With one of the hottest summers on record, runners beat the heat by taking to the trails. But Western Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s worst areas for Lyme disease-bearing ticks and any moist area, even small puddles, can breed potentially disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Anytime you venture into the woods, especially in grassy or moist areas, take precautions to avoid being bitten by these tiny terrors.

According to Consumer Reports testing, top-performing mosquito and tick repellents for the skin include at least one of three ingredients — DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE). All are considered safe, even for children and pregnant women but Centers for Disease Control recommends NOT using repellent on infants younger than two months old or products containing OLE on children younger than three.

DEET was developed by the US Army in 1946 and registered for public use in 1957. Approximately 30 percent of Americans use DEET, which is available in liquid, lotion, spray and wristbands.

CDC considers risks of using DEET products low, but there have been a few reports over the years of incidents neurological effects such as skin rashes, low blood pressure, disorientation or seizures. Health risks increase by dose, duration and exposure method.

Consumer Reports recommends a DEET concentration of 30 percent for maximum effectiveness. Less may not repel the bugs while a higher concentration increases risks of overdosing.

Picaridin is a synthetic version of a compound found in black pepper plants used in Europe and Australia since 1998 but approved in the US in 2005. A 20 percent picaridin product works best but, unlike DEET which is effective in lotion, wipes or sprays, picaridin in spray form is most effective. While picaridin is considered safe, it can irritate skin and eyes.

Oil of Eucalyptus (OLE) is a naturally occurring compound of the gum eucalyptus tree. In Consumer Reports testing, repellents containing 30 percent OLE were very effective against both ticks and mosquitoes for at least 7 hours. Products containing OLE are relatively safe, though they can cause temporary eye irritation and FDA does not recommend application to children under the age of three. Unlike products with DEET or picaridin, OLE will not harm clothing containing acetate, rayon, spandex or other synthetics.

It may sound less expensive and more convenient to use a sunscreen/ insect repellent combination, but think again. Because sunscreens should be applied every two hours and insect repellents last longer, applying a combo product will leave you either open to sun damage or overexposed to the chemicals in repellents. Also, DEET decreases the SPF value of applied sunscreen, so you may have to apply the sunscreen more often.

Permethrin, discovered in nature in 1973, is a synthetic compound that acts like a natural extract from chrysanthemum flowers. Unlike the previous three repellents, permethrin is used on clothing, not skin. Ticks and mosquitoes exposed to permethrin-treated clothing for one minute are immobilized for as much as 24 hours. The effects are more pronounced on nymphs which present the greatest disease danger to humans.

Permethrin is available in sprays for temporary or home treatments. Specialty treated clothing lasts 70 washings and is available at a reasonable price from InsectShield. The company will also treat your favorite clothing items. Check out options at www.insectshield.com.

No matter what your method for prevention, you’ll want to shower as soon as you get out of the woods and do a whole-body tick check for ticks as most Lyme infections occurs at least 36 to 48 hours after the initial bite.

Upcoming events

Wednesdays, 6:30 P.M.: Run Club Group Run, Cranberry Township. Run from Mojo Running Store. 724-772-2808 or www.mojorunningpittsburgh.com

Thursdays, 7 P.M.: Shoes ‘n’ Brews, Valencia. Short run followed by BYOB beer sharing at Up-N-Running store. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Friday, 7 P.M.: GNC Live Well Liberty Mile, Pittsburgh. One mile run in various heats. Libertymile.org

Saturday, 9 A.M.: Curwensville Susquehanna Classic 5k Race, 5k Walk and 10k, Curwensville. 814-236-3455 or sharonike@verizon.net

Sunday, 8 A.M.: Hot to Trot 5k, Zelienople. Also 1 mile starting at 8:45 A.M. 412-445-5828 or matthewjstehle@yahoo.com

July 25, 7 P.M.: UPMC Horizon 5k, Greenville. Race 3 of Twilight QUAD. Also kids’ half mile run at 7:45 P.M. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

July 29, 7:30 A.M.: Sweet Corn Challenge Run, Richfield, OH. Choice of 5k or 10k timed runs, 3k jog or walk. Kids 1k fun run obstacle course starts at 9:30 A.M. Post-race catered brunch with food, drinks, draft beer. 330-659-3300 or Sweetcornchallenge.com

July 29, 8 A.M.: Run with the Deer Flies 15k/25k, Penn Run. Trail runs through Yellow Creek State Park. 724-442-8388 or dwalker100k@gmail.com

July 29, 8:30 A.M.: Pass the Pancakes 5k Race and Fun Walk, Waterford. Run through rolling farmland starts near Picnicana Park, free post-race pancake breakfast. 814-460-0286 or schrumpfc@fortleboeuf.net

August 4, 8 A.M.: Armstrong Habitat for Humanity Raise the Roof 5k, Kittanning. elizabeth@armstronghabitat.org or www.armstronghabitat.org

August 4, 8 A.M.: Habitat Pittsburgh’s Kids Triathlon, Allisaon Park. Staged at North Park Pool for kids ages 7-15. 412-450-8520 or www.kidstriathlon.org

August 4, 9 A.M.: St. Barnabas Free Care 5k, Gibsonia. Post-race party with music, food, beer. 724-625-3770 or stbarnabashealthsystem.com/stbarnabas5k

August 5, 7:30 A.M.: Drake Well Marathon and Half Marathon, Titusville. 814-827-2799 or http://rddwm6.wixsite.com/thedrakewellmarathon

August 5, 9 A.M.: XTERRA Appalachia Triathlon, Indiana. Staged at Day Use Beach Area of Yellow Creek State Park. 814-397-4316 or doug@adventuresports.com

August 11, 7:30 A.M.: 5th Annual Two Face 10k, North Park. Run one or both --- 10k road race followed by 10k trail race. www.athlinks.com/event/5th-annual-two-face-10k-121477

August 11, 8:30 A.M.: Slickville 5k Coal Mine Climb and 2 Mile Fun Walk, Slickville. Challenging course or shorter, gentler fun run/walk. jklueber@windstream.net or http://slickville100.com/centennial-5k/

August 11, 9 A.M.: Rimersburg Cookie Daze 5k and 5 Mile, Rimersburg. 814-473-6427

August 11, 9 A.M.: Horsethief 5k, Knox. 814-797-5843 or jackbishjr@gmail.com

August 11, 9 A.M.: Brookline Breeze 5k Race and Fitness Walk, Pittsburgh. Also 1 mile fun run and dog walk through Brookline neighborhood. 412-523-3547 or www.brooklinebreeze.com

August 11, 6 P.M.: Run for the Trail 7k Run and 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk, Dilltown. Run on Ghost Town Trail. 412-613-1167 or tmprrcih@yahoo.com

August 15, 7 P.M.: Courtney’s Ice Cream Run 5k, Grove City. Also kids half-mile fun run starting at 7:45 P.M. Over 100 gallons of ice cream for post race party. 724-866-1374 or www.runhigh.com

Race results

Butler Road Race 5 Mile, June 23: Nick Edinger, 1st Overall M, 26:26; Theo Reynolds, 2nd Overall M, 26:48; Daniel Spaulding, 3rd Overall M, 27:22; Owen Venesky, 4th Overall M, 28:07; Zach Leachman, 5th Overall M, 28:46; Tina Seech, 1st Overall W, 33:14; Mckenna Bowes, 2nd Overall W, 33:23; Tammy Slusser, 3rd Overall W, 33:45; Camille Bromley, 4th Overall W, 34:30; Maddie Gagnon, 5th Overall W, 35:38; Gar Bercury, 1st Masters M, 30:16; Connie Hoffer 1st Masters W, 38:36; John Ciafre, 1st Super Senior M, 39:19; Debbie Deddo, 1st Super Senior W, 39:19; Sharyl Relic, 1st Senior W, 40:14; Steven Patterson, 1st 16-19 M, 29:28; Noah Peterson, 1st 12-15 M, 31:21; Timothy Patterson, 2nd 16-19 M, 31:43; Michael Fagan, 1st 30-39 M, 32:50; Owen Schessler, 2nd 12-15 M, 32:57; Jacob Taciuch, 1st 20-29 M, 32:58; Ryan Hughes, 2nd 20-29 M, 32:59; Zachary Baker, 3rd 12-15 M, 33:11; Vernon Morrow, 1st 50-59 M, 33:31; Chad Pakozdi, 3rd 16-19 M, 34:41; John Armstrong 2nd 50-59 M, 34:46; Evan Miller, 3rd 20-29 M, 34:53; Zachary Best 2nd 30-39 M, 35:07; Scott Bowes, 2nd 40-49 M, 35:22; Joseph Beilstein, 3rd 50-59, M, 35:46; Tim Souders 3rd 40-49 M, 35:48; Elizabeth Maskal, 1st 30-39 W, 36:41; Kristina Souders, 2nd 30-39 W, 37:52; Evonne Patterson, 30-39 W, 37:57; Anthony Beilstein, 3rd 30-39 M, 38:16; Brittni Geibel, 1st 20-29 W, 39:11; Wendy McCulley, 1st 40-49 W, 39:20; Ansley Haught, 1st 12-15, 40:01; Rachel Konieczny, 2nd 20-29 W, 40:34; Katie Amerson, 3rd 20-29 W, 42:16; Crystal Wonderling 2nd 40-49 W, 42:41; Holly Depew, 3rd 40-49 W, 42:45; Valorie Andreassi, 1st 50-59 W, 44:28; Robert Crawford, 2nd 70+ M, 48:22; Natalie Franko, 2nd 50-59 W, 49:47; Alan Offstein, 1st 70+ 49:59; Patricia Offstein, 1st 70+ W, 53:19; Peggy Sibenac, 2nd 60-69 W, 53:51; Jennifer Cadamore, 3rd 50-59 W, 58:11; Carol English, 3rd 60-69 W, 58:19; Cara Roxberry, 11 & Under W, 59:35; Katerina Menchyk, 2nd 12-15 W, 1:09:52; Benjamin Capozzi, 33:31; Ryan Steigerwald, 35:14; Layne Haught, 35:21; Brian Phipps, 36:12; Noah Platt, 36:39; Steve Knoll, 36:52; Jeremy Rock, 37:43; Al King, 37:52; Kevin Condon, 38:05; Jim Gallagher, 38:10; Elijah Ruediger, 38:17; Corey Savannah, 38:20; Andrew Menchyk, 39:13; Michael Grossman, 39:14; Jeffrey Cypher, 39:52; R Colin Hays, 40:05; Sean Hutchins, 41:15; Jonathan Kolbe, 41:44; Rick McKain, 41:55; Bryan Thompson, 42:11; Taylor Amerson, 42:17; Vincent Moore, 42:38; Bruce Soule, 43:17; Allison Miller, 43:26; Christopher Capozzi, 43:28; Sara McGee, 43:45; Leah Rapp, 43:59; Donald Crawford, 44:03; Ben Cadamore, 44:17; James Hixon, 44:51; Gary Sutton, 44:56; Tom Heisey, 45:11; Bob Pakozdi, 45:20; Nicole Khoury, 45:39; Julie Skal, 45:59; Melody Childs, 46:08; Lesley Bachman, 46:21; Bill May, 47:20; Amanda Rekich, 47:28; Sarah Beneigh, 47:35; David Voland, 47:47; Tony Sunseri, 47:50; Shana Hutchins, 47:55; Brian Beals, 47:57; Don Slusser, 48:03; Gage Campbell, 48:11; Lana Kramer, 48:23; Josh Boettner, 48:42; Dixie Perrine, 48:49; Krista Geagan, 49:07; Shannon Gallagher, 49:10; Ryan Helsel, 49:23; Wendy Denny, 49:32; Scott Baker, 50:13; Melissa Beeman, 50:16; John Miller, 50:29; Matt Peterson, 50:58; Michael Gannon, 51:06; Suzzanne Freeze, 52:08; Laura Augustine, 52:15; Guiseppe Mascari, Jr, 53:03; Katie Ellis, 53:12; Jolene Covert, 53:49; Rich Rodgers, 53:50; Jeff Mechling, 54:25; Matt Nocera, 55:16; Jerry Schwab, 56:12; Mike Freeze, 56:50; Ciara Spence, 57:57; Tyler Spence, 57:57; Elo Pranno, 58:27; Jeffrey Burtner, 58:32; Peg Harper, 58:32; Allie Smith, 59:34; Mary Kreisberg, 1:00:55; Rochelle Bowen, 1:01:22; Sonja Crawford, 1:01:37; Diane Hanchosky, 1:02:45; Buddy Segal, 1:03:02; Vickie Turner, 1:04:00; Robin Trinko, 1:04:01; Libby Gribik, 1:04:13; Desiree Pannier, 1:04:13; Dezso Csizmadia, 1:04:20; Tori Sypulski, 1:05:53; Michelle Benko, 1:05:53; Sharon Menchyk, 1:09:52; Carole Hall, 1:31:48

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

Patricia Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle.