I love running trails.

Fortunately for me, I live within a half-hour drive of several parks with excellent trail running choices. While I appreciate the flexibility and solitude of running alone, I also enjoy the challenge and camaraderie of a group trail run.

Last Tuesday, I met with a dozen North Park Trail Runners for what's billed as a Sexy Pace Run, a weekly 6:45 p.m. meet-up for 4 to 5 miles of North Park trails run (or walked) at a conversational pace. There's no racing and no judgment on the Sexy Pace. NPTR leaders lay out the weekly course starting at a different location each week, then shepherd the group along the chosen route.

We met at our starting point near the park's Orange Trail and after introductions of new faces and instructions by Adriana Alatorre, our leader for the night, we headed onto the switchbacks of the wooded trail. The shaded path offered immediate relief from the day's humidity and glare of the evening sun.

Our group quickly sorted itself into packs of like-paced and like-minded runners, a fleet-footed few up front, twos and threes in conversation about training or family in the middle and a couple of walkers bringing up the rear. We regrouped periodically, allowing for more conversation and resorting and ensuring that no one got lost on trail.

After about a mile, we found the highlight for the evening — the Fountain of Youth, a hidden landmark just below the trail and above an access on Kummer Road. The stone grotto of the Fountain of Youth was constructed by the WPA in 1938.

The structure equipped with a hand pump for public access to fresh drinking water remained in use until 1955 when the water tested positive for coliform contamination. The pump was then removed and the structure fell into disrepair until the stone entrance was repaired in 2005 and the Fountain of Youth stone disk remounted on the front in 2009.

After a commemorative group photo, we scampered up the hill and back to the 4.2-mile loop around North Park's golf course. The trail follows Kummer Road's paved surface for about a half mile, then passes another point of interest – Gravity Hill.

It's said that if you stop at the intersection of Kummer and McKinney roads and put your car in neutral, your car will feel like it's rolling uphill. I can't say that I had that feeling while running, but I plan to try it out at some point with my car.

We entered a fragrant and cool pine forest, ran uphill past the park's horse ring and skirted the golf course once again before the last grassy and almost level lope to the finish. The sun was setting, bringing long shadows and a cool evening breeze.

Our group dissolved into those striding toward the finish and those lingering to make the most of the last pleasant miles. Two of us noticed a solitary bench by the side of the trail and stopped to read its inscription.

The bench was dedicated to Michael Aristocles James. The late Mr. James was a local mountain biker, apparently on this popular trail. The bench was also inscribed with a quote from Helen Keller's Open Door: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

As I joined the group in the parking lot, already sweaty, smiling and rehydrating, I considered the evening's run. I had come to the park expecting nothing at all, just a short run on a familiar trail. And while it wasn't particularly daring, the run was an adventure of sorts.

Not only had I received a message from beyond the grave, words of wisdom from those who came before me inscribed on a bench, I had touched the fountain of youth. We all had.

Just a short run through the woods had softened our worries, challenged our legs and lungs, cleared our heads, and opened our hearts to the needs of others.

If you wish to join North Park Trail Runners in pursuit of adventure or the fountain of youth of group trail runs, visit their Facebook group page or www.northparktrailrunners.com for the weekly schedule of events.

Upcoming events

Friday, 7 p.m.: 9th Annual Passavant Hospital Foundation Run/Walk, Allison Park. Choice of 4k or 8k at North Park Pool. Also virtual option. 412-748-6640 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/9thAnnualPassavantHospitalFoundationRunWalk

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Light of Life Yinzer 4.12k, Pittsburgh. Run on North Shore. 412-999-9359 or Dylan.junker@p3r.org

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Slickville 5k Coal Mine Climb and 2 Mile Fun Walk, Slickville. Part of Community Days with challenging backcountry 5k route or flatter 2-mile walk on Westmoreland Heritage Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Slickville/Slickville5kCoalMineClimb2MIleFunWalk

Saturday, 6 p.m.: Run for the Trail 7k Run and 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk, Dilltown. Run on Ghost Town Trail. 724-840-5961 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Dilltown/RunForTheTrail7KRunand2MileFunRunWalk

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Kinzua Bridge Challenge, Mt. Jewett. Choice of 10k, 5k, 2 Mile Walk or 1 Mile Fun Run starting at Kinzua Bridge Skywalk and running on Mt. Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Rail Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/MountJewett/KinzuaBridgeChallenge

Aug. 18, 7 p.m.: Ice Cream Race 5k (QUAD IV), Grove City. Post-race ice cream, also virtual option. 724-866-1374 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=135823

Aug. 28, 9 a.m.: Run Around the Square 5k, Pittsburgh. Run through Regent Square neighborhood. Also 1.5 mile run/walk at 8:15 A.M. runaroundthesquare.com

Aug. 29, 7:30 a.m.: Burning Coal Marathon and Half Marathon, Rimersburg. Run out and back along Allegheny River on level Armstrong Trail. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/Rimersburg/BurningCoalMarathon

Aug. 29, 8 a.m.: Indiana County Fair 5k, Indiana. Run starts at grandstands and runs in Fairgrounds. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Indiana/ICF5k

Aug. 29, 9:30 a.m.: Elk Run Volunteer Fire Company 5k/10k, Punxsutawney. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Punxsutawney/ElkRunVolFireCompany5k10k

Sept. 4, 7 a.m: French Creek ½ Marathon and 5k, Meadville. Mostly flat course on paved Ernst Trail. 814-336-2196 or www.facebook.com/frenchcreekhalfmarathon/?ref=bookmarks

Sept. 4, 8 a.m: Big Savage Half Marathon, Meyersdale. Run on crushed limestone rail trail includes 3300-foot long Big Savage Tunnel. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/Meyersdale/BigSavageHalfMarathon

Sept. 4, 8:30 a.m.: Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5k, Hampton Township. Run starts at Hampton Community Park. Chris.loshner@hampton-pa.org or runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/HamptonRotaryFirecracker5K2018

Sept. 5, 7:30 a.m.: Race to Beat Women's Cancers 5k Run/Walk, Allison Park. Starts at North Park Boathouse. 412-641-8950 or mageewomens.org/events/race-to-beat-womens-cancers-5k-run-walk

Sept. 6, 9 a.m.: Buhl Day 5k, Hermitage. Starts and finishes at Buhl Farm Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hermitage/HERMITAGEBUHLDAY5K

Sept. 11, 8 a.m.: Barber Beast on the Bay 10 Mile, Erie. Run 10 miles with 30 obstacles. 814-480-6810 or http://www.barberbeast.org/

Sept. 11, 10 a.m.: Patti J Nelson Foundation 5k, Evans City. Benefits Evans City Public Library. 800-466-2119 or pattijnelsonfoundation.com

Sept. 12, 7 a.m: Erie Marathon @ Presque Isle, Erie. Starts at Rotary Pavilion in Presque Isle State Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Erie/ErieMarathon

Butler Road Race 5 Mile, June 19: Tim Patterson, 1st Overall M, 26:54; Andrew Mascio, 2nd Overall M, 27:09; Owen Schessler, 3rd Overall M, 27:43; Leah Ann Weaver, 1st Overall W, 30:07; Lia Bartholomew, 2nd Overall W, 34:13; Tammy Slusser, 3rd Overall W, 35:38; David Convery, 1st Wheelchair, 38:18; Tyler Paskowski, 1st 13-18 M, 29:24; Ben Capozzi, 2nd 13-18 M, 30:32; Zach Manuel, 1st 30-39 M, 30:47; Joe Harmanos, 1st 30-39 M, 30:47; Troy Reinsel, 2nd 30-39 M, 31:16; Dominick Pusateri, 1st 19-29 M, 31:31; Jack Kelley, 3rd 30-39 M, 32:09; Matthew Sudak, 1st 40-49 M, 33:11; Jason Sittler, 2nd 40-49 M, 33:33; Ryan Hughes, 2nd 19-29 M, 33:45; Vernon Morrow, 2nd 50-59 M, 35:14; Mark Casteel, 3rd 50-59 M, 37:23; Rachel Legacy, 1st 19-29 W, 38:14; Logan Leskanic, 1st 1-12 M, 38:28; Adam Leskanic, 3rd 40-49 M, 38:31; Connie Hoffer, 1st 40-49 W, 39:33; Rick Mckain, 1st 60-69 M, 40:06; Vanessa Drohan, 1st 13-18 W, 40:27; Jenna Blauser, 2nd 19-29 W, 40:38; Kayla Myrlie, 2nd 30-39 W, 41:58; Crystal Wonderling, 3rd 40-49 W, 43:09; Valorie Andreassi, 50-59 W, 44:19; Danielle Wissinger, 3rd 19-29 W, 45:22; Shirley Macefe, 1st 70+ W, 46:00; Kiley Preston, 3rd 13-18 W, 47:43; Amy Lutz, 3rd 50-59 W, 50:25; Tony Sunseri, 3rd 70+ M, 52:53; Aria Harcar, 1st 12 & Under W, 1:00:32; Olivia Flanigan, 2nd 12 & Under W, 1:12:03; Suzan Draper, 1st 60-69 W, 1:19:30; Jordan Stutz, 36:13; Isaac Boring, 37:11; James Dankovich, 37:36; Joshua Gretz, 37:50; Bill Schessler, 38:10; John Armstrong, 38:36; Anthony Beilstein, 38:47; Kevin Fazio, 39:57; Matt Drohan, 40:01; James Hendell, 40:12; Travis Hendell, 40:12; Stefan Grandelis, 40:52; Noah Flatt, 41:37; Bradley Regis, 41:40; Jason Stobert, 41:56; Andrew Menchyk Sr., 42:50; Roger Lutz, 42:50; Evonne Patterson, 43:46; Donald Crawford, 44:04; Bruce Soule, 44:11; AJ May, 44:28; Dane Winkler, 44:51; David Thompson, 44:56; Kyle Volkman, 45:34; Janel Edwards, 45:39; Michael Fiorina, 45:54; Brian Llewellyn, 46:03; Braden Kiser, 46:09; Krista Geagan, 46:54; Ryan Helsel, 47:07; Renee Neigh, 47:18; Sara Rogerson, 47:19; David Voland, 47:21; Brian Beals, 47:49; Alice O'melia, 47:52; Dave Mcgregor, 47:54; Doug Vensel, 48:17; Jeff Carey, 48:27; Megan Manuel, 48:28; Jaydon Crawford, 48:37; Matt Nocera, 48:39; Hope Fiorina, 48:47; Jim Hixon, 49:25; Brooke Griffith, 50:21; Samantha Drohan, 50:32; Craig Adams, 51:14; Jessica Pyle, 51:34; Tasha Werner, 52:03; Kory Nowakowski, 52:30; Brady Helsel, 52:50; Alison Carey, 53:22; Don Slusser, 53:43; Robin Trinko, 53:47; Jenn Fesler, 53:57; Meagan Greygor, 54:38; Kaitlyn Reges, 56:20; Troy Stiffler, 57:05; Ellen Smith, 57:22; Sara Andreassi, 57:33; Beth Skinner, 57:38; John Stutz, 58:07; Jerome Heinz, 58:27; Sarah Drane, 1:00:10; Sean Harcar, 1:00:32; Brandy Eckhardt, 1:02:45; Molly Fair, 1:03:01; Tammi Crawford, 1:03:09; Jerry Schwab, 1:04:02; Howard Kossover, 1:05:07; Sharon Menchyk, 1:05:45; Erin Thompson, 1:07:15; Jason Eckhardt, 1:08:38; Madison Lewis, 1:11:14; Debbie Gannon, 1:12:39; Diane Daugherty, 1:12:40; Lori Lewis, 1:12:41; Janet Long, 1:12:54; Carrie Curtis, 1:12:54; Rochelle Bowen, 1:13:03; Brenda Lauer, 1:14:37; Pam Flanigan, 1:15:35; Heather Bean, 1:17:23; Kevin Hoffman, 1:17:23; Kim Mechling, 1:19:30; Jeff Mechling, 1:19:30; Tricia Corrado, 1:45:48St. Joseph Liberty 5k, July 3: Kaine McFarland, 1st Overall M, 18:50; Amy Brown, 1st Overall W, 20:10; Taylor Dailey, 2nd 15-19 W, 25:11;; Barb Corle, 1st 50-59 W, 26:35; Kiley Preston, 3rd 15-19 W, 27:59; Jen Wilshire, 56:47Eagle Firecracker 5k, July 4: Magnum Vincent, 1st Overall M, 17:37; Ali Elliott, 1st Overall W, 22:33; S. Mark Courtney, 1st 60-69 M, 21:11; Scott Choura, 1st 50-59 M, 21:12; Leslie Kramer, 1st 40-49 W, 23:35; Katie Jordan, 1st 30-39 W, 24:26; Debbie Courtney, 1st 50-59 W, 27:45; Jim Lakin, 1st 70+ M, 28:03; Nathaniel Nuss, 1st 30-39 M, 29:51; Tony Sunseri, 2nd 70+ M, 30:06; Heidi Stauble, 3rd 40-49 W, 31:49; Mike Peck, 1st 40-49 M, 31:51; David Valenza, 3rd 50-59 M, 31:52; Tom Wiesen, 2nd 40-49 M, 32:56; Kaitlyn Boatwright, 3rd 30-39 W, 47:12; Amanda Choura, 32:26Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.netPat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle