Last week at my school, I overheard preschoolers practicing for their graduation program. Their recitation of the famous lines, "I think I can. I think I can," from that classic story, "The Little Engine That Could," reminded me of my upcoming races.

Saturday's Habitat for Humanity 5k featured one hill:- a mile-and-a-half down, a mile-and-a-half back up a country road close to my neighborhood. I've run the event for the past three years and know what to expect. Still, it doesn't seem to get any easier.

There are many ways to succumb to the power of a hill during a race. Some fade slowly, with pain in the quads gradually building until the legs feel like dead weight. Others go down with a fight, puffing and panting until they simply can't take in enough oxygen to sustain the effort.

Then there are those who seem to give up mentally. One man ahead of me on Saturday held a steady pace for most of the race. Within 100 yards of the top of the hill, he suddenly stopped and walked, hands on hips, offering encouragement as I chugged by.

My best little blue engine impersonation ("I think I can, I think I can,") got me over the top and to the finish line of the 5K with a first-place finish. But last week's event was merely practice for this Saturday's tougher and longer Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic in Wheeling, W.Va.

This year marks the 30th annual running of this classic and popular race. Old-timers will know it as the former Elby's Distance Classic, site of many world-class duels. Last year's winners were elites Julius Kibet and Jemima Sumgong. Running legends and former winners Patti Catalano and Bill Rodgers returned for the awards banquet.

Although the event is within easy driving distance, last year was my first Ogden 20K. I'd been training on hills in preparation for the Senior Games 10K and figured I could make a good showing at the event.

I expected to see a good number of people walking up the race's major hill, a winding climb for more than a mile during the middle of the race. I had visions of trotting by, my competition falling by the roadside as they watched me go. How wrong I was.

It seems that everyone in West Virginia trains for the Ogden 20K. Old, young, big, small, men, women —- they all managed to keep a strong pace for the duration of the climb. Hundreds of "little engines" chugged over the mountain toward the finish line. I managed to shuffle to the finish, legs battered but not quite broken by the grueling ascent, then the pounding descent that followed.

At the awards banquet, a few finishers commented that the race just wasn't the same now that they'd made the course easier. They'd deleted a second major hill because of road construction, rerouting the race to the kinder and gentler Heritage Port Bike-Walk Trail.

This year's race also will be run on the "easy" course. I think I'm ready. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

Late registration and packet pick up for Ogden Newspapers 20K or accompanying 5K will be held Friday at 5 p.m. Friday or beginning at 6 a.m. for the 8 a.m. start Saturday.

For information, call 304-233-0100, ext. 317 or visit www.ogden20k.com

• Friends reported that this spring's Indianapolis Half Marathon, the nation's largest event at that distance with more than 35,000 participants, is an event worth the travel. It's pancake flat, has great crowd support with musical accompaniment the whole way and includes a unique mile on the Indianapolis Speedway.• Closer to home, if you're looking for a flat half marathon, try this year's Buffalo Creek Half Marathon on the Butler-Freeport Community Trail Oct. 1. It's mostly downhill, running point-to-point from to Winfield Township Building to Freeport StadiumVisit www.butlerfreeporttrail.org for information.

Week 5 of 8 Weeks to the Starting Line• <B>Sunday:</B> Brisk walk 30 minutes.• <B>Monday:</B> Walk 5 minutes; run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute. Repeat for total of 20 minutes. Walk 5 minutes.• <B>Tuesday:</B> Walk 30 minutes.• <B>Wednesday:</B> Same as Monday.• <B>Thursday: </B>Walk 30 minutes or rest.• <B>Friday:</B> Walk 5 minutes, run 1 minute, walk 30 seconds; run 2 minutes, walk 1 minute; run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute; run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute; run 2 minute; walk 5 minutes.• <B>Saturday: </B>Walk 30 minutes.

Upcoming eventsWednesday, 6:30 p.m.: Up-N-Running group run, Valencia. Run with friends. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday, 8:45 a.m.: Memorial 5-Mile, Youngstown, Ohio. Also half-mile fun run. 330-744-8411 or www.members.aol.com/ytownrrcSaturday, 9 a.m.: Beaver Fire Truck Cruise 5K Run-Walk, Beaver. Flat-and-fast 5k through historic Beaver kicks off firefighter games and competition. 724-773-2046Saturday, 10 a.m.: Race 500: A Run through the Flags, Mercer. One mile-run through flag-filled downtown Mercer. Mercermemorialday500.homestead.comSunday, 9 a.m.: Dahoga Dash 5K, Wilcox. Mostly level run on old logging road to the ghost town of Dahoga. Pick up some wine at the winery on your way home. 814-965-5482 or lindfurnj@alltel.netSunday, 9 a.m.: Blossom Time Run, Chagrin, Ohio. Run 5Z\v miles in this 30th annual event. www.hermescleveland.comSunday, 9 A.M.: North Strabane 5K Challenge, Canonsburg: Also competitive awards for walkers. 724-745-7278 or northstrabane5k@comcast.netMonday, 8 a.m.: Meadville Human Race 5K, Meadville. 814-373-2618 or mmerritt@co.crawford.pa.usMonday, 8:30 a.m.: Stoneridge 5K and 10K, Allison Park. www.stoneridgecc.orgMonday, 8:30 a.m.: The Romp, Penn Hills. Flat-and-fast out-and-back 5K benefits high school track and cross country athletes. 412-795-4053 or lzelko@phsd.k12.pa.usMonday, 8:30 a.m.: Ligonier Valley YMCA Tour de Park 5K, Ligonier. www.ligonierymca.orgJune 3, 12:30 p.m.: Pittsylvania Mile Run-Walk, Mt. Lebanon High School. Run on high school track with age group heats from 5 and under through 80 and over. 724-464-2222June 4, 8:30 a.m.: Greenfield Glide 5K, Pittsburgh. Road and trail run, lots of raffle prizes, post-race picnic. 412-422-8885 or bill.smith@greenfieldorg.comJune 10, 5:30 a.m.: Laurel Highlands Ultra Challenge, Ohiopyle: Run more than 70 rugged trail miles from Ohiopyle to Johnstown. 724-832-1018June 18: UsToo Fathers' Day 5K and 10K Run & Fun Walk, North Shore, Pittsburgh. 412-572-6830June 24, 9 a.m.: Butler Road Race 5-Mile and 2K, Butler. Applications are now available. If you participated in either of the past two years' events, you'll receive one in the mail. If not, call 724-283-2222 or email butlerroadrace@butlercountychamber.comSend comments and suggestions: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. Email: bigp@highstream.net