It’s been five years since my column checked in with this race, but not much has changed. Zelienople’s Reindeer Race, this Saturday at 9 a.m., continues as a favorite family-friendly event.

Reindeer Race has offered a morning of holiday cheer to runners and walkers of all ages for more than 15 years. Originally held in Harmony, the event moved to the scenic streets of Zelie several years ago and includes a spectator-friendly 2-loop 5k, a gentle 1-mile run/walk and a half-mile that’s perfect for kids. The individual race starts are spaced so that participants may run one or all the distances.

Reindeer Race offers discounts for multiple races and for families. Online registration is open until midnight Friday at runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/ReindeerRace2023. Day of event signup opens at 8 a.m. at the Masonic Hall in Zelienople.

Race director Joella Baker is hoping to top 200 participants this year. That would be the biggest field ever. Weather at this time of year is always a factor, but since moving to Zelie, they’ve only had one year of serious snow. Baker says the borough is great about keeping the streets clear. Reindeer Race is walker, stroller and dog-friendly. Participants are encouraged to dress in holiday attire with awards for Best Group, Best Individual and Best Ugly Sweater.

Competitive awards in the 5K and 1-mile races include medals for top 3 overall and age group male and female finishers from 4 and Under through 70+. First boy and girl in 12-and-under and 13-18 age groups earn $250 scholarships to Get Fit Families summer camps and programs. Baker says that competition is tough for the valued scholarship awards. Most of her young Get Fit Families athletes training for cross country running or triathlons will be participating in one of the races on Saturday. All participants receive a commemorative Reindeer Race hat, goody bag, Christmas ornament and loaf of Jenny Lee cinnamon swirl bread.

Participants and spectators are welcome to stay for the post-race awards ceremony and party in the warmth of the Masonic Hall. Reindeer Race is more than an athletic event. It’s a holiday celebration of friends and family at Zelienople Community Park. All are welcome to create s’mores at a Public Lands fire pit. Mean Bean Coffee will serve coffee and hot chocolate, donating 10% of sales to Get Fit Families. And Harmony Dog Rescue will introduce some of their adoptable dogs. Inside the Masonic Hall, all can enjoy hot food from Ellinger’s Market, pasta, homemade mac‘n’cheese and Baker’s mom’s famous chicken rice soup. There’s also a basket drawing for numerous baskets provided by local businesses and personal donations.

Reindeer Race is a major fundraiser for Get Fit Families and provides scholarships to young athletes who otherwise could not afford access to their services. This year, as in 2023, some race proceeds will also be donated toward dedicating a bench in Butler’s Alameda Park in memory of Aiden Lutz, tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident while bicycling. Get Fit Families is dedicated to helping families achieve a healthy lifestyle.

Other events include Shamrock Shuffle Half Marathon, 5K and 1-Mile in Harmony and Spring Mighty Moraine Multi-Sport Festival at Moraine State Park. Learn more at getfitfamilies.com.

Can you really get enough of running through holiday lights? Check out Chilly Cheeks Christmas 5K on Sunday at 4:45 p.m. The event is a tour of Buhl Park in Hermitage under the lights of dozens of Christmas trees. The event benefits Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Pennsylvania. To sign up or to view a video of the course, visit runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hermitage/ChillyCheeksChristmasK.

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Reindeer 5k, 1 Mile and ½ Mile, Zelienople. Run one or all the distances. getfitfamilies.com/reindeer-race/

Sunday, 4:45 p.m.: Chilly Cheeks Christmas 5k, Hermitage. 724-841-6528 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hermitage/ChillyCheeksChristmasK

Tuesday, 10 a.m.: The Christmas Eve 5k, Allison Park. Starts at North Park Boathouse. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/TheChristmasEve5k

Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m.: Harmony Silvester 5K and 1 Mile, Harmony. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harmony/HarmonySilvester5K?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIycajlN_piQMVfUP_AR23hg5aEAAYASAAEgITZPD_BwE

Dec. 31, 4 p.m.: Twilight 5K Run, 2 Mile Run and 2 Mile Walk, Hollidaysburg. Run through the lights of Lakemont Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Altoona/TwilightRace

Dec. 31, 6:30 p.m.: NVRC First Night 5K Resolution Run, State College. 814-441-0791 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/StateCollege/NVRCResolutionRun

Jan. 1, 10 a.m.: Erie Runners Club New Year’s Day 5 Mile Race, Erie. Also 5K starting at Presque Isle’s Rotary Pavilion. erierunners.club/event/erc-new-years-day-5m-race/

Jan. 1, 11 a.m.: New Year’s Resolution Run 5K and 1 Mile, Oakdale. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Oakdale/NewYearsResolutionRun5kand1MileFamilyFunWalk

Jan. 4, 1 p.m.: Resolution 5K Run/Fun Walk, New Alexandria: Run around Keystone Lake. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NewAlexandria/ResolutionRunWPA

Jan. 4, 1 p.m.: Run 2 Read Half Marathon, Fairmont, W.Va. Run at Prickett’s Fort State Park. runsignup.com/Race/WV/Fairmont/RuntoReadHalfMarathon

Jan. 5, 10 a.m.: Set Your Year on Fire 5K Run, Walk, and Ruck, Ligonier. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Ligonier/SetYourYearOnFire5k2023

Jan. 11, 9 a.m.: North Park Half Marathon, Allison Park. Loops of North Park Lake starting at the Boathouse. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/NorthParkHalfMarathon

Jan. 12, 9 a.m.: Frigid 5 Miler, Allison Park. Challenging North Ridge loop course tarts at North Park Lodge. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/Frigid5Miler

Jan. 14, 10 a.m.: Bushwhacker’s Nightmare 5K or 10K, South Park. Sponsored by GPRRC. 724-348-6012 or bmcglothlin46@gmail.com

Jan. 18, 1 p.m.: Greenwood Furnace Snowfest 5 Miler, Huntingdon. Trail race starts at Rothrock State Forest’s Pavilion #7, part of Snowfest Festival. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Huntingdon/GreenwoodFurnaceSnowfest5Miler

Feb. 1, 8 a.m.: Hot Springs Half Marathon, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Destination run organized by Wolf Creek Race Management. runsignup.com/Race/AR/HotSpringsNationalPark/HotSpringsHalfMarathon

Feb. 1, 9 a.m.: Groundhog Day 5K, Allison Park. Also 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk starting at North Park Boathouse. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/GroundhogDay5kPGH

Feb. 2, 10 a.m.: Groundhog Day 4 Mile, Punxsutawney. Starts at Barclay Square, runs from downtown to Gobbler’s Knob and back. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Punxsutawney/GroundhogJog4MileRunWalk

Feb. 8, 10 a.m.: Cupid’s Chase 5K, Butler. Run at Lake Arthur Golf Club. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/CupidsChase5kButler

Feb. 8, 10 a.m.: Community Options Cupid’s Chase 5K, Pittsburgh. Run on River Trail on NorthShore. runsignup.com/CupidsChase5kPittsburgh

Feb. 8, 10 a.m.: Cupid’s Chase 5K, Latrobe. Run through downtown. runsignup.com/CupidsChase5kLatrobe

Run for Freedom Apollo 5K, September 28: Mindy Zottola, 1st Overall W, 22:02; Ezekiel Keitzer, 1st Overall M, 22:46; Joshua Charles, 25:49; Kayleigh Zottola, 27:56; Damon Andring, 28:08; Julie Eckman, 39:45; Caitlyn Andring, 39:45 Franklin Applefest 5k, October 5: Benjamin Dueter, 1st Overall M, 17:00; Dillon McConnell, 2nd Overall M, 17:13; Tifany Berry, 1st Overall W, 18:40; Mike Drzewiecki, 1st 60-69 M, 23:18; Kristen Berger, 1st 50-59 W, 25:18; Jinny Hertweck, 2nd 50-59 W, 25:36; Sophia Morgan, 2nd 14-19 W, 25:56; Bill Swanik, 3rd 60-69 M, 26:43; Nancy Burch, 3rd 70+ W, 1:08:19; Tyler Edmiston, 20:30; Peter Morgan, 21:29; John Morgan, 21:44; Josh Edmiston, 22:19; Thomas Foster, 23:21; Scott Walters, 24:35; Noel Bunyak, 25:13; Lee Bunyak, 25:13; Michael Drzewiecki, 25:15; Rebekka Dinh, 25:57; Finnley Lawrie, 26:10; Stefan Grandelis, 26:12; Brinley Raymer, 26:50; Christine Sperdute, 28:55; Gary Shingledecker, 29:11; Rachael Mong, 30:46; Michael Wenner, 31:01; Alexis Martin, 31:52; Brian Mong, 32:52; Claire Attisano, 33:09; Madeline Spuck, 33:15; Anna Rekiel, 34:11; Marissa Wenner, 36:37; Jill Terwilliger, 36:57; Robert Sands, 38:36; Elana Winger, 40:31; Robert Brown, 1:03:08; Shawn Strobel, 1:03:10; Jenny Strobel, 1:03:13

Pine Richland Ram Run 5k, October 6: Tom Edwards, 1st Overall M, 17:53; Patrick Morrow, 3rd Overall M, 18:24; Taylor Bulevich, 1st Overall W, 20:17; Rich Yurocko, 1st Masters M, 21:20; Brooke Donatelli, 3rd Overall W, 22:09; Tammy Slusser, 1st Masters W, 22:16; Nicole Wyse, 2nd Masters W, 24:42; Mary Dias, 3rd Masters W, 25:59; Don Donatelli, 1st 40-49 M, 22:09; Mark Schellhaas, 1st 9-11 M, 22:32; Brian Vernon, 2nd 40-49 M, 23:26; Jacqui Whitsel, 1st 12-15 W, 23:36; Luke Schellhaas, 3rd 12-15 M, 23:59; Juliana Hunkele, 3rd 12-15 W, 24:39; Peter Lyons, 1st 50-59 M, 24:39; Christine Farmer, 3rd 30-39 W, 25:05; Lena Sasso, 2nd 9-11 W, 25:53; Joseph Sasso, 3rd 50-59 M, 25:53; Alexander Robe, 1st 8 & Under M, 28:42; Eli Dias, 2nd 8 & Under M, 29:10; Jimmy Himes, 3rd 8 & Under M, 30:40; Stefanie Disilvio, 1st 40-49 W, 30:50; Reese Fleming, 1st 8 & Under W, 32:10; Vivian Yaw, 3rd 8 & Under W, 32:33; Chris Yaw, 1st 30-39 M, 32:38; Daniel Bencun, 23:37; Gauthier Robe, 24:48; Mario Dias, 24:55; Christian Wyse, 25:15; Emma Brooks, 25:47; Annabelle Burk, 27:38; Francesca Disilvio, 28:36; Enzo Urso, 29:16; David Colangelo, 29:41; Lorelai Urso, 29:41; Paul Urso, 29:44; Julian Colangelo, 29:45; Janell Baden, 30:26; Oscar Disilvio, 30:26; Kelly Himes, 30:40; Teri Grumski, 31:43; Phillip Disilvio, 32:01; Mason Jenkinson, 32:07; Graham Fleming, 32:09; Danijel Brener, 32:31; Lainey Dias, 32:32; Amy Jenkinson, 33:00; Rachel Urso, 35:35; Evelyn Yaw, 35:57; Lori Yaw, 36:00; Riley Vernon, 44:20; Michael Sager, 46:14; Edward Sager, 47:05

Pine Richland Ram Run 5k Strollers, October 6: Robert Block, 27:54; Michael Jenkinson, 28:55; Sarah Kaminski, 39:46

Oil Creek 100 Mile Trail Race, October 12: Raymond Stoltzfus, 1st Overall M, 21:24:28; Abby Boyle, 1st Overall W, 22:42:10; Mike Stimac, 27:46:44; Andrew Harmon, 27:46:44; Josh Heintz, 28:18:09

Oil Creek 100k Trail Race, October 12: Jackson Roth, 1st Overall M, 12:18:41; Allayva Stier, 1st Overall W, 12:45:45; Myah Haid, 17:12:12; Justin Kleckner, 19:28:47; James Ayers, 20:14:58 Oil Creek 50k Trail Race, October 12: Chad Pakozdi, 4:29:07; Sabrina Smith, 5:54:02; Todd Foulk, 6:11:50; Meg Parke, 6:18:56; Shawn Weaver, 6:23:26; Cole Buser, 6:29:03; Corey Morgan, 6:38:48; Peter Morgan, 6:38:49; Eric Slagle, 6:44:41; Vanessa Johnson, 7:30:32; Seth Stallard, 8:29:20; Jamie Humphrey, 8:47:33; Franklin Wilson, 9:39:41; Meagan Greygor, 10:01:19 Oil Creek 50k Trail Race, October 12: Stephen Kloter, 2:22:02; Samantha Woolcock, 2:37:56; Morgan Kiebler, 2:43:33; Rachel Southwick, 2:57:22; Calandra Verba, 3:33:12; Steve Verba, 3:33:12; Jessica Moslander, 3:56:06; Paul Johnson, 4:14:19

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-822-1577, Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle