiMaria, 1:44:39; Sarah Anthony, 1:45:59; Eamonn Clements, 1:47:54; Aubrey Merkle, 1:48:52; Rita Ciccariello, 1:48:52; Alfred Schnabel, 1:48:58; Tim Tannert, 1:49:05; Andrew Lariviere, 1:49:46; Barbara Ford, 1:51:20; Mary Morgan, 1:53:34; Rachel Rutkowski, 1:54:07; Carol English, 1:54:40; Karen Steffanina, 1:55:06; Sherrie Mazurek, 1:56:29; Laura Augustine, 1:57:02; Julie Macha, 1:57:35; Neal Donnelly, 2:02:30; Amy Leonard, 2:05:40; John Patrus, 2:07:31; John Ropelewski, 2:11:37; Mark Hess, 2:18:04; Nanette Paracca, 2:38:03

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone or fax 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle