In my last column, I mentioned ways to get kids active and running in the summer.

This weekend’s events offer kids of all ages opportunities to get out, get moving and have fun. Butler’s own Butler Road Race, sponsored by Independence Health System, celebrates its 49th running this Saturday at 9 a.m. with both 5-mile and 2k distances. It is one of the oldest races in the region.

In its long history, the race has evolved from a 10k to a 5-mile/2-mile distance combination. The 2-mile became a 2k, approximately 1.24 miles, in the year 2000 and has remained popular with not only speedsters, but walkers, beginning runners and kids. This year’s Butler Road Race will run its traditional out-and-back route, finishing with a gentle, long climb up Main Street to Diamond Park.

An out-and-back course is great for kids. They see all the participants, from speedy front runners to the very last (but not least.) If they’re competitive, they can judge for themselves where they are in the pack. And if they’re out for a gentle jog, they can watch the scenery and people go by.

Running an out-and-back sometimes seems more doable. With a loop course, there’s a sense of, “Where are we and when are we going to get there?” On an out-and-back, you get the feeling of achievement at the turnaround when you’re heading for home. Butler Road Race offers overall, masters and age group recognition for age groups from 9 and under through 70+.

The Donny Bayne Memorial Award is presented to the first Butler County male and female finishers regardless of age. You may register for Butler Road Race online until Friday at noon or on race day in Diamond Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. with cash or check only. There are registration discounts for registration discounts for ages 17 and under.

Also on Saturday, Butch’s Bucket Brigade 5k, now in its 11th year, honors former Worthington fire chief Larry “Butch” Cypher. The event benefits the fire department that he served for many years and features an out-and-back 5k run/walk at 9 a.m.

Co-race director and one of Butch’s grandkids, Allison Green, says that although the course isn’t level, it is good for beginners, kids and families.

“There are a lot of walkers,” she says.

Dogs and strollers are also welcome. If your kids would rather ride than run, Bucket Brigade holds a short bike race/ride for kids ages 10 and under starting at 11 a.m. Helmets are required, but the course is a safe and level loop on the road near the 5k start. Allison says the course is approximately a quarter mile with parents and volunteers marking out an oval and keeping the kids on track.

There’s a staggered start in age groups and helmets are required for safety. The event awards prizes for top 3 finishers in age groups 1-5, 6-8 and 9-10 in the bike race and all kids under age 10 in the bike race or 5k earn a finisher’s ribbon and a ride ticket for the Worthington Carnival, which takes place all week.

You may register for Butch’s Brigade 5k or Kid’s Bike Race anytime this week at Worthington Carnival, online until Friday, 1:30 p.m. or at the race on Saturday morning beginning at 7:45 a.m. for the run and 10 a.m. for the bike race.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, 9 a.m.: 49th Annual Butler Road Race 5 Mile and 2k, Butler. Run downtown presented by Butler YMCA and Independence Health System. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/ButlerRoadRace

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Butch’s Bucket Brigade 5k and kids Bike Race, Worthington. Bike race for kids 10 and under starts at 11 A.M. 412-860-8372 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Worthington/ButchsBucketBrigade

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Susquehanna Classic 5k/10k Race & 5k Walk, Curwensville. 814-236-3455 or sharonike@verizon.net

June 28, 9 p.m.: Moon Glow Run 5k, Coraopolis. Night run with glow sticks and neon face paint, post-race music, dancing, entertainment. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Coraopolis/MoonParksRecreationVirtualGLOW5KRunWalk

June 29, 9 a.m.: Ellwood City Arts & Crafts Food Festival 10k, Ellwood City. Formerly Ellwood City Ledger 10k. runsignup.com/Race/PA/EllwoodCity/EllwoodCityLedgerArtsCraftsFoodFestival10k

June 29, 9 a.m.: Jolly July Jaunt and Dog Dash 5k, Oil City. Dog friendly event supports local dog shelters. 814-428-2306 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=139604

June 30, 6 a.m.: Hell Hath No Hurry, Pittsburgh. Run 10k, 30k, 50k or 50 Miles on Settler’s Cabin Park trails. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Carnegie/HellHathNoHurryPA

July 4, 7:30 a.m.: 40th Annual Whiskey Rebellion 5k, Canonsburg. Starts at Canon Mac Stadium. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Canonsburg/WhiskeyRebellion5KRunWalk

July 4, 8 a.m.: Get Fit Families Firecracker 5k and 1 Mile, Zelienople. Starts at Zelienople Community Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/Getfitfamiliesfirecracker

July 4, 8:30 a.m.: Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5k, Allison Park. Run in Hampton Community Park. Chris.lochner@hampton-pa.org or runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/2022HamptonRotaryClubFirecracker5K

July 12, 7 p.m.: Elderton Fireman’s Festival 5k, Elderton. 724-388-2415 or aprilbrochetti@yahoo.com

July 13, 9 a.m.: Elk County Striders BZ Classic 5k, Ridgeway. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Ridgway/BZClassic5K

July 14, 8 a.m.: Murraysville Monster 10k & 20k Trail Races, Murraysville. Run through Duff Park and Pleasant Valley Park on singletrack trails. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Murrysville/MurrysvilleMonsterTrailRaces

July 14, Noon: Trailblazer 15k and 5k, Meadville. Flat and fast on paved Ernst Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Meadville/TRAILBLAZER15k

July 17, 6:30 p.m.: Frick Park Summer Trail Series, Pittsburgh. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/FrickSummerTrailRaceSeriesPresentedbyPaperDirt

July 17, 7 p.m.: 17th Annual Kalajainen Klassic 5k/1 Mile, New Castle. Benefits American Cancer Society. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NewCastle/KalajainenKlassic5KRunWalk

July 20, 9 a.m.: O’Neal Memorial Cherry Festival 5k, North East. Post race ice cream sundaes. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NorthEast/NorthEastCherryFestivalONealMemorial5kRunWalk

July 24, 8:45 p.m.: Firefly Two Miler, Butler. Run/walk at Butler Farm Show Grounds. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/PAFirefly2Miler

July 26, 7 p.m.: All Saints Parish Twilight 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run, Butler. 724-355-4038 or chris.singleton06@gmial.com

July 27, 7 p.m.-July 28, 8 a.m.: Kinzua Half Marathon & 5k, Mount Jewett. Run 5k on Saturday, half marathon on Sunday or both at scenic Kinzua Bridge State Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/MountJewett/KinzuaHalfMarathon

Race results

Pittsburgh Half Marathon, May 4 (finish times under 1:56:000: Wesley Kiptoo, 1st Overall M, 1:01:31; Stephanie Bruce, 1st Overall W, 1:11:11; Amy Brown, 1st Masters W, 1:28:04; Angela Jenny, 2nd Masters W, 1:28:47; Emily Hensel, 3rd 30-34 W, 1:28:33; Michael Brown, 1st 70-74 M, 1:36:03; S. Mark Courtney, 2nd 65-69 M, 1:40:18; Elizabeth Perry, 3rd 45-49 W, 1:42:52; Margaret Carlson, 3rd 70-74 W, 2:26:03; Aaron Plyler, 1:16:21; Seth Jenny, 1:23:24; Patrick Himes, 1:28:49; Christopher Rowoth, 1:30:15; Samuel Mashuda, 1:30:34; Ava Pietrzyk, 1:31:36; Logan Leskanic, 1:32:03; Dillon Burkarth, 1:32:51; Steven Biddle, 1:33:58; Brian Stein, 1:34:39; Lewis Gregory, 1:35:02; Mary Jaskowak, 1:35:44; Anthony Miller, 1:35:56; Antonio Garofalo, 1:36:02; Rachel Legacy, 1:36:05; Emma McDonald, 1:36:05; Josh Gretz, 1:36:47; Garrett Eckley, 1:37:02; Nicholas Crowley, 1:37:23; Jason Cecchetti, 1:38:19; Ray Reinheimer, 1:38:31; Jose Manuel Sanchez Pedregal, 1:38:51; Brian McGowan, 1:38:52; Gage Eckley, 1:38:53; Mark Munger, 1:39:01; Donald Donatelli, 1:39:31; Rebecca Clark, 1:39:54; Jim Haughey, 1:40:04; Danielle Cecchetti, 1:40:22; Danielle Butler, 1:40:38; Dallas Jackson, 1:40:49; Jonathan Kelly, 1:41:17; Bill Snider, 1:41:42; Brian Irwin, 1:41:57; Alex Valadja, 1:42:08; Caitlin Snyder, 1:42:28; Francois Voyeau, 1:42:48; Jeremy Jarrell, 1:43:03; Mario Greco, 1:43:07; Wesly Rice, 1:43:38; Hans Noel, 1:44:01; Akira Nakanishi, 1:44:12; Wade Endress, 1:44:13; Morgan Kiebler, 1:44:13; Kyle Gragg, 1:44:46; Nathan Kraus, 1:44:54; Leah Perez, 1:45:04; Seth Eismann, 1:45:56; Jason Koss, 1:46:29; Lissa Batchelet, 1:46:32; Ben Portz, 1:46:33; Andrew Williams, 1:46:37; Olivia Drohan, 1:46:50; Kate Meeuf, 1:47:12; Ray Huber, 1:47:16; Stephen Collins, 1:47:17; Tyler Miele, 1:47:25; Colton Winslow, 1:47:31; Ali White, 1:47:43; Anne Bernacki, 1:47:47; William Swiontek, 1:47:56; Connor Hetzel, 1:47:57; Matthew Corbin, 1:48:24; Rachel McNulty, 1:48:27; Michael Cortese, 1:48:38; David Spencer, 1:48:46; Alex Carmelite, 1:48:53; Madylyn Aulbach, 1:49:02; Anthony Patsy, 1:49:09; Beth Carson, 1:49:10; Brett Smithco, 1:49:16; Lai Nguyen, 1:49:17; Gustavo Casimiro Vilas Boas, 1:49:19; Frank McCoy, 1:49:27; Emily Shattuck, 1:49:48; James DiPerna, 1:49:51; Josh Venderlic, 1:49:55; Rachel Traversari, 1:50:08; Greg Huth, 1:50:11; Eric Egli, 1:50:18; Richard Warner, 1:50:19; Kristen Taylor, 1:50:29; Tim Bartholomew, 1:50:31; Holly Palmer, 1:50:37; Robert Sepcic, 1:50:42; Christian Kramer, 1:50:50; Andrew Nigra IV, 1:50:58; Nick Radlo, 1:51:05; Justy Brown, 1:51:36; Devan Cummins, 1:51:40; Katie Arvay, 1:51:41; Trevor Seskey, 1:51:44; Alyssa Da Silva, 1:51:49; Roberto Da Silva, 1:51:49; Logan West, 1:51:50; Jerry Meyer, 1:51:57; Brad Samsa, 1:52:00; Jake Smith, 1:52:06; Dane DeKing, 1:52:07; Brandon Miller, 1:52:19; Michael FitzGerald, 1:52:20; Brian Bosiljevac, 1:52:23; Mark Varlotta, 1:52:30; Caroline Hufnagle, 1:52:32; Tim Morgus, 1:52:43; Josh Bartley, 1:52:46; Suzanne Bartley, 1:52:47; Travis Ganter, 1:52:49; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 1:52:52; Craig Huba, 1:52:53; Kim Platt, 1:52:53; Noah Raymundo, 1:53:05; Sarah Walsh, 1:53:12; Samantha Croach, 1:53:19; Benjamin Schnelle, 1:53:22; Erica Trimble, 1:53:24; Eric Stauffer, 1:53:26; Philip O’Toole, 1:53:27; Brian Apel, 1:53:50; Erin Norwig, 1:53:58; Jennifer Mondi, 1:53:58; Michael Gildersleeve, 1:54:00; Lauren Breski, 1:54:04; Emily Conner, 1:54:05; Pete Braunger, 1:54:07; Brett Smith, 1:54:09; David Cheung, 1:54:15; Ethan Clarke, 1:54:40; Brandon Konieczny, 1:54:41; Jordan Vernon, 1:54:45; Shannon Smith, 1:54:45; Katie Ford, 1:54:48; Patrick Mondi, 1:54:52; Nicole Savage, 1:55:01; Alyssa Schonbachler, 1:55:02; Rustin Burger, 1:55:07; Mark Wabiszewski, 1:55:08; Rebecca Smith, 1:55:09; Elizabeth Ferguson, 1:55:12; James Truckle, 1:55:15; Timothy Simons, 1:55:19; Jeffrey Bennett, 1:55:44; Haley Cramer, 1:55:47; Kim Spears, 1:55:47; Glenn Battle, 1:55:49; Olivia Hanna, 1:55:55; Connor Alfreno, 1:55:57

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-352-4395, Email lotzak@consolidated.net.

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle