There’s no shortage of races and fun runs during the summer. Rather than compete with an already crowded morning schedule of events, some races choose to take advantage of extended daylight hours to hold evening runs.

Dam Race 5K on Wednesday, July 10, 7 p.m., is one of the oldest of the evening races. The course has been part of the Mercer County QUAD since its inception 41 years ago. Dam Race takes its name from the Shenango Dam, built in 1965 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a flood control project. The resulting 3,400-acre lake is a great place to fish, swim, bike and camp.

Runners and walkers at Dam Race run out and back, crossing the scenic dam twice. The race turns around on Trout Island Trail, a rail trail that overlooks the Shenango River and historic Erie Extension Canal locks. As the second event in the QUAD series, Dam Race offers awards for Top 5 overall male and female finishers, first masters and Top 3 age group finishers from under-11 through 70-plus. And as with all QUAD races, Dam Race holds a kids’ half-mile run at 7:45 p.m. Each participant receives a ribbon and Top 3 boys and girls in age groups 5 and under through 10-11 earn competitive recognition.

You may sign up online until Tuesday before the race or at the event on race day. Commemorative shirts are not included in registration, but you may purchase one until supplies run out. If you like Dam Race, there are still two more QUAD races on the schedule this summer.

Fredonia 5K on July 24 features a gradual downhill finish and Courtney’s Ice Cream Race on Aug. 14 has a post-race ice cream buffet. On Friday, July 12 at 7 p.m., runners will challenge the USA certified 5K course through the streets of Elderton in the 2nd Annual Fireman’s Festival 5K. Runners may recognize the course as the same one used by this May’s Elderton 5K. This July tour of Elderton is held in conjunction with the Fireman’s Festival and benefits the local fire department. Race director April Brochetti encourages all race participants, family and friends to stay after the race for the festival with games, bounce house and musical entertainment until 11 p.m. Friday and continuing all weekend.

Brochetti promises water on the course with water and bananas following the run. She recommends stopping by the Firemen’s Kitchen for roast beef sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs and more at the festival. Competitive awards in the 5K include Top 3 male and female in ages 14U through over-70. All runners and walkers are welcome, including dogs and kids in strollers. Online registration for the Elderton 5K is open until race day. There’s also race day registration at the fire hall beginning at 6 p.m. Shirts are available until supplies run out.

The longest running 5K in Lawrence County will be held in New Castle’s Cascade Park and adjacent back roads on July 17 at 7 p.m. The 24th Annual Kalajainen Klassic 5K honors the memory of Joann Kalajainen and her daughter, Sherry, who both lost their lives to cancer. Kalajainen Klassic also has a 1-mile Survivor/Memorial Walk/Run. Organizers “encourage all survivors to participate and also those who have lost a loved one.”

This event benefits American Cancer Society. Kalajainen Klassic awards Top 3 overall male and female finishers and Top 3 age group finishers from 11U through over-65. Top male and female finishers in the 1-mile are also recognized. All runners and walkers, including dogs and kids in strollers are welcome to participate. You may sign up online until 2 p.m. on race day. In-person registration on race day begins at 5:30 p.m. in Cascade Park.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, 9 a.m. Reece’s Round-Up East Coast, Beaver. Benefits Reece Rubino, who suffers from spinal atrophy Type-1. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Beaver/ReeceRoundUpEastCoast2020

Sunday, 7:15 a.m.: Runway 5K Jimmy Stewart Airport, Indiana. Also Fun Flyer Little Kids Fun Run. runsignup.com/Race/Events/PA/Indiana/JimmyStewartAirportRunway5K

July 10, 7 p.m.: Dam Race 5K, Sharpsville. Out and back with two dam crossings. 724-866-1374 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=139787

July 12, 7 p.m.: Elderton Fireman’s Festival 5K, Elderton. 724-388-2415 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Elderton/EldertonFiremansFestival5K

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

July 14, 8 a.m.: Murrysville Monster 10K and 20K Trail Races, Murrysville. Run through Duff Park and Pleasant Valley Park on single-track trails. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Murrysville/MurrysvilleMonsterTrailRaces

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

July 17, 7 p.m.: 24th Annual Kalajainen Klassic 5K/1 Mile, New Castle. Benefits American Cancer Society. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NewCastle/KalajainenKlassic5KRunWalk

July 24, 7 p.m.: Fredonia 5K, Fredonia. Race No. 3 of Mercer County QUAD series. Also half-mile kids run. 724-866-1374 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=139782

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, 8:30 a.m.: 20th Annual Rube’s Run 5K, Prospect. Run past boyhood home of baseball hall-of-famer Rube Waddell. 724-841-4306 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Prospect/RUBESRUN

July 27, 9 a.m.: John Cossy Costantino Memorial 5K and 10K, Freeport. Run through Freeport streets, finish on James Swartz Memorial Field. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Freeport/JohnCossyConstantinoMemorial5K

July 27, 9 a.m.: Killian 5K, Allison Park. Starts at North Park Boat House. Post-race party. www.killian5k.com

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

July 28, 8 a.m.: Heartbeat 5K, Zelienople. Benefits American Heart Association. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/SeniorProjectHeartbeat5k

July 28, 8 a.m.: Run with the Deer Flies 15K and 25K Trail Runs, Penn Run. Challenging trails surrounding Yellow Creek State Park. 724-422-5323 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/PennRun/RunWithTheDeerFlies25K15K

Aug. 3, 8:30 a.m.: Moraine Regatta 5K, Portersville. Trail run/walk on Moraine State Park’s Sunken Garden Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Portersville/MoraineRegatta5k

Aug. 3, 9 a.m.: St. Barnabas Free Care 5K, Gibsonia. 724-625-3770 or stbarnabashealthsystem.com/charities/annual-events/stbarnabas5k/

Race Results

Glacier Ridge 50 Mile Trail Race, May 11: Jeffrey Adams, 1st Overall M, 7:53:23; Melissa Goodman, 1st Overall W, 10:30:48; Travis Ritenour 10:55:17; Rob Porco, 11:26:55; Matthew Bennett, 11:52:15; Josh Heintz, 12:00:04; David Beck, 12:01:49; Gary Hayden, 12:04:28; Wesley Schools, 12:06:23; Melanie Hoy, 12:35:30 Glacier Ridge 50k Trail Race, May 11: Dean Banko, 1st Overall M, 4:52:04; Anna Balouris, 1st Overall W, 4:55:56; Matt Bernardi, 5:29:57; Wyatt Salmon, 6:04:06; Thomas Toplak, 6:12:37; Adam Shoup, 6:14:58; Michael Bossola, 7:01:48; Zachary Leslie, 7:08:38; Jenifer Carter, 7:10:38; Matthew Opsitos, 7:11:26; Zach Porter, 7:12:31; Ronald Jordan, 8:10:52; Suzette Cappola, 8:24:08; Brian Welsh, 8:28:32; Olivia Gilliland, 8:39:17; Carly Thompson, 8:39:18; Sue Johnson, 10:00:13 Run Like a Mother 5k, May 12: Jacob Szul, 1st Overall M, 19:00; Camden Schaefer, 3rd Overall M, 20:57; Zari Golojuh, 1st Overall W, 20:57; Rebekka Dinh, 3rd Overall W, 25:15; Justin Sellinger, 1st 12-15 M, 21:17; Adam Sellinger, 1st 11 & Under M, 22:04; Patrick Jones, 2nd 20-29 M, 22:08; Matthew Schaefer, 1st 40-49 M, 22:27; Brent Baldauf, 2nd 40-49 M, 23:54; Robby Mertz, 3rd 20-29 M, 24:23; Cooper Rauschenberger, 2nd 11 & Under M, 24:53; Jon Holtz, 1st 30-39 M, 25:08; Liam McLean, 3rd 11 & Under M, 25:16; Tim Piper, 1st 60+ M, 25:50; Mitch Radella, 1st 50-59 M, 26:15; William Atkinson, 3rd 40-49 M, 26:19; Scott Joseph, 3rd 50-59 M, 27:31; Ashley Yaklich, 1st 30-39 W, 27:46; Cynthia Jelinek, 1st 60+ W, 28:32; Chloe Schaefer, 1st 11 & Under W, 28:50; Tricia Schaefer, 1st 40-49 W, 29:12; John Karpacs, 3rd 60+ M, 29:37; Jaclyn Rohrman, 3rd 30-39 W, 29:41; Tasha Ponteous, 2nd 40-49 W, 30:08; Cassandra Pencek, 3rd 40-49 W, 31:24; Kimberly Miller, 2nd 50-59 W, 31:57; Alex Eppinger, 2nd 12-15 M, 32:13; Sherry Mertz, 3rd 50-59 W, 32:22; Isabelle Fesler, 2nd 11 & Under W, 32:34; Grace Vantine, 3rd 11 & Under W, 33:36; Morgan Slater, 2nd 20-29 W, 33:47; Kyle Dittman, 1st 16-19 M, 34:00; Bree Dittman, 3rd 20-29 W, 34:00; L. Schley, 12-15 M, 34:57; Anna James, 1st 12-15 W, 36:32; Cali Beachem, 2nd 12-15 W, 38:16; Carol English, 2nd 60+ W, 39:19; Aaron Tolfa, 2nd 30-39 M, 45:00; Tim Shingleton, 3rd 30-39 M, 51:59; Anthony Malloy, 26:29; Liam Baldauf, 26:31; Jacob Ponteous, 27:26; Taylor Marsinetti, 28:13; Troy Jelinek, 28:32; Vincent Moore, 28:43; Michael Leclaire, 29:36; Henry Nolan, 30:16; Paul Johnson, 30:57; Jennifer Nolan 31:33; P. Schley, 31:47; Lindsay Atkinson, 32:01; Letricia Vantine, 32:13; Jenn Fesler, 32:34; Anthony Sunseri, 33:19; Kate Zajac, 33:25; Laurie Jones, 33:59; Kristie Dittman, 34:01; M. Schley, 34:24; Sara Young, 34:40; Andie Holtz, 35:17, Christian Kremer, 35:24; Ashley Teuteberg, 35:53; Beth Marino, 36:23; Mandy James, 36:33; Ralph Deer, 36:52; Gina Slater, 36:53; Emma LeClaire, 37:32; Ashley Leclaire, 37:50; Megan Tolfa, 37:57; Jen Beachem, 38:16; Jarrad Pencek, 38:23; Jovi Pencek, 38:24; Ruby LeClaire, 38:27; Simon Davidson, 39:19; Katie Davidson, 39:24; Ryli Beachem, 39:51; Walt Tutak, 40:15; Jocelyn Shetter, 40:40; Palak Pan, 41:28; Tamara Yaklich, 43:02; Sonya Kremer, 43:10; J. Schley, 44:52; Chris Mertz, 44:56 Luca Tolfa 45:03; Mykayla Farmer, 46:56; Amy Hanuscak, 48:13; Luke Blair, 48:23; Kati Blair, 48:29; Rodney Lockwood, 48:59; Molly McLean, 50:34; Karen Hull, 50:38; Emery Shingleton, 51:55; Amanda Shingleton, 52:22; Mackenna Shingleton, 52:23; Tammy Toy, 52:28; Carl Bachman, 54:58; Paula Neu, 55:19; Ashley Ganoe, 55:19; Katricia Vouga, 55:20; Mandy Eckstein, 55:29; Becca McCandless, 55:29; Jessica Titler, 55:48; Laura Graham, 55:49; Cheryl Bachman, 55:56; Renee Miller, 55:59; Debbie Ganoe, 56:13; Theresa Tate, 56:28; Nicole Skarbek, 56:51; Debbie McCandless, 56:52; Lila Skarbek, 56:53; Jeannine Strohmyer, 57:16; Danny Sweeney, 57:16; Ashley McCandless, 57:43; Kass Holman, 58:01; Justin McCandless, 58:03; Tanner McCandless, 58:04; Savannah McCandless, 58:04; Jennifer Malloy, 59:58; Julia Malloy, 59:59; Shelley Steighner, 1:00:54; Alison King, 1:09:12; Joshua King, 1:09:14; Mackenzie Campbell, 1:09:14; Noah Campbell, 1:09:15; Pepper Green, 1:09:51; Rani Ahl, 1:10:36; Darlene Vantine, 1:10:41; Dawn Kitchens, 1:10:42

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle. Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-352-4395, Email lotzak@consolidated.net