According to pre-registration figures, it looked as if Saturday's Butler Road Race would be one of the largest in its 30-year history. An average turnout was a more reasonable estimate for the steamy morning.

Threats of high heat and humidity may have kept down last-minute entries for the Butler Road Race 5-Mile and 2K, but 214 runners and walkers completed the 2K and 248 finished the longer event with few heat-related issues.

It appears that after 30 years, runners, race volunteers and spectators have learned a thing or two about adapting to conditions. Cots at the finish line medical tent sat empty while the medical personnel on hand watched finishers gather in Diamond Park.

That was in stark contrast from only a few weeks ago, when sweltering conditions at the National Senior Games 10K had emergency personnel scurrying to treat several cases of heat exhaustion.

Water was plentiful in cups all along the course and in showers on Penn Street on Saturday. Butler residents are the best at hose showers --- they know how to aim and in the right volume of water to cool runners without soaking shoes and socks.

Old time runners had to feel a little nostalgia at Gabby's water stop. When I began running more than two decades ago, the Styrofoam cooler filled with ice water and sitting by the roadside provided relief for runners on their way to or from Alameda Park.

Butler runners also have learned to moderate pace in response to the heat, especially in the early miles of the race.

Many competitors posted slower finishing times this year as compared to previous efforts on the course. Although women's winner Tammy Slusser's time of 30 minutes, 44 seconds was slower than her 2004 winning time, it goes in the record books as the new women's masters' course record.

Cindy Grimm, gold medalist at the National Senior Games 10K, held the previous women's masters record of 32:11.

Butler's Kevin Doyle won the 5-mile race with a time of 25:20. Doyle bested second place finisher Chris Geddis by 26 seconds, but did not come close to breaking the course record of 24:48 held by Steve Parker.

Ryan Edmiston of Butler, last year's third-place finisher in the Butler Road Race 2K, won the shorter event this year with a time of 6:37. Leisl Soergel of Evans City repeated as the women's 2K winner with a time of 7:24. Both posted faster times in this year's performances.

The Butler Road Race offers more than 170 competitive awards, but the biggest awards, academic scholarships to Butler County high school runners, are given long after the race is done.

Still, several former recipients of Butler Road Race scholarships return annually to participate and to be recognized.

It's good to see those young runners develop, not only in strength and speed, but also the love of running. Eventually, they all grow up to pass me in the race, but that's O.K. It's as it should be.

That's what the Butler Road Race has come to mean in its 30-year history - all of us working (and playing) together for each other and our community.

Note to beginning runners:

It's never too late to start. If you'd like a copy of my 8-Weeks to Fitness Plan, e-mail or call me.

Friday, 7 p.m.: Rolling Rock 5-Mile Run, Latrobe. Race begins at Latrobe Memorial Stadium and runs through town. 724-539-3394 or tkornides@labattusa.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: Ford City Heritage Days 5K Run/ Walk, Ford City. Flat & fast loop through downtown, part of Heritage Days celebration. 724-763-3986 or jsolak@iup.eduSaturday, 12:30 p.m.: East Main Street Mile, Somerset. 814-571-4928Saturday, 9 a.m.: Ellwood City Ledger 10K Race, Ewing Park, Ellwood City. One of the biggest 10Ks around. 724-752-1583Monday, 7:30 a.m.: Race for Virginia and Friends 5K, Cranberry Township. Rolling course through Cranberry Township Community Park benefits pediatric cancer research. Lots of refreshments, random drawing prizes. 724-772-7429 or www.raceforvirginia.orgMonday, 9 a.m.: Brentwood Firecracker 5K Run, Brentwood. Great post-race party with music, refreshments and random drawing prizes. 412-882-5694Monday, 9 a.m.: Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5K, Hampton Township Park. Innaugural event benefits Hampton Rotary's educational and charitable activities. www.hamptonrotary.comJuly 6, 7 p.m.: Groundhog 5K Run/ Walk, Punxsutawney. www.punxsutawneyphil.com/commcenterJuly 8: Registration deadline for Ohio State Senior Games events at Youngstown State University, July 30-August 8. This is an open qualifier for 2007 National Senior Games in Louisville, KY. www.ohioseniorolympics.orgJuly 24, 8 A.M.: Thorn Hill County Line 5K Race, Cranberry Township. 724-776-4949

Race for Excellence 5K, May 30:Cy Fleming, 1st 13-19 M, 19:33; Mitch Radella, 2nd 35-39 M, 20:20; Michael Hart, 3rd 30-34 M, 22:05; Mark Fleming, 27:18; Will Fleming, 35:57; Dwen Fleming, 36:07; Robin Fleming, 47:46; Dorothy Fleming, 47:48Edinboro Triathlon, June 4:Debra Cully, 1st 50-54 W, 2:16:49; Cliff Thornberry, 2nd 50-54 M, 2:21:01; Tom Murray, 1st 60-64 M, 2:26:18; Grant Patterson, 2nd 20-24 M, 2:20:10; Lori Piedimonte, 3rd 40-44 W, 2:27:33; Kathleen Kelly, 3rd 45-49 W, 2:29:35; Rick Becker, 2:16:59; Robert Wheatall, 2:23:46; Jack Cully, 2:23:59; Jeff Gavin, 2:26:34; Anne Conn, 2:28:26; Dave Graham, 2:30:25; Michael Gavin, 2:32:27; Roxanne Kiliany, 2:41:43; Lisa Myers, 2:52:48; Ron Hartle, 2:53:56God's Country Marathon, June 4:Melissa Shaeffer, 3rd Overall W, 3:37:58; James Beck, 3rd 35-39 M, 3:19:07; Susan Altemus, 3rd 45-49 W, 4:27:23; Joel Shaeffer, 3:37:59; Timothy Beach, 4:06:14; Diana Marongiu-Lutz, 4:28:08; Joel Hockenbroch, 4:53:06Strawberry Days 5K, June 8:Zachary Haogland, 3rd Overall M, 16:58; Mark Courtney, 4th Overall M, 17:05; Leslie Kramer, 1st Overall W, 19:39; Janet Carson, 2nd Overall W, 20:35; Herb Cratty, 1st Masters M, 17:46; Sandy Beck, 1st Masters W, 23:16; Gregg Miller, 1st 35-39 M, 18:29; Richard Stewart, 2nd 35-39 M, 18:30; Scott Pearson, 3rd 40-44 M, 18:40; Tom Saginak, 1st 50-54 M, 18:41; Timothy Wyant, 2nd 30-34 M, 18:51; Bill Schmidt, 2nd 50-54 M, 20:03; Akileo Huntington, 1st 12-15 M, 20:42; Jim Hseieh, 2nd 12-15 M, 21:34; Amanda Kellogg, 1st 16-19 W, 21:36; Robin Meling, 1st 20-24 M, 21:43; John Antinossi, 2nd 60-64 M, 22:02Janelle Hartzell, 2nd 16-19 W, 22:08; Ryan Sestak, 3rd 12-15 M, 22:37; Megan Degraaf, 1st 12-15 W, 22:59; Hana Casalnova, 2nd 12-15 W, 23:38; Kate Brown, 1st 40-44 W, 24:10; Dezso Csizmadia, 2nd 65-69 M, 24:10; Heather Schell, 2nd 35-39 W, 24:41; Debbie Courtney, 2nd 40-44 W, 26:06; Robert Sands, 3rd 60-64 M, 26:11; Cynthia Johnston, 3rd 40-44 W, 26:21; Allison Carey, 2nd 30-34 W, 28:10; Adam Lowe, 1st 11 & Under M, 29:48; Valerie Sands, 1st 60-64 W, 30:10;Adam Stillwagon, 18:51; Jeff Lynn, 18:54; Talan Conjack, 18:55; Brent Collins, 19:22; Brad Cubbage, 20:07; Jim Stewart, 20:12; Nate Moore, 20:24; Mitch Radella, 20:28; Lee Hart, 22:16; Rob Kucenski, 22:25; Samson Wyant, 22:37; Ron Hartle, 23:05; Mike Bruno, 23:14; Tim Walters, 23:30; Charles Casalnova, 23:42; Jonathan Crighton, 24:12; Robert Cook, 24:29; Tony Sunseri, 24:47; John Hasychak, 24:52; Meghan Boarts, 24:53; Caleb Thrasher, 24:56; Jim Thrasher, 24:56; Brian Hudson, 25:19; Scott Richards, 25:41; Scott Bishop, 25:53Gale Carey, 26:07; Jon Moon, 26:11; Jeff Carey, 26:18; Daniel Austin, 27:09; Chad Parson, 27:39; Billy Woodman, 27:41; James Bonetti, 28:50; Rob Jackson, 29:39; Amy Miller, 29:40; Evan Lowe, 29:49; William Dundore, 30:12; Bethany Stillwagon, 30:46; Debbie Gallagher, 30:53; Jessica Richards, 31:05; Amanda Cook, 31:06; Hillary Cook, 31:08; Andy Owens, 31:34; Scott Soltis, 31:36; Tami Bitzer, 34:03; John Sestak, 37:17; Lisa Cook, 47:27Send comments and suggestions: to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. Email: bigp@highstream.net