I missed the Butler Road Race this year for the first time in memory. A family vacation found me running the streets of Vancouver, British Columbia, instead.

Vancouver is a jewel of a city located on, as one native put it, "the wet coast, not the west coast."

This Asian-influenced metropolis of 1.9 million people hangs onto the rugged coastline and backs up to the forested Coast Mountains. Nearby Whistler boasts the largest natural snowfall of the world's ski areas.

In June, Vancouver is misty. If temperatures rise into the 80s, Vancouver can be steamy. We arrived on an unusually sunny day with relatively low humidity under clear blue skies. Wisps of white rose from the cedar and hemlock forests overlooking the city.

After a long plane ride to Seattle and several hours by car to our North Vancouver motel, we were more than ready to stretch our legs with a sightseeing run of the area. While Lottie wanted to hike to the top of nearby Grouse Mountain, Mom and I outvoted her, opting for a tour of Stanley Park just across the inlet on historic Lion's Gate Bridge.

Lion's Gate Bridge crosses high above Burrard's Inlet with great views of the waterway below. For safety, there is a one-way pedestrian and bike lane on either side of the main auto deck. Bicycles zoomed by and we quickly learned to run single file on the concrete-over-metal decking.

We were told by a city native that, death defying as the pedestrian passage seemed, it was a vast improvement over earlier days when bikes and pedestrians shared the motorway. He said that on a windy day or when large trucks passed, bicycles would be blown right into traffic.

After the bridge, entry into Stanley Park was a welcome relief. The park reminded me of Schenley or Frick Park in Pittsburgh —- an urban respite of woods, overlooks and quiet trails.

We entered one of the unpaved trails that zigzags through the park. The ground beneath was spongy with moss and leaves. Giant cedars towered over us as we wound our way through the woods. I could see how two people could hide in the shelter of a hollow tree as in the book and movie "Snow Falling on Cedars."

Rather than drag ourselves the whole way around the park on jet-lagged legs on the 10K Park Road, we opted for a stop at popular Prospect Point, an overlook with views of the inlet and English Bay, then a switchbacked descent to a paved trail along the seawall.

The seawall trail remained closed after early spring storms brought a landslide of earth, rocks and trees tumbling across it and into the inlet.

We turned the opposite direction and ducked under an overpass and along a brook through ferns and moss of the rainforest to emerge at a secluded pond covered with yellow and white water lilies.

Mallards floated on the still water and bobbed for food among the wild irises and sedges. A few people walked by on the paved trail, pushed baby strollers or stopped to photograph wildflowers. It was hard to believe we were in downtown Vancouver.

Travel weariness began to overtake us as we rounded the back side of the pond. We joined Vancouver rush hour traffic on Park Road and once again braved Lion's Gate Bridge back to North Vancouver and the rest of our travel group lounging by the motel pool.

But each of us put our running shoes by the door and set the alarm clocks for an early morning run. This was only the beginning of our big adventure.

If you'd like to visit Vancouver, how about planning a trip for the first weekend in May? The Vancouver Marathon, Canada's largest, celebrates its 37th year in 2008 with a run through downtown, including Stanley Park. The event also features a marathon relay and a popular half marathon, which has sold out in past years. Visit www.vanmarathon.bc.ca for information.

Champion marathoner Alberto Salazar was hospitalized earlier this week after collapsing while coaching distance runners at the Nike campus in Beaverton, Ore.Salazar underwent surgery at a Portland hospital to have a stent inserted to open an artery. Salazar, age 48, won the New York Marathon three consecutive times, won the Boston Marathon in 1982 and set six U.S. and one world record during his career as an distance runner.

Saturday, 7:30 a.m.: 26th Annual Butler County Family YMCA Triathlon, Moraine State Park. Major triathlon in our area with quarter-mile swim, 7-mile bike ride and a 5K run. Must be 16 years of age or older. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.orgSaturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday, 8 a.m.: Muddy Paws Trail Races, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Brecksville, Ohio. Choice of challenging 5 miles, 10 miles or 2 miles on trails, benefits Summit County Humane Society. 330-656-1176 or vince@verticalrunner.comSaturday, 8:30 a.m.: Rockwood Rotary Half Marathon and 5K Run-Walk, Rockwood. Run on Allegheny Highlands Rail Trail. 814-926-2469Saturday, 9 a.m.: Smoky Hollow 5K and 1-Mile, Youngstown, Ohio. 330-758-8708Saturday, 10:30 a.m.: Summer Day 5K, Summerville. 814-648-0780 or eshofestall@brockway.k12.pa.usSaturday, 12:30 p.m.: East Main Street Mile, Somerset. Downhill mile, part of Ribs and Sun Festival. 814-445-6213Sunday, 6 p.m.: Hoodlebug 5K Run and Fun Walk, Homer City. Starts at Floodway Park, part of community festival. 724-465-8262July 11, 6 p.m.: John Woodruff 5K Run-Walk, Connelsville. 724-626-1847 or ndye@zoominternet.netJuly 14, 9 a.m.: Elk County Classic 5K, Johnsonburg. 814-776-2413 or bczappa@penn.comJuly 15, 8:30 a.m.: Bushy Run 5K, Jeanette. Run through woods and fields of historic Bushy Run Battlefield. 724-744-2171, ext. 202July 21, 9 a.m.: Freeport 5K, Freeport. In conjunction with Freeport International Baseball Games. 724-295-5511 or marathonmetal@comcast.netJuly 22, 9 a.m.: Kayla's Run for SIDS, Baldwin. Starts at Baldwin High School, more than 100 random drawing prizes. 412-885-3858 or hconnors@sids-pa.orgJuly 28, 8:30 a.m.: Rube's Run 5k Road Race and Walk, Prospect. Post race old-fashioned baseball breakfast. 724-865-2181 or jmharm@zoominternet.netJuly 28, 9 a.m.: Oakmont-Verona Twin Boro 5K, Riverside Park, Oakmont. 412-826-1452 or palmaost@aol.comJuly 29, 8 a.m.: Thorn Hill 5K, Warrendale. Rolling run through industrial park. 724-776-4949 or www.cranberrychamber.com

Freeport Flash 5K, June 2: Brian Tackett, 1st Overall M, 18:46; Owen Venesky, 2nd Overall M, 18:46; Sergei Dines, 3rd Overall M, 18:59; Laura Hoover, 1st Overall W, 21:41; Melanie Lutz, 2nd Overall W, 22:03; Kristen Prazenica, 3rd Overall W, 22:08; Cory Steinhagen, 1st 16-19 M, 19:02; Timothy Wyant, 1st 30-39 M, 19:03; John McCullough, 1st 40-49 M, 19:03; Bradley Cubbage, 1st 20-29 M, 19:10; Mitch Radella, 2nd 40-49 M, 19:56; Richard Stewart, 3rd 40-49 M, 20:07; Matt Thaemart, 2nd 16-19 M, 20:58; Matt Hall, 1st 13-15 M, 21:24; Larry Lutz, 1st 50-59 M, 21:27; Eric Dunn, 2nd 13-15 M, 21:40; Curt Quinell, 3rd 30-39 M, 22:14; Barbie Berrang, 1st 30-39 W, 22:27Daniel Dines, 3rd 13-15 M, 23:04; Nate Kotecki, 3rd 16-19 M, 23:07; Kelly Check, 2nd 30-39 W, 23:11; Kevin Check, 3rd 30-39 M, 23:17; James Varner, 2nd 50-59 M, 23:38; Jordan Dunn, 1st 16-19 W, 23:43; Tom Williams, 3rd 50-59 M, 23:48; Dianna Lutz, 1st 40-49 W, 24:58; Ralph Ross, 1st 70+ M, 25:14; Brittany MacShane, 2nd 16-19 W, 25:40; Dez Csizmadia, 1st 60-69 M, 25:41; Jody Keppel, 2nd 40-49 W, 25:58; Craig Kasunic, 2nd 20-29 M, 26:10; Kaiti Pullano, 1st 13-15 W, 26:14; Kyrene Haynes, 2nd 13-15 W, 26:29; Alex Toy, 3rd 16-19 M, 27:06; Wendy Reccio, 3rd 40-49 W, 27:12; Missy Kurpakus, 3rd 30-39 W, 29:20; Kasey Kurpakus, 3rd 13-15 W, 29:20; Jackie Schaefers, 1st 20-29 W, 29:27Frank Prazenica, 2nd 60-69 M, 30:12; Nathan Williams, 1st 12 and under M, 30:15; Matt Martin, 1st 20-29 M, 30:20; Dan Doubenspeck, 3rd 20-29 M, 30:22; Marcia Semple, 1st 60-69 W, 33:06; Cindy Graham, 1st 50-59 W, 33:33; Russ Maxwell, 2nd 70+ M, 34:58; Sarah Haynes, 1st 20-29 W, 37:12; Maria Hepler, 2nd 50-59 W, 37:29; Christine Davies, 3rd 60-69 W, 38:39 Ashtyn Neibar, 1st 12 and under W, 40:36; Garry Davies, 3rd 60-69 M, 42:52; Allison Graham, 2nd 20-29 W, 45:47; Sophi Reitz, 2nd 12 and under W, 50:36John Dunn, 21:00; Stephen Hepler, 21:38; Chuck Huth, 22:57; Bill Yarolick, 23:34; Brian Tague, 23:50; Buddy Turner, 24:10; Larry Hall, 24:11; Mark Walter, 24:14; Kevin Keppel, 24:15; Bob Kline, 24:19; Fred Doerfler, 24:21; Steven Pasney, 24:22; Eric Snyder, 24:31; J.R. Ellis, 24:41; Corey Tague, 24:52; Gregory Huth, 24:59; Patrick Reitz, 25:00; Mike Crocker, 25:04; Sean Carnahan, 25:15Jeff Hinchberger, 25:23; Marc Miller, 25:30; Patrick Spangler, 25:50; Michael Glew, 26:01; Joey Sadecky, 28:38; Cindy Walters, 28:45; Brian Gilbertson, 30:32; Lisa Moss, 31:14; John Fetchko, 31:24; Debra Kuminkoski, 33:56; Matthew Callihan, 34:08; Cassie Treshok, 34:14; Karolyn Kasely, 34:14; Al Lane, 34:25; Sandy Stitt, 34:41; Sue Carnahan, 37:29; Tony Neibar, 40:37; April Kasely, 41:40; Laurie Williams, 45:46; Darlene Callihan, 45:46; Zoe Reitz, 50:36; Mary O'Toole, 49:38; Amy Trempus, 49:39; Karlee Kocon, 50:39; Lee Vercoe, 50:40; Suzanne Reitz, 51:01; Ken Elliott, 51:43Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. E-mail: bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.