Races offer opportunities to run for others

By Pat Neubert

May 10, 2007 Last Updated: May 10, 2007 01:38 PM Sports

Sometimes it's not all about you and your race. Two of this weekend's events show runners that sometimes it's important to be there for someone else.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, Butler County Blind Association holds its second annual Run for Sight 5K to benefit the blind and visually impaired in our county. The event also raises awareness of problems faced every day by the visually impaired.

Megan Grenek, race director and program director for Butler County Blind Association, is hoping to double last year's participation of 45 runners and walkers as proceeds from this event directly benefit the vision impaired in Butler and Armstrong counties.

Grenek and her counterpart in Armstrong, Brianna Reed, coordinate and personally provide services, such as help with shopping, sorting through mail and writing checks, for about 40 clients in Armstrong County and more than 100 in Butler County.

Run for Sight 5 uses a familiar loop through the Veterans Affairs Medical Center grounds on New Castle Road. That gently rolling course assures runners and walkers participation in a motor vehicle-free environment as the roads are closed for the event.

For information about Run for Sight 5K Run and Walk, call Butler County Association for the Blind at 724-287-4059.

On Sunday, the largest running and walking event in the area returns to Pittsburgh as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure assembles in Schenley Park for the 15th running. The 5K run, 5K walk and 1-mile fun walk are part of the largest series of its kind with events in more than 100 U.S. cities.

Race for the Cure raises more than $1 million annually to fight breast cancer. It's just one way that Nancy G. Brinker continues to fulfill a promise made to her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, to do everything in her power to end breast cancer.

Up to 75 percent of the proceeds from Sunday's event remain in Western Pennsylvania to fund research, awareness and treatment programs.

Race for the Cure is more than just a race. Sunday's event kicks off at 7:15 a.m. with an aerobic warm up. There's a Kids' Dash at 7:30, followed by an emotional survivor parade and tribute at 7:50. The competitive 5K begins at 8:35, while the 5K walk and mile fun walk at 8:45 winds along a separate course to end at a common finish.

Race for the Cure's competitive course is a challenging, hilly loop of the park and surrounding residential area. The race begins with a half-mile uphill along Schenley Park's golf course and includes several other climbs before the downhill finish.

Day-of-event registration begins at Schenley Park at 6:30 a.m. Sunday. Parking near the race course is limited, but area parking lots will offer free parking and shuttle service. Buses will leave from area Dick's Sporting Goods stores, including Butler, but reservations are necessary.

For information about this Sunday's Race for the Cure, visit www.komenpittsburgh.org. For bus reservations, call 412-342-0503.

• Sunday: Warm up with 5-minute brisk walk. Run 30 seconds, walk 90 seconds, run 60 seconds, walk 90 seconds. Repeat for total of 20 minutes. Cool down with 5-minute walk.• Monday: Brisk 30 minute walk.• Tuesday: Same as Sunday.• Wednesday: Brisk 30 minute walk.• Thursday: Warm up with 5- minute walk. 2 x 30-second run, 60- second walk; 2 x 60-second run, 60- second walk; 90-second run, 60-second walk; 2 x 60-second run, 60-second walk; 2 x 30-second run, 60-second walk. Cool down with 5-minute walk.• Friday: 15- to 30-minute walk or rest.• Saturday: Warm up 5 minutes. Run 60 seconds, walk 60 seconds. Repeat for 20 minutes. Walk 5 minutes.

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Run, coffee, bagels. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday, 8 a.m.: Economy Spring 5K, Baden. 724-869-4324Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Run Wild for a Cure 5K, Cleveland. Starts at Cleveland Zoo. 216-623-9933May 16, 7 p.m.: Muskie 5K Mini-Marathon, Pymatuning State Park, Jamestown. Mathatic2004@yahoo.comSunday, 9 a.m.: Johnstown Christian School 5K, Johnstown. 814-629-9846May 19, 7:45 a.m.: Birdsfoot 5K, Freeport. Run on golf course cart paths benefits Freeport Food Bank. 724-309-7897 or wagz33@yahoo.comMay 19, 8 a.m.: Family Service 5K Run, Altoona. 814-944-3583May 19: Dirty Dog 15K Trail Run, Charleston, W.Va. 304-741-3531May 20, 7 a.m.: Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and 10, Cleveland. Also half marathon, celebrating 30 years. 800-467-3826 or www.clevelandmarathon.comMay 26, 9 a.m.: Mercer Memorial Mile, Mercer. Also 5K at 10:30. 724-662-2786 or Parade500@yahoo.comJune 9, 5:30 a.m.: Laurel Highlands Ultra Challenge, Ohiopyle. Rugged and scenic run of more than 70 miles. 724-832-1018June 9, 7 a.m.: Millcreek Adventure Race, Brookville. Solo or up to six person relay: 8-mile run, 2-mile swim, 23- mile bike ride, 12-mile canoe-kayak row, 11-mile orienteering session, 9Z\x-mile run. 814-849-7355July 7, 7:30 a.m.: Butler Family YMCA Triathlon, Moraine State Park. Quarter-mile swim, 7-mile bike ride, 3.1-mile run. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.org

Riverside Band Boosters 10K, April 21: Emmett Santillo, 1st Overall M, 39:07; Tim Weil, 2nd Overall M, 43:34; Bonnie Lathom, 1st Overall W, 43:51; Lou Alaksin, 3rd Overall M, 44:52; Cindy Grimm, 2nd Overall W, 45:55; Curt Grimm, 1st 55-59 M, 46:21; Madeline Spigtes, 1st 16-19 W, 47:52; David McKinney, 1st 35-39 M, 48:00; Jeff McCullough, 2nd 50-54 M, 48:45; Kristin Kelosky, 1st 40-44 W, 49:53; David Barensfeld, 2nd 55-59 M, 56:46; Len Yensull, 1st 40-44 M, 57:43; Valerie Hardy, 1st 30-34 W, 1:04:20; Dana Hogue, 2nd 40-44 M, 1:07:17; Ron Hartle, 51:59Riverside Band Boosters 5K, April 21: Roger Murray, 1st Overall M, 22:00; Scott Brown, 2nd Overall M, 22:03; Alina Sosko, 1st Overall W, 26:02; Kristen Kelosky, 2nd Overall W, 26:06; Alicia Dwyer, 3rd Overall W, 26:19; Phil Barner, 1st 45-49 M, 23:20; Bruce Hall, 1st 35-39 M, 24:53; Gale Mussey, 1st 55-59 M, 25:29; Kylee Kaszer, 1st 25-29 W, 26:41; Dick Trutter, 3rd 35-39 M, 27:06; Marilyn Zona, 1st 50-54 W, 29:20; Amanda Duncan, 2nd 35-39 W, 37:35; Jason Belczyk, 29:06Burg's Pizza 10K, April 22: Josh Simpson, 1st Overall M, 31:55; Mindy Sawtelle, 1st Overall W, 37:55; Leslie Kramer, 2nd Overall W, 40:48; Mark Courtney, 47:57; Rick Jacobson, 52:38; Bruce Hall, 52:57; Carl Hill, 53:10; Jason Logue, 53:28; Shawn Nettles, 55:08; Craig Rogers, 55:23; Thomas Puskar, 1:00:42; Stacie Doughty, 1:00:53; Kelly McKeever, 1:05:26Sunset Sprint 5K, April 25: Royce Hyland, 1st Overall M, 17:30; Mike Dreves, 2nd Overall M, 17:57; Cindy Grimm, 1st Overall W, 21:46; Susan Dreves, 2nd Overall W, 22:06; Mark Courtney, 1st 50-54 M, 18:07; Jim Pitts, 1st 35-39 M, 18:38; Steve Abbot, 1st 20-24 M, 19:30; Pete Valasi, 3rd 40-44 M, 19:31Kevin Gahman, 1st 20-24 M, 20:50; Tim Thurman, 2nd 35-329 M, 21:08; Mitchell Young, 2nd 20-24 M, 21:13; Curt Grimm, 3rd 55-59 M, 21:32; Steven Kloter, 3rd 20-24 M, 22:06; Lou Alaksin, 1st 65 and over M, 22:34; David McInnis, 3rd 20-24 M, 24:42; Jennifer McFarland, 3rd 20-24 W, 24:49; Tammie Brown, 1st 45-49 W, 25:29; Kathy Shoaf, 1st 60-64 W, 28:04; Mary Eschenfelder, 1st 12 and under W, 31:53; Douglas Cameron, 2nd 20-24 M, 33:54; Carol Cameron, 2nd 45-49 W, 33:55; Scott Pearson, 19:33; Mitch Radella, 19:35; Randy Brown, 20:28; Mark Markins, 22:29; Benjamin Allen, 22:55; Megan Illslley, 27:07; Lindsay Smith, 29:00Send comments and suggestions to: 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.