When my column ran in the newspaper last week, I ran on the deck of a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Three laps to the mile on a wooden deck isn't the most interesting running loop, but training is training no matter where or how.

Running onboard a ship is only slightly more engaging than the treadmill in the gym. But the deck has the sea breeze, sunshine and a sensation of floating above the brilliant blue water.

By the time we reached our first stop, Grand Turk in the British Turks and Caicos Islands, I was more than ready to hit the roads. While many of our fellow cruisers stay within the confines of the new cruise ship dock area with its white sand beach and Margaritaville party, my husband and I hop a taxi for historic Cockburn Town.

I am eager to get the ground under my feet. I always see more sights on foot, especially in out-of-the-way places. Mark, however, is less enthusiastic about my adventures. He reminds me about getting lost in strange places, tangled trails, drenching rains, snarling dogs, etc. that seem to make their way into my most innocuous-sounding plans.

After a short taxi ride, our driver drops us on Duke Street with advice on where to get cold beer and a lobster lunch. We stroll by the government buildings and historic district, congratulate a resident who had celebrated his 100th birthday in August, then stop by the tourist information center before heading to a national park beach.

I leave Mark under the shade of a beachside palm frond roof and set out to find the lighthouse that guards the island's northern coast. A worn footpath offers a shortcut across the old salt ponds that split the island.

The entire island seems to be under renovation. I run on a wide, newly asphalted road past workers setting forms for a concrete house foundation. Farther on, a banner announces sales for a new condominium resort.

After a few miles, the asphalt abruptly ends. I run on a layer of pitted white calcium, the old road underneath. The bustle of town construction gives way to ranch fences on one side, a row of dark, twisted trees lining a long tidal backwater on the other. A few brown lizards startle me as they skitter over boulders in the fencerows.

Gradually, even the potholed calcium pavement gives up to sand, sand spurs and creeping brown grass. A donkey grazing in the shade of the tree row snorts and startles me. I am wary of strange animals since my previous cruise encounter with the mad dogs of St. Maarten. The donkey returns to its grazing.

I round a bend and get a glimpse of the lighthouse against the blue sky. Then I realize that, short of wading like an island dog, a trip to the lighthouse would be impossible. A tidal inlet split the end of the land with water too swift to cross, too far to go around.

I turn back and wave to a taxi driver with tourists on tour to the point. They stare back with that same blank look as the donkeys. I don't think they see many runners on Grand Turk.

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Gomer Davis 5K Pumpkin Chase, Wilmerding. 412-823-9000Saturday, 9:30 a.m.: Susan Hofacre Memorial 5K, Moon Township. 412-262-8426Saturday, 9 a.m.: Jack-O-Lantern Jog, North Strabane. Starts at The Meadows Race Track. 724-941-1678 or www.eteamz.com/jackolanternjogSaturday, 9:30 a.m.: Fall Fest 5K, Monaca. 724-775-2628Saturday, 6:30 p.m.: Grove City YMCA Luminary Run, Grove City. Fun run and costume contest through luminaria-lined Memorial Park. 724-458-9781 or www.grovecityymca.orgSaturday: New River Gorgeous Trail Run, Oak Hill, W.Va. 304-469-2651Nov. 11, 9 a.m.: Fall Classic 10K and 5K Run-Walk, Kittanning. Run along the Allegheny River sponsored by Armstrong YMCA. 724-543-1045 or www.armstrongymca.orgNov. 18, 9 a.m.: Fight for Life 5K, Apollo. Benefits American Cancer Society. 724-568-2517 or dzukas@cancer.orgNov. 18, 10 a.m.: Somerset Turkey Trot 5K Run and Walk for Scouting, Somerset. Starts at Somerset High School. 814-445-6213

<B>Great Race 5K, Sept. 24: </B>Danny Fink, 1st Overall M, 16:14; Sherri Martin, 1st Overall W, 19:50; Heather Melzer, 2nd Overall W, 19:50; Nicholas Pfeiffer, 2nd 12-13 M, 20:59; Heather Leskanic, 2nd 30-34 W, 21:51; Samantha Brandon, 2nd 14-16 W, 22:51; Ann Cheman, 1st 55-59 W, 24:39; Ron Kirkwood, 2nd 65-69 M, 27:58; Margretta Lutz, 1st 75 and over W, 29:28Mitch Radella, 18:52; Mark Minich, 19:41; Kristen Cheman, 20:41; Kevin Brown, 21:00; Stephen Schupp, 21:09; Damien Wissolik, 21:38; Chuck Johns, 22:05; Daniel Christo, 22:57; Silvio Andreassi, 23:02; Darryl Brandon, 23:30; Jason Pereira, 24:33; Julie McCormick, 24:40; Alec Raymond, 24:41; Christopher Petersen, 24:44; Benjamin Pfeiffer, 24:51; Stephanie Verdecchia, 25:03; Leslie Petrick, 25:04; Renee Decker, 25:10; Lauren Caughey, 25:12; Katelyn Kish,25:16; Lauren McAndrews, 25:21; Michael Floro, 25:39; Lou Carrick, 25:52Chris Hardt, 26:18; Seth Stewart, 26:25; Bobby Bateman, 26:30; Laura Keeley, 26:31; Marilyn Lapiska, 26:40; Hemanth Kapoor, 26:49; Eli Badaczewski, 26:52; George Wargo, 26:56; Amy Bateman, 27:13; Kevin Roach, 27:17; Michael Cornell, 27:22; Matthew Roach, 27:29; Michael Lorenzo, 27:35; Hannah Kish, 27:45; Rebecca Pereira, 27:49Jim Lorenzo, 27:50; Michael Young, 27:56; Molly Schneider, 28:01; Kelley McAndrews, 28:12; Beth Ploro, 28:14; Patricia Fort, 28:15; Robb Fort, 28:18; Ben Nickel, 28:24; Jim Nickel, 28:28; Paul Fisher, 28:35; Alison Jones, 28:36; Alex Fashion, 28:36; James Pfeiffer, 28:41; Jennifer Shults, 29:36; Lauren Genova, 29:13; Patrick Perry, 29:25; Elaine Wissolik, 29:27; Andrew McIntyre, 29:53; Jeffrey Schueler, 29:53; Rusty Pfeiffer, 29:56; Shari Verdecchia, 30:03; Kurt Roller, 30:11; Allan Berenbrok, 30:13; Matthew Jamison, 30:13; Jeffrey Jamison, 30:16Tom Hornyak, 30:50; Joshua Wentz, 30:52; Douglas Klocko, 31:02; Jacqueline Hudson, 32:07; Rachel Wiley, 32:10; Robert Banks, 32:20; John Banks, 32:20; Fred Florian, 32:35; Kayla Florian, 32:47; Carole Klocko, 32:59; Amanda Ahlers, 33:05; Erin Kelly, 33:14; Susan Hardt, 33:17; Katrina Jacob, 33:24; Sandra Wargo, 33:35; Barbara Tammaro, 33:42; Lisa Myers, 33:43; Rose Jacob, 33:52; Joann Luster, 34:11; James Lewis, 34:13; Jessica Lazar, 35:49; Kathy Blair, 36:41; Maggie Rogers, 37:45; Kathy Moore, 37:59; Justin Eddy, 38:39; Laura Mariotti, 39:26; Greg Troian, 39:30; Angela Wentz, 39:53; Cynthia Eddy, 42:33; April Scheller, 42:33Austin Eddy, 42:53; Ann Jacob, 44:42; Christine Lorenzo, 48:08; Mike Fahion, 48:25; Robin McCarthy, 48:36; Deborah Mariotti, 49:47; Linda Dean, 49:56; Jyothi Jayaraman, 51:16; Susie Wanamaker, 52:22; Mallory Bateman, 52:23; Spencer Bateman, 52:25; Rachel Florian, 53:35; Shirley Stine, 53:39; Isaiah Jervis, 54:59; Sharon Brunish, 55:06; Jean Baker, 55:34; Tim McGivigan, 57:57; Carole Jo Stewart, 1:00:53<B>Columbus Marathon, </B>Oct. 15<B>: </B>Cecil Franke, 1st Overall M, 2:18:13; Kristin Price, 1st Overall W, 2:44:09; John Neff, 2:49:28; Jeff Lynn, 3:05:44; Gregg Miller, 3:08:53; Jeff Wiley, 3:28:09; Lawrence Ross, 3:30:13; John Millea, 3:30:18; John Armstrong, 3:35:20; Carrie Bordas, 3:38:50; Michelle Ellery, 3:38:50; Kenneth Keeley, 3:43:19; Stacy Kopchak, 3:46:42; Michael Bowman, 3:47:39; Dena Schmid, 3:47:39; Janine Marcoux, 3:50:59; Tammy Divens, 3:55:48; Jay Dwyer, 3:57:26; Michael Weaver, 3:59:23; Diana Marongiu-Lutz, 4:02:18; Stephen Novotny, 4:12:34; Anna Bestwick, 4:19:25; Adam Vincent, 4:30:33<B>Columbus Half Marathon, Oct. 15:</B> Mike Grieve, 1st Overall M, 1:10:41; P.J. Ball, 1st Overall W, 1:22:28; David Ellery, 1:35:55; Michelle Minjock, 1:53:06; Melissa Matus, 2:04:56; Luke McDonough, 2:18:55; Kim Kenetz, 2:25:12; Connie Riesmeyer (Walker), 2:48:17; Luke Javersack, 3:09:28; Forbes Javersack, 3:09:28; Joseph Javersack, 3:09:46Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. Email: bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.