It began as a 21-mile long railroad in 1871 and was reborn as a recreational trail in 1992.

Butler-Freeport Trail is a scenic gem and site of two upcoming races which highlight our county’s autumn glory.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, Freeport Girls Basketball’s third Annual Halloween Hustle 5k begins at Monroe Road crossing near the trail’s southern terminus. The 5k runs out and back on the almost level and newly resurfaced trail.

Halloween Hustle, a low key event which has attracted fewer than 100 finishers in its past runnings, is a benefit for Freeport’s Girls Basketball Boosters. Funds from the race supplement the program, providing everything from summer camps for high school varsity teams and tournaments and winter leagues for elementary school players to coaching tools and banquet gifts.

Race director Kim Soilis, whose daughter has graduated from the program and now plays for Allegheny College, says that the Halloween Hustle has grown in each of the previous years and has support of not only basketball players and their families, but other Freeport school sports teams.

“In previous years, the boys and girls cross country teams ran in the race. Girls from the basketball teams volunteer or participate,” he said.

Halloween Hustle 5k offers medals for first overall male and female finishers and age groups from 11-15 through 60+. All finishers ages 10 and under receive certificates. Kim says there should be enough commemorative t-shirts for all registered runners.

Online registration will be open until Saturday at Freeporthalloweenhustle5k.weebly.com. Day of event registration opens at 7:30 a.m..

On the following Saturday, at 9 a.m. Oct. 21, a larger, longer running event takes to the trail. The 12th annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, a downhill and scenic dash from Cabot Methodist Church to Freeport, is the main fundraising event for Butler-Freeport Trail Council, the organization which founded and is responsible for maintaining the 21 miles of trail.

Buffalo Creek Half Marathon offers runners many of the perks of large city races in a scenic package. All finishers earn medals and gender-specific long-sleeved shirts. The event is chip timed, offers five aid stations along the course, bag drop for runners’ comfort at the finish line, and shuttles back to the starting area.

Buffalo Creek awards first three overall male and female top finishers, top masters runners and top age group finishers in age groups from 19 and under through 70+. The race offers a $100 cash prize to anyone who breaks the course records of 1:08:12 for men and 1:16:58 for women set by Nick Edinger and Sara Rasciatore respectively. All runners enjoy a post-race feast of pizza, fig bars, Smiley cookies and hot cider.

Race director for nine years and BFTC president Chris Ziegler credits a loyal staff of volunteers and community relationships built over the years for the continued success of the event.

“We have the same photographer, the same people at the registration table every year,” she says. She counts on volunteers like local resident Bobbi Diller who directs traffic at one of the road crossings each year.

On race morning, runners may park at Cabot Methodist Church or in overflow parking at nearby Winfield Township building. All runners are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to support Cabot Methodist’s Food Bank.

Registration for Buffalo Creek Half remains open until the limit of 1,250 runners is reached. There is no race day registration. Mail-in registrations must be postmarked by Oct. 14. Online registration remains open until 7 p.m. on Oct. 20. You may also register or pick up your race packet at Up-N-Running store in Valencia Wednesday through Friday, October 18-20, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 7:30 a.m.: JC Stone 50k Trail Ultra and Half Marathon, North Park. www.lightspeed-racing.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Mahoning Shadow Shuffle Half Marathon and 5k, Punxsutawney. amytaladay@gmail.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Freeport Girls Basketball 3rd Annual Halloween Hustle 5k, Freeport. Freeporthalloweenhustle5k.weebly.com

Sunday, 8 a.m.: Mario Lemieux Foundation 6.6k Run and 3.3k Family Walk, Pittsburgh. Kids ages 5 and younger in strollers free of charge, pets permitted in 3.3k Pet Walk. lemieuxfoundation@mlf66.org or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/PittsburghPenguins66KRunandFamilyWalk

Sunday, 9 a.m.: SRU Wellness 5k Run/ 2k Walk, Slippery Rock. Starts at SRU football stadium. 724-738-4138 or www.srufoundation.org/5k

Oct. 21, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Cabot. Downhill, point-to-point course on Butler-Freeport Trail ends in Freeport. www.butlerfreeporttrail.org or runsignup.com/Race/PA/SARVER/BuffaloCreekHalfMarathon

Oct. 21, 10 a.m.: Chase Away Hunger 5k, Beaver Falls. Run through scenic Brush Creek Park benefits local food pantries. 814-688-8525 or OakGrove5k@gmail.com

Oct. 22, 9 a.m.: Allegheny 9 Hartwood Acres, Pittsburgh. Run 5k on scenic Hartwood Acre trails and roads. www.acparksfoundation.org/allegheny-9-race-series/

Oct. 22, 10 a.m.: Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners Fall Classic 10k or 5k, Pittsburgh. Starts at Highland Park Swimming Pool. 412-441-8973 or www.gprrc.com

Oct. 28, 9 a.m.: Monster Dash 5k, North Park. Costumes encouraged, ¼ mile kids run for kids 8 and under. 412-490-0881 or www.lightspeed-racing.com

Oct. 28, 9 a.m.: East Brady Hallowen Hustle 5k, Eat Brady. Run on Armstrong Trail. 724-526-3764 or www.smileymiles.com

Oct. 28, 10 a.m.: Harrison Hills Halloween 5k/10k Trail Run, Natrona Heights. Trail run through Harrison Hills Park, costume contest. 724-487-3586

Oct. 29, 3 p.m.: Great Pumpkin 5k and 1 Mile, Zelienople. Bucknut2304@gmail.com

Nov. 4, 8 a.m.: ZooZilla 5k, Pittsburgh. Run on Pittsburgh Zoo grounds, includes Zoo admission. No race day registration. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/ZooZilla5K or gboldizar@pittsburghzoo.org

Nov. 4, 9:30 a.m.: Dirt Monster 5 Mile Trail Race and 1 Mile Trail Walk, North Park. Individual or team competition. www.ocdfwpa.org/dirt-monster-race

Nov. 4, 10 a.m.: Butler YMCA Turkey Trot 5k and Kids 1 Mile, Butler. Starts at YMCA, runs through Memorial Park. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcymca.org

Nov. 5, 8 a.m.: EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler, Pittsburgh. Run starts at Station Square. www.pittsburgh10miler.org/RaceInfo

Nov. 5, 9 a.m.: Indiana First Bank Veterans’ Marathon and ½ Marathon, Black Lick. Relatively flat out and back on Ghost Town Trail. 724-599-5929 or www.indianaroadrunners.com

Race results

Great Race 5k, Sept. 24: Clay Burnett, 1st Overall M, 15:05; Sean McDonnell, 4th Overall M, 16:16; Natalie Bower, 1st Overall W, 17:22; Lisa Burnett, 2nd Overall W, 17:25; Elizabeth Hunkele, 1st 12-13 W, 20:04; Angelina Hunkele, 1st 11 & Under W, 21:13; Adelle Snider, 2nd 12-13 W, 22:10; Peggy LaQuatra, 2nd 50-54 W, 22:53; Robert Sands, 3rd 70-74 M, 28:08; Jim Stout, 19:05; Brad Hunkele, 22:15; Mitch Radella, 22:17; Gianni Varlotta, 23:38; Bill Snider, 23:37; Matthew Evans, 23:43; Julian Varlotta, 24:00; Shelly Shebetich, 24:10; Dawn Bugajski-Brahler, 24:32; Alfred Wahl, 24:37; Jonathan Steckbeck, 24:37; Cassondra Charney, 24:45; Nicholas Cook, 25:01; Be Capozzi, 25:02; Paul Juliano, 25:25; Matthew Capozzi, 25:36; Mark Blasinsky, 25:56; Laura Palisin, 25:58; Scott Branagan, 26:16; Keelin Schessler, 26:16; Dina Snider, 26:24; Greg Alexander, 26:38; Anna Haney, 26:45; Jeff Yannuzzi, 26:53; Robert Guerriere, 26:54; Michael McClain, 27:03; Shayan Gupta, 27:12; Sanjay Gupta, 27:14; Colleen Kucial, 27:21; Mike Faller, 27:25; Laurie Schessler, 27:43; Christopher Capozzi, 27:52; Richard Honsaker, 27:53; Teddy Klocko, 28:00; Nathan Macioce, 28:00; Addie Klocko, 28:01; Teresa Packey, 28:18; Amy Stinelli, 28:22; Gregory Silliman, 28:26; Brittney Ventura, 28:52; Joshua Karakis, 28:54; Sharon Barlow, 29:16; Ailidh Munro, 30:00; Bency McClain, 30:00; John Reddick, 30:07; Cynthia Reddick, 30:07; Douglad Klocko, 30:09; Marilyn Lapiska, 30:31; Claire Williams, 30:32; Andrew Williams, 30:32; Rachel Rutkowski, 30:44; Nancy Thenthongkham, 30:45; Elaine Wissolik, 30:50; Sayjan Gupta, 30:58; Sharmila Gupta, 30:59; Kristen Bowie, 31:01; Diane Ventura, 31:06; Daniel Christo, 31:07; Jen Beachem, 31:07; Mindy Bish, 31:08; Mitzi Pynos, 31:11; Ellie Ortsey, 31:11; Damien Wissolik, 31:17; Heather Cook, 31:25; Hermanth Kapoor, 31:29; Sophia Bucknum, 31:30; Carrie Ortsey, 31:39; Janet Long, 31:50; Lauren Weddell, 31:51; Jenene Hunkele, 32:24; Steve Schupp, 32:38; Ella Schupp, 32:39; Tracy Pelligrino, 32:44; Juliana Hunkele, 32:51; Lisa Marron, 33:01; Susan Hardt, 33:29; Sarah Smith, 34:00; Allison Karakis, 34:02; Andrea Dreveniak, 34:19; Gypsy Dreveniak, 34:20; Ann Cheman, 34:28; Gary Golebiewski, 34:32; Janet Halbig, 34:40; Carole Klocko, 34:43; Kristi Tonelli, 34:48; Diane Bucknum, 35:06; Ayla Alexander, 35:09; Allison Alexander, 35:09; Jodi Steckbeck, 35:09; Bobi-Jean Alexander, 35:10; Sonaj Crawford, 35:27; Valerie Sands, 35:54; Ed Barlow, 36:04; Lori Randolph, 36:16; Kellee Meder, 36:20; Terry Melis, 36:38; Jim Cooper, 37:04; James Kaczynski, 37:05; Wisam Guerriere, 38:23; Rusty Pfeiffer, 38:30; Mallory Accamondo, 38:33; Marissa Accamando, 38:36; Jack Harding, 38:47; Lisa Batchelet, 39:08; Domenico Fricioni, 40:48; Robert Zaccari, 42:01; Louis Biancaniello, 42:15; Kathryn Porter, 42:25; Jacqueline Maurer, 43:17; David Zelenak, 44:11; Smy Buchwald, 44:27; Glenn Woods, 44:44; Rossane Ponce, 45:26; David Schupp, 48:42; Kathy Schupp, 48:45; Brenda Febert, 49:38; Casey Grubbs, 53:31; Terry Grubbs, 53:32; Mary Squeglia, 53:48; Nicole Munro, 54:31; Lochlan Munro, 54:31; Julie Graham, 55:18; Linda Peifer, 55:19; Gil Gilson, 55:19; Nancy Zattiero, 55:28; Tracey Fisher, 56:11; Mary Seger, 56:51; Scott Hershberger, 57:58; Jaclyn Rauscher, 58:10; Caleb Rauscher, 58:10; Julie Abrams, 58:13; Nicole Milbert, 58:20; Justin Milbert, 58:21; Amy Wimer, 59:46; Siena Varlotta, 1:00:10; Diane Grajcar, 1:01:40; Nick Malone, 1:02:36; Tara Gilson, 1:06:21

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle