January isn't usually racing season in our area, but runners have a choice of events and distances this Saturday.

New Year's Resolution Run, at 9:30 a.m. offers both 10K and 5K competitive runs and a non-competitive 5K walk. This inaugural event begins at Lawrence County Career and Technical Center and loops into New Castle.

Race director Dennis James DiGiavincenzo describes the course as "scenic and rolling."

After running into New Castle, the race winds through Cascade Park, a former amusement park in the area.

Co-race director Lisa Heasley originally planned to run a Thanksgiving Day race, but the calendar was full. Though weather could be a factor, DiGiavincenzo and Heasley decided to hold a New Year's run as a fundraiser for the Skills USA competition being held at technical center later this month.

Skills USA is a national organization for vocational and technical school students that offers opportunities for high school and college students to compete in 32 skills related to their programs of study.

Runners at Resolution Run benefit from students' skills, as food preparation students will serve homemade hot soup as postrace refreshment. Bagels and fruit also will be on the menu for the awards ceremony that will be held in the warmth of the technical center.

T-shirts will be available to day-of-race registrants on a first-come, first-served basis.

For information about New Year's Resolution Run, call 724-658-3583, Ext. 8111, or email lheasley@lcvt.pa.us

Runners with a longer distance in mind can make the trip to Fairmont, W.Va., for the Run to Read Half Marathon, which begins at noon Saturday. in scenic Prickett's Fort State Park.

Day-of-event registration begins at 10:30 a.m. at the park's visitor center. The commemorative gloves and knit hats might be in short supply, so plan to arrive early.

Run to Read Half Marathon is USATF sanctioned event and features an unusual double out-and-back course. The first part of the run follows a paved 4.2 mile park trail. The race finishes on the Mon River Trail, a rail trail of crushed limestone.

Race director Jim Woolfitt isn't concerned that winter weather could interfere with race plans. He runs and races all year long and expects that 100 or more other runners from 11 states will join him.

"There's less competition from other races in this time of year," Woolfitt said.

Woolfitt has scheduled a contingency date of Jan. 11 in the unlikely event that weather turns extreme. Runners should call early on the day of the event if there is any doubt of the race being postponed.

Run to Read Half Marathon benefits Literacy Volunteers of Marion County. This United Way organization of almost 20 volunteers offers free tutoring to adults and children in reading, math, English, GED preparation and computer basics.

For information about Run to Read Half Marathon, call 304-825-6311 or email run2read@hotmail.com.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Rolling country roads, your choice of distance. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.com

Jan. 13, 10 a.m.: Fire and Ice 5K, Somerset. Part of festival. 814-445-6213 or dmapes@sssd.com

Jan. 14, 10 a.m.: Bushwacker's Nightmare Trail Run, South Park. Choice of 5K or 10K, part of Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners Club series. 724-348-6012

Jan. 14, noon: Elite Runners and Walkers Marathon Training Program Meeting, Murraysville. Begins 19-week marathon or half marathon training program with coaching, clinics, group runs for $175. Call 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.com

Jan. 21: Slippery Rock University All-Comers Indoor Track Meet, Slippery Rock. Try something new this winter. 724-738-2798

Race results

Treesdale 5K, Nov. 25: Herb Cratty, 1st Overall M, 17:33; Brian Forester, 2nd Overall M, 18:12; Frank Moxie, 3rd Overall M, 18:21; Edith Guevara, 1st Overall W, 21:33; Kate Reinhart, 3rd Overall W, 22:31; Michael Lewis, 1st 17 and under M, 19:46; Jacob Montag, 2nd 17 and under M, 19:55; Timothy Kessel, 2nd 36-40 M, 22:05; Tommy Steinhagen, 2nd 18-25 M, 22:14; Jeff Yingling, 1st 51-55 M, 22:34; Mark Scriven, 3rd 17 & Under M, 22:37; Bruce Barnes, 2nd 46-50 M, 22:45; Emily Reinhart, 1st 17 and under W, 23:57Kim Reinhart, 46-50 W, 23:59; Christopher Doughton, 2nd 31-35 M, 24:17; Kelli Hartman, 2nd 18-25 W, 24:20; Dez Csizmadia, 1st 61 and over M, 24:33; Pam Mango, 2nd 46-50 W, 25:21; Bob Behr, 2nd 51-55 M, 26:24; Kristen Kelly, 1st 36-40 W, 26:32; M'Lisa Oravitz, 2nd 36-40 W, 26:36; Paul Nussbaum, 2nd 41-45 M, 26:49; Kathy Oravitz, 3rd 41-45 W, 26:50; Hope Mango, 3rd 17 and under W, 27:01; Gregory Reed, 3rd 41-45 M, 27:43; Mary Morgan, 3rd 46-50 W, 27:45; Jamie Matteucci, 3rd 36-40 W, 28:35; Stew Silvis, 1st 26-30 M, 28:53; Erin Frye, 3rd 18-25 W, 28:56Sarah Keisel, 2nd 26-30 W, 29:04; Dan Miller, 2nd 61 and over M, 30:40; Suzanne Leonberg, 1st 51-55 W, 32:48; James Ashbaugh, 3rd 31-35 M, 35:54; Andy McIntyre, 2nd 56-60 M, 37:06; Connie Riesmeyer, 1st 56-60 W, 37:52; Donna Hall, 2nd 51-55 W, 38:04; Tom McCue, 3rd 56-60 M, 45:21; Melissa McCue, 3rd 51-55 W, 46:25Billy Dixon, 22:32; Ryan Leonberg, 22:54; Damien Wissolik, 23:20; Logan Kopchak, 23:52; John Nowak, 24:13; Carl Hill, 24:43; Tom Reinhart, 25:14; Philip Madonna, 25:24; Sean Kelly, 25:38; John Mullen, 25:49; Todd Oravitz, Jr., 26:19; Todd Oravitz, 26:20; Maile Oravitz, 26:34; Sam Sedory, 27:01; Lauren Laughlin, 27:19; Danielle Mrdjenovich, 27:21; Melissa Morgan, 27:31; Katrina Morgan, 27:31; Alex Madonna, 27:37; Andrew Nussbaum, 27:39; John Reed, 27:43; Stacy Kopchak, 27:58Hemanth Kapoor, 28:09; Matthew Lenhart, 28:40; Neil Janowitz, 28:55; Joe Reinhart, 29:15; Jeff Yannuzzi, 29:18; Laura Keeley, 29:31; Mike Pechalk, 29:52; Kim Kenetz, 30:13; Connor Trott, 30:34; Hal Martin, 30:45; James Geiger, 30:52; Olivia Laughlin, 31:45; Erin Smith, 31:48; Amy Madonna, 31:52; Kelly Scriven, 32:18; Gabrielle Romeo, 32:26; Rick Clemente, 32:35; Dawn Rucker, 32:58; Ryan Romeo, 33:09; Tom Matteucci, 33:44Chuck Mattera, 34:11; Elaine Wissolik, 34:41; Paul Daubman, 35:37; Debra Kuminkowski, 35:59; Whitney Amoruso, 36:31; Jeffrey Schueler, 36:32; Val Williams, 37:18; Mark Hall, 37:46; Holly Sedory, 38:53; Richard Sedory, 38:57; Meredith McCue, 40:23; Carrie Preston, 40:24; Tori Kopchak, 40:58; Claudia Lenhart, 40:58; Lisa Lenhart, 40:58Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. Email: bigp16@connecttime.net