During the past few weeks of Olympic competition, I, like many others, have been glued to the TV.

My main interest, of course, was the running events, everything from 100-meter sprints to the final thrilling finish of the women’s marathon. But one of the things that makes the Olympic games special is the variety of sports experience. I watched water polo, synchronized swimming and gymnastics.

But closer to home, we can watch or participate in an Olympic sport in our own backyard this weekend as Mighty Moraine Fall Multi-Sport Festival returns to Moraine State Park. This 11th annual event includes Olympic, sprint and super-sprint triathlon distances as well as duathlon, a combination of run/bike/run, and aquabike, a swim followed by a bike distance. For non-swimmers, there’s an adventure race with paddling, biking and running.

Although the Mighty Moraine Festival has been here for more than a decade, this is its first time as a multi-day event. Race director Joella Baker said this allows the park areas to open to the public earlier in the day. All events are conducted by Baker’s Get Fit Families based in Zelienople.

Baker is not only an experienced triathlete but holds certifications as a coach in triathlon, swimming and cycling. Get Fit Families offers training for every level of triathlon, from kids and beginners to those wishing to qualify for the Kona Ironman, as well as other fitness programs for kids and adults.

Mighty Moraine Festival has plenty of activities to fill the weekend.

On Saturday morning, the Olympic distance triathlon, relay and aquabike are staged from Lake View Beach on Moraine’s North Shore beginning at 6:45 a.m. The Olympic distance includes a 1500-meter swim in Lake Arthur, 40K bike on park roads and 10K run on the park’s paved trail.

On Saturday evening, the youth triathlon takes place at Pleasant Valley Beach on the South Shore. It’s a flatter, safer area for the young athletes who compete in separate events for age groups of 6 and under, 7-10 and 11-15. Distances vary based on age.

Youth participants may sign up online or on race day beginning at 4 p.m. for the 6:15 p.m. start.

Sunday’s events include sprint distance triathlon and relay with a 750-meter swim, 20K bike and 5K run; and sprint distance duathlon, aquabike and adventure race beginning at 6:50 a.m. There’s also a novice sprint triathlon starting at 7:05 a.m. for first-timers who are hesitant about the open water swim. Baker said kayakers will be on the course to help any novices who get in trouble.

The morning’s races conclude with a super sprint triathlon of 375-meter swim, 10K bike and 2.5K run at 7:35.

All competitors in the weekend’s races earn medals. There are competitive awards for top overall and age group finishers in each event. And all can celebrate with a post-race picnic of hamburgers, hot dogs, snacks and drinks prepared by Baker’s parents. She expects more than 100 first-timers in the various races.

Online registration is open until Thursday at midnight at runsignup.com/Race/PA/Portersville/MightyMoraineFallMultiSportFestival. There’s no day of event registration for the adult races.

Baker invites anyone who’s considering trying a triathlon in the future to come out to watch any of the events. There are plenty of places on the course to experience the excitement. Arrive at Lake View Beach parking area by 7 a.m. to avoid crossing through the bike route during events.

Saturday, 6:30 a.m.: Mighty Moraine Fall Multi-Sport Festival, Portersville. Triathlons and Aquabike events for all ages at Moraine State Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Portersville/ MightyMoraineFallMultiSportFestival

Saturday, 7 a.m.: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Half Marathon, 5K, 10K & Relay, Cleveland, OH. register.chronotrack.com/r/78826

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Historic Hill Run, Walk and Ride 5K, Pittsburgh. Run at Freedom Corner in Pgh Hill District. runsignup.com/Race/Events/PA/Pittsburgh/ HistoricHill

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Cor Ministries 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run, Allison Park. Starts at North Park Boathouse. runsignup.com/Race/PA/ AllisonPark/CrMinistries5K

Sunday, 7 a.m.: Drake Well Marathon and Half Marathon, Titusville. www.runrace.net/findarace.php?id=24231PA

Sunday, 9 a.m.: New Ken 5K and Fit Fest, New Kensington. Kids 12 & Under run for free. runsignup.com/Race/PA/ NewKensington/NewKensingtonFitFest5K

Aug. 24, 9 a.m.: 40th Run Around the Square 5K, Pittsburgh. Run through Regent Square neighborhood. 412-731-4456 or runaroundthesquare.com

Aug. 24, 9 a.m.: Splash & Dash 5K, Beaver. Relatively flat course, post-race splash party. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Beaver/SplashandDash5K

Aug. 24, 9 a.m.: Ruck Cancer 5K and 5 Miles. Choice of distance, ruck or run at North Park Boathouse. runsignup.com/Race/PA/ AllisonPark/ RUCKCancer

Aug. 25, 12:30 p.m.: YWCA Butler Turtle Trot 0.5K, Butler. Fun run/walk in Alameda Park. Kids ages 5 and under run for free. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/YWCATurtleTrot

Sept. 1, 9 a.m.: Brady’s Run Happy 5K and 10K, Beaver Falls. Run on paved trail in Brady’s Run Park. Free Kids Race at 8:50 a.m. runsignup.com/Race/PA/ BeaverFalls/ BradysRunHappy

Sept. 2, 9 a.m.: Buhl Day 5K, Hermitage. Starts downtown, finishes in Buhl Farm Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hermitage/HERMITAGEBUHLDAY5K

Sept. 6, 6:30 p.m.: St. Alphonsus Harvest Home Twilight 5K, Allison Park. Starts at Harmar Pavilion in North Park. Also 1-mile fun run for ages 14 and under starting at 6 p.m. runsignup.com/Race/PA/ AllisonPark/SAINTALPHONSUSTWILIGHT5K1MILE

Sept. 7, 8:15 a.m.: 37th Annual runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/Charleroi/ CharleroiLittleGreatRace Charleroi Little Great Race 5K, Charleroi.

Sept. 7, 9 a.m.: All Saints Parish Twilight 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run, Butler. 724-355-4038 or chris.singleton06@gmail.com

Sept. 7, 9 a.m.: Lee Foster Memorial 5 Mile, St. Marys. runsignup.com/Race/PA/ SaintMarys/LeeFosterMemorial5Mile

Sept. 8, 4:30 p.m.: Hoodlebug 5K Run and Fun Walk, Homer City. 412-289-6299 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/ HomerCity/hoodlebug5K

Sept. 14, 9 a.m.: Run Baby Run 5K and Stuff the Bus, Grove City. runsignup.com/Race/PA/ GroveCity/RunBabyRun5KStufftheBus

Sept. 14, 10 a.m.: Musicians of Steel 5K Run/Walk, Millvale. Also 1-Mile Fun Run and Kids Dash. runsignup.com/ musiciansofsteel

Sept. 21, 8:30 a.m.: Distant Area Volunteer Fire Dept. PB Festival 5K Race/ Fun Walk and Half Marathon, New Bethlehem. runsignup.com/Race/PA/ NewBethlehem/DistantAreaVolFireDeptPBFestival5KRaceFunWalkandHalfMarathon

Sept. 21, 10 a.m.: FlyBy 5K and 2-Mile Fun Run/Walk, Moon Township. Run on Pittsburgh International Airport taxiways. p3r.org/races/flyby-5K-and-2-mile-fun-run-walk

Sept. 22, 8 a.m.: Harvest 5K, 10K/ Half Marathon, Boston. Out and back on Yough River Trail. R unsignup.com/Race/PA/Boston/BostonHarvest5K10K

Freeport Flash 5K, June 1: Michael Braun, 1st overall M, 16:08; Connor Lamison, 3rd overall M, 19:37; Linsey Schnur, 1st overall W, 22:15; Taylor Schaeffer, 3rd overall W, 23:52; Camden Schaefer, 2st 11-14 M, 19:44; Ben Brestensky, 1st 15-18 M, 19:54; Calvin Lindsay, 2nd 15-19 M, 19:55; Alex Depew, 3rd 15-18 M, 20:29; Brandon Bodily, 2nd 40-49 M, 22:22; Travis Domhoff, 1st 19-29 M, 22:24; 1st 10 & Under M, 23:11; Chase Prioletti, 2nd 10 & Under M, 23:11; Brian Trudgen, 3rd 40-49 M, 24:37; Stephen Hepler, 1st 50-59 M, 24:49; Austin Kepes, 2nd 19-29 M, 25:09; Elliette Smith, 1st 15-18 W, 25:35; Kaitlyn Transue, 1st 30-39 W, 25:56; Daniel Byerly, 1st 30-39 M, 26:14; Maggie Hollobaugh, 1st 19-29 W, 26:24; Rebecca Hollobaugh, 2nd 19-29 W, 26:28; Jinny Hertweck, 1st 50+ W, 27:03; Joe Genco, 2nd 30-39 M, 27:11; Heidi Edwards, 1st 10 & Under W, 28:41; Taylor Edwards, 1st 40-49 W, 28:41; Trista Huth, 3rd 19-29 W, 28:50; Nicole Prioletti, 2nd 40-49 W, 29:06; Chloe Schaefer, 2nd 10 & Under W, 29:20; Alaine Generelli, 3rd 40-49 W, 29:21; Emma Michelini, 2nd 15-18 W, 29:59; Olivia Stonebraker, 3rd 15-18 W, 29:59; Kimberly Miller, 2nd 50+ W, 30:21; Brittany Canzoneri, 3rd 30-39 W, 31:46; Tyler Carr, 3rd 30-39 M, 31:57; Kelly Pastoria, 3rd 50+ W, 32:33; Adalyn Bodily, 2nd 11-14 W, 56:44; Azelyn Michelini, 3rd 11-14 W, 1:03:37; Zac Trudgen, 21:30; Gabriel Vivian, 23:20; Kaleb Bodily, 24:02; Jill Lesko, 24:30; Liam Breski, 25:06; Cameron Smith, 26:04; Bryce Radio, 27:08; Matthew Canzoneri, 27:11; Cam Smith, 27:19; Ethan Lacinski, 27:36; Matt Smith, 27:55; Justin Vivian, 28:33; Ariana Clark, 28:57; Sarah Lipniskis, 28:57; Haley Graham, 28:58; James Hower, 29:13; Anand Bhat, 29:13; Will Gramlich, 29:22; Ben Trudgen, 29:26; Tricia Schaefer, 29:34; Dave Posney, 29:59; Dianna Craig, 30:35; Dominic Cardamone,Jr., 32:14; Erin Schaeffer, 32:48; Mikayla Bodily, 32:48; Nora Mahan, 33:06; Ashley Teuteberg, 34:27; Palak Panchal, 34:40; Megan Ammons, 34:55; Kyle Bodily, 35:15; Randy Bowser, 36:07; Olivia Sutara, 36:41; Lucy Bodily, 38:35; Ketlym Rastelli, 38:50; Deborah Troutman, 38:50; Andrew Rastelli, 38:50; Michael Reed, 39:06; Rita Sieczkowski, 39:09; Karen Springmeyer, 40:20; Haley Watkins, 41:39; Amy Farr, 42:33; Jeffrey Lipniskis, 46:55; Jody Farr, 51:57; Aubrie Migliorisi, 1:03:37

Freeport Flash 10K, June 1: Benjamin Perka, 1st overall M, 37:09; Joe Floris, 2nd overall M, 39:59; Josh McGinley, 3rd overall M, 40:19; Spencer Hepler, 1st overall W, 43:02; Jul ia Hixon, 2nd overall W, 50:44; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 3rd overall W, 50:54; Sean Fox, 1st 30-39 M, 40:31; Jack Kelley, 1st 40-49 M, 41:21; Joshua McCoy, 1st 19-29 M, 44:39; Evan Michelini, 1st 15-18 M, 46:20; Kevin Hixon, 3rd 50+ M, 46:24; Nick Radio, 2nd 40-49 M, 46:49; Matthew Schaefer, 3rd 40-49 M, 49:19; Lucas Bowser, 1st 11-14 M, 50:24; Easton Floris, 2nd 11-14 M, 54:54; Dominic Cardamone, 2nd 30-39 M, 55:44; Courtney Callas, 1st 30-39 W, 55:45; Tabitha Bowser, 3rd 40-49 W, 1:00:45; Brianna Bailey, 3rd 30-39 W, 1:02:18; Peg Harper, 1st 50+ W, 1:05:10; Tasha Werner, 2nd 50+ W, 1:12:37; Mark Lamison, 49:12; Chuck Sarver, 52:27; James Helmick, 56:37; Henry Nolan, 1:03:59; Jeffrey Burtner, 1:05:10; Derek Hicks, 1:06:57; Jennifer Nolan, 1:08:05; Cassidy Gratton, 1:08:55; Rose Cardamone, 1:14:01

Old Turnpike Half Marathon, June 8: Zach Wade, 1st overall M, 1:26:02; Jaime Helm, 1st overall W, 1:38:55; Phoebe Graham, 1st 18-29 W, 1:52:44; Mary White, 2nd Masters W, 2:08:00; Heather Kulbacki, 2nd 50-59 W, 2:21:02; Justin Achezinski, 1:51:09; Vasilii Surov, 1:52:22; Joseph Kulbacki, 2:02:33; Eric Pursh, 2:04:10; Megan Sauers, 2:13:33; Lily Lawson, 2:19:23; Emmy Riddle, 2:19:30; Joshua Hindman, 2:28:50; Tanner Bartholow, 2:36:58; Lexi Hallock, 2:40:59; Kristi Hallock, 2:40:59; Allison Bartholow, 2:44:16; Katie Gault, 3:43:53; Marcy Byrne, 3:43:53; Nadine Roy, 4:17:41

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