It’s always hot, always crowded. But that doesn’t stop thousands of runners of all ages from attending the Gatorade Steelers 5k in Pittsburgh.

Labor Day marks the 28th running of Gatorade Steelers 5k and Kids’ Kick Off Run at Heinz Field on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. The 5k will start at a new earlier time, 7:30 a.m., to accommodate other events taking place on the North Shore later in the day. The Kids Kick Off Run starts at 8:45 a.m.

Kids Kick Off Run is a 50-yard dash beginning at Heinz Field’s South End Zone. Kids run in age group heats from ages four and under through ages eight and nine. All kids are eligible to win special raffle prizes at the awards ceremony.

More than 2,700 finished last year’s Gatorade Steelers 5k. After several years of dangerously crowded starts, race organizers implemented a wave start for the 5k based on anticipated finishing time. Walkers are welcome and start separately after the runners. Walkers must maintain a 20 minutes per mile pace.

The nearly flat loop course begins on North Shore Drive and heads upriver on River Avenue before turning back toward the stadium. Runners then enter Heinz Field for an exciting finish on the warning track. Don’t forget to smile and to look toward the end zone where finishers find themselves on streaming video on the Jumbo Tron. Spectators also have great viewing from the seats.

The relatively easy course and wave start make the Gatorade Steelers 5k a potentially PR-setting race. Jed Christiansen holds the course record at 14:16 set in 2012 while Carly Seymour set the women’s record in 2014 with a finishing time of 16:25.

Gatorade Steelers rewards top overall and age group competitors with Steeler related prizes, reflecting sponsorship by Pittsburgh Steelers. First overall male and female finishers earn a trip for two to a Steelers away game. Top age group finishers in age groups from 11 and under through 75-plus earn tickets to a Steelers home game.

There will also be awards for Nose Tackle Division (men over 200 pounds,) wheelchair competitors and a corporate team challenge in three divisions based on corporation size. Corporate teams include three to five employees with first three finishers scoring.

You don’t have to be fast to take home a prize at Gatorade Steelers 5k. All participants are eligible to win Steeler tickets, hats, footballs, bags, etc. in a random drawing.

Gatorade Steelers 5k and Kids Kick Off Run is a benefit for Art Rooney Scholarship Fund. The fund was established in honor of Art Rooney, the late founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers and longtime resident of Pittsburgh’s North Side. The fund awards $15,000 scholarships annually to graduating seniors from Perry High School and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School.

Plan to arrive early on Monday to claim one of the free parking spots at Heinz Field’s Gold Lots 1 and 2. Day of event registration and packet pick-up can be a long process. Registration opens at 5:30 a.m. in Heinz Field’s FedEx Great Hall.

Because the event takes place at Heinz Field, there are restrictions on what is allowed in the stadium. Bags, including cinch bags, backpacks and fanny packs are not allowed. All participants and spectators must abide by the NFL’s Clear Bag Policy. Visit heinzfield.com/guest-services/clear-bag-policy for details.

For more information about Gatorade Steelers 5k, Monday at 7:30 a.m., visit www.steelers.com/5k or call 412-697-7713.

Upcoming events

Sunday, 7 a.m.: French Creek Half Marathon and 5k, Meadville. Mostly flat and shaded. 814-720-2924 or kristoph.ymca@zoominternet.net

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Greenville 10k, Greenville. Multi-surface race through Greenville Riverside Park. 724-813-5653 or bsstubbs@rocketmail.com

Monday, 7:30 a.m.: 28th Annual Gatorade Steelers 5k, Pittsburgh. 412-697-7713 or www.steelers.com/5k

Monday, 8 a.m.: Distant Area Volunteer Fire Dept. 5k, Templeton. 814-275-1786 or barrett82@windstream.net

Monday, 9:15 a.m.: Buhl Day 5k, Hermitage. 724-981-3700 or mbower@fhbuhlclub.org

Sept. 10, 8 a.m.: Saxonburg Festival of the Arts 5k, Saxonburg. Starts in Roebling Park. 724-355-5059 or shoes@runpa.com

Sept. 10, 9 a.m.: American Legion Post 488 5k Run and 2 Mile Walk for Veterans, East Brady. fandkbeham@hotmail.com

Sept. 11, 7 a.m.: Erie Marathon @ Presque Isle, Erie. 814-504-2631 or www.eriemarathon.org

Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m.: Green Cathedral Half Marathon, 5k and Kids Fun Run, Youngstown, OH. Run through scenic Mill Creel MetroPark. caroliv@millcreekmetroparks.org

Sept. 11, 9 a.m.: FAAP Fall Classic 5k and 10k Race/ Walk, North Park. Trail run with handmade medals, post race ethnic dancing. Faap5krace.yolasite.com

Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m.: Hoodlebug 5k Run and Fun Walk, Homer City. Flat course on city streets. 724-541-0013 or fulmer_cd@yahoo.com

Sept. 11, 5 p.m.: Run to Remember 5k, West Kittanning. 724-919-9396 or harleigh316@gmail.com

Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m.: Peanut Butter Festival 5k, New Bethlehem. Also mountain bike race. 814-275-3929 or rlhrinda@yahoo.com

Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m.: Rockin the Knob Trail Challenge 5 Mile and 30k, Claysburg. Trail run at Blue Knob Four Seasons Resort. bmazur@intelmarx.com

Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m.: Liberty Mile, Pittsburgh. One mile timed street race. www.libertymile.org

Sept. 17, 9 a.m.: Stepping Forward for Down Syndrome 5k/1k/walk, Butler. Benefits Special Olympics. Special Olympics athletes run for free. 724-290-5244 or nsequiteSFFDS@gmail.com

Sept. 17, 9 a.m.: Race for Vocational Education 5k and ½ Mile Kids Run, Grove City. Run on Resource Center George Junior Republic campus. 724-458-9330 or sboland@georgejuniorrepublic.org

Sept. 17, Noon: Dollar Bank Junior Great Race, Pittsburgh. Run at Point State Park for kids ages 12 and under. Rungreatrace.com

Sept. 18, 8 a.m.: Boston Harvest Half Marathon, 5k and 10k, Boston. Run on Yough River Rail Trail. 10k starts at 9 A.M., 5k at 9:15. teambrunazzi@gmail.com

Sept. 18, 9 a.m.: ElorapaloozaMemorial 5k/ 1 Mile Run/ Lollygag, North Park. 412-608-2134 or elorashope.org

Sept. 24, 10 a.m.: PALS 5k Run/ Walk for Education, Saxonburg. Cross country run through scenic Saxony Farms. 724-352-1152 or deer@consolidated.net

Sept. 25, 8 a.m.: Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5k, Pittsburgh. Rungreatrace.com

Sept. 25, 9 a.m.: Butler Lions Club Scoot and Toot 5k, Butler. Starts at Alameda Park’s Carousel Shelter. 724-287-4059 or jbindernagel@theblindassociation.org

Sept. 25, 9:30 a.m.: Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 10k, Pittsburgh. Rungreatrace.com

Oct.15, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Cabot. Register now. This event sells out. www.butlerfreeporttrail.org

Race results

Ice Cream Race 5k, Aug. 17: Jed Christiansen, 1st Overall M, 15:03; Andrew Maxwell, 5th Overall M, 16:50; Katherine Fedko, 1st Overall W, 19:00; Marissa Canzian, 4th Overall W, 20:40; Jake Eshelman, 1st 12-15 M, 18:09; Ben English, 1st 30-34 M, 18:59; John Armstrong, 3rd 50-54 M, 20:13; Mark Courtney, 1st 60-64 M, 20:41; Delaney McCarthy, 1st 16-19 W, 20:58; Kimberly Hohman, 1st 35-39 W, 21:06; Makara Smocer, 1st 12-15 W, 21:10; Mallory Jaquith, 2nd 12-15 W, 21:19; Krista Snyder, 2nd 20-24 W, 22:34; Leslie Kramer, 2nd 35-39 W, 22:50; Jennifer Shea, 2nd 45-49 W, 24:03; Cindy Suber, 3rd 55-59 W, 26:12; Jim Lakin, 3rd 65-69 M, 26:23; Mac Messer, 3rd 11 & Under M, 27:40; Roberts Sands, 3rd 70+ M, 28:07; Karen Steffanina, 1st 60-64 W, 29:43; Rebecca Gannon, 3rd 60-64 W, 30:04; Valerie Sands, 1st 70+ W, 36:55; Carole Zwigart, 2nd 70+ W, 47:55; Jacob Hughes, 18:03; Neil Christopher, 18:53; Bary McKaughlin, 18:56; Bryce Lowe, 18:58; Jacob Taciuch, 19:59; Ramsey Saltrick, 20:14; Adam Beck, 20:17; Adam Stillwaggon, 20:28; Andrew Kearney, 20:37; Wyatt Heyl, 20:40; Jason McCann, 20:43; Max Boshaw, 20:45; Bob Pudlo, 21:08; Zach Wilson, 21:10; Zach Smith, 21:40; Chad Helmininack, 21:42; Steven Nichols, 21:45; Marie Bickel, 21:48; Evan Maxwell, 22:06; Tim Sloan, 22:27; Harold Domville, 22:31; David Suber, 22:43: Aaron Depew, 22:43; Reuben Pink, 22:52; Tabitha Donaldson, 23:04; Kenneth Bickel, 23:06; Myka Mathieson, 23:07; Connor Casteel, 23:22; Tess Hardin, 23:30; Brian Danielson, 23:47; Sean Weber, 24:10; Robert Audia, 24:22; Scott Danielson, 24:22; Nathanael Nuss, 24:31; Jerry Smith, 24:44; John Snyder, 25:20; Beth Graham, 25:28; Jen Beachem, 25:32; Mary Ella McCarthy, 26:04; Noelle Sequite, 26:05; Dan Miller, 26:08; Renee Miller, 26:08; Richard Heyl, 26:12; Noah Reilly, 26:16; Mark Aloisio, 26:22; Brooke Schaefers, 26:31; Cammie Messer, 26:39; Mike Miller, 26:42; Michael Bruno, 26:50; Victor Stahlman, 26:52; Mary Morgan, 26:54; Michelle Brochetti, 26:59; William Woods, 27:02; Jennifer Bickel, 27:07; Amber Tarr, 27:09; Jen Nemet, 27:15; Debbie Courtney, 27:17; Jeremy Dicus, 27:21; Janet Pudlo, 27:30; Jeff Shuty, 27:30; Michael Waltemire, 27:30; Zach Frampton, 27:55; Cindy Waltemire, 27:56; Hannah Hohman, 28:12; John Reichard, 28:24; Katie Shuty, 28:33; Tony Sunseri, 28:40; Tamagn Unverzagt, 28:50; Casey Unverzagt, 28:50; Bereket Unverzagt, 28:50; John Nemet, 29:00; John Sestak, 29:03; Kara Constantine, 29:25; Abby Fountain, 29:49; Laura Augustine, 29:50; Lisa Jamison, 29:51; Sherrie Mazurek, 29:55; Kristen Harrison, 30:01; Gretchen Pink, 30:03; Morgan Cousins-Raypush, 30:04; Ian McCreary, 30:06; Leah Buchan, 30:19; Vicki Brendlinger, 30:20; Emily Unverzagt, 30:31; Josiah Unverzagt, 30:32; Carly Casteel, 30:46; Tara Aloisio, 30:50; Jamie Maxwell, 30:57; Melody Childs, 31:05; Katie Mazor, 31:27; Beth Whitehouse, 31:44; Aidan Mack, 31:47; Debra Kuminkoski, 31:49; Emily Rider, 32:04; Stephanie McCreary, 32:07; Jeff Hartzell, 32:14; Heidi Fleming, 32:15; Dezso Csizmadia, 32:47; Jackie Winston, 32:51; Lisa Lee, 33:01; Ezra Fisher, 33:06; Wade Fisher, 33:08; Danielle Haney, 33:10; Robin Trinko, 33:10; Vickie Turner, 33:10; Danielle Wiles, 33:16; Suzanne Schaefers, 33:28; Nicole Hughes, 33:47; Tom Burdick, 34:29; John Mlakar, 34:52; Carol English, 34:53; Olivia Lowe, 35:01; Becky Farren, 35:34; Pamela Beck, 36:00; Debra Irwin, 36:26; Charisma Bogue, 36:34; Connor Bogue, 36:35; Kathleen Bogue, 36:35; Carissa Spencer, 37:36; Lori Wise, 37:36; Amanda Dicus, 38:01; Chloe Dunn, 38:57; Ronald Brendlinger, 39:01; Kristen Hartle, 39:09; Donald Cescon, 40:38; Ada Rumburg, 40:45; Madison Raypush, 41:18; Jessica Pienoski, 41:36; David Byers, 43:55; Reilly Helmininack, 43:56; Katie Boatright, 44:30; Danielle Rider, 45:41; Taylor Shaffer, 45:42; Bridget Casteel, 47:58; Emily Peffer, 58:53

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. E-mail lotzak@consolidated.net.

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle.