O Butler Road Race, why do I run thee? Let me count the reasons:

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Support for Butler County scholar athletes. In the past 14 years, Butler Road Race has awarded nearly $235,000 in scholarships to 438 graduating seniors from Butler County cross country teams. High schools represented include Butler, Freeport. Karns City, Knoch, Mars, Moniteau, Seneca Valley and Slippery Rock.•

Set records. Five national single age records have been set on the Butler Road Race 5-mile course including Job Christiansen's age 4 finish of 45 minutes, 5 seconds, and Lou Lodovico's age 73 record of 34:11. You may not beat these times, but the gentle inclines of the out-and-back course are perfect for personal bests.•

It's good for you. Butler Memorial Hospital continues its sponsorship of the Butler Road Race in part to promote wellness in our community. Whether you run fast or walk slow, completing the event demonstrates your personal commitment to health and fitness.•

Free food. Not only are participants treated to post-race fruit and drinks, but each family of four registered earns a $25 gift certificate from Texas Roadhouse.•

Play in the street. Butler streets are closed to auto traffic during the event and patrolled for safety by Butler City Police and CB Rangers.•

Read your name in the newspaper —- in a good way.•

Don and Tammy Slusser's 20th wedding anniversary. The Slussers were married following the Butler Road Race in 1987. Tammy holds both the women's open course record of 29:44 and the women's masters record 30:43.•

Fame. Butler Road Race awards trophies to the top five men and women in the 5-mile race and top three in the 2-kilometer run. First Butler County male and female finishers on the longer course earn special recognition. There are age group honors as well.•

Fortune. Generous sponsors have donated items and gift certificates for a post-race random drawing. If you can't be fast, be lucky.•

Friends. You always see someone you know, whether running or helping put on the race. Don't forget to thank the loyal, hardworking volunteers who make this event possible.•

Shopping. Check out the vendors in Diamond Park or special sidewalk sales along Main Street after the race.•

Instant and accurate race results. Runner's High times the USATF certified Butler Road Race with ChampionChip timing. Printed race results are available 20 minutes after the finish, courtesy of Minuteman Press.•

Tradition. Butler Road Race is the oldest consecutively held race in Western Pennsylvania and the biggest running event in Butler.Run your first or your 32nd Butler Road Race at 9 a.m. Saturday on Main Street in Butler. Registration opens at 7:30. in Diamond Park.Race-day registrations are welcome, but commemorative T-shirts and singlets are available only until they run out.For information call 724-284-4676 or download an application from www.butlerhealthsystem.org.

Upcoming eventsSaturday, 5:50 a.m.: Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, North Park. Run or hike 34 rugged trail miles from North Park to Harrison Hills Park or shorter distances of 19 or 8 miles. www.rachelcarsontrails.orgSaturday, 9 a.m.: IFPAA Challenger 5K, Sewickley. Benefits special needs youth and adults. 412-367-0650 or jimnapoli@comcast.netSaturday, 9:30 a.m.: Altoona Summer Biathlon, Skelp. Run 5K cross country with two shooting stops. All equipment provided, first-timers welcome. 814-832-2857 or hooverd@juniata.eduSaturday, 6 p.m.: Brookville YMCA Laurel Races, Brookville. Choice of 5K, 1- mile fun run, Little K kids dash with age groups. 724-849-7355June 27, 7 p.m.: Elderton 5K Run and Fun Walk, Elderton. 724-463-9071 or wallybly@ptd.netJune 27, 7 p.m.: Chase at the Lake 5K, Mercer. Flat out and back along Lake Latonka, part of Mercer County Twilight QUAD series. 724-4584435 or smc@runhigh.comJune 27, 7 p.m.: Sharpsville Festival 5K, Sharpsville. 724-456-3828 or www.sharpsville5k@moomfruit.comJune 29, 7 p.m.: Latrobe Fourth of July Celebration 5-Mile Run, Latrobe. Starts at Latrobe Memorial Stadium, showers available. 724-537-8417 or cgreen4541@verizon.netJune 30, 8 a.m.: Pre-Bicentennial 5K Run, Barnesville, Ohio. Benefits Barnesville Area Rails to Trails Committee and Barnesville cross country and track teams. 740-425-2822 or runthis5k@sbcglobal.netJune 30, 9 a.m.: Ellwood City Ledger 10K, Ellwood City. Run through town begins at Ewing Park. 724-752-1583June 30, 9 a.m.: Ford City Area Heritage Days 5K, Ford City. Flat and fast through downtown, part of Heritage Days festival. 724-763-3986 or jsolak@iup.eduJune 30, 9 a.m.: Middlesex Mad Dash 5K, Valencia. Through rolling countryside. 724-473-1198.June 30, 10 a.m.: Middlesex Mad Dash Half-Mile Run-Walk, Valencia. Run for kids age 11 and under on Middlesex Community Park walking trail. 724-473-1198July 4, 9 a.m.: Brentwood Firecracker 5K, Brentwood. Great post-race party with lots of food and raffle prizes. 412-882-5694July 4, 7 p.m.: Groundhog 5K Run-Walk, Punxsutawney. 814-938-1008 or www.punxsutawneyphil.com/commcenterJuly 7, 7:30 a.m.: Butler County Family YMCA Triathlon, Moraine State Park. quarter-mile swim, 7-mile bike ride, 3.1-mile run. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.orgJuly 7, 8:30 a.m.: Rockwood Rotary Half Marathon and 5K Run-Walk, Rockwood. Run on Allegheny Highlands Trail. 814-926-2469

Race results

Ogden Mile, May 25: Eric Putnam, 1st Overall, 3:54; Mark Courtney, 1st 50-54 M, 4:56; Josh Nigh, 5:48

Ogden 5K, May 26: Ryan Beabout, 1st Overall M, 15:48; Heather Wayt, 1st Overall W, 19:12; Mark Courtney, 1st 50-54 M, 18:17; Mitch Radella, 1st 40-44 M, 19:06; Ann Ciotoli, 2nd 45-49 W, 27:27; Margretta Lutz, 1st 70 and over W, 31:06

Ogden 20K, May 26: Reta Alene, 1st Overall M, 1:00:59; Tatiana Chulakl, 1st Overall W, 1:13:29; Tim Monfre, 1st Masters M, 1:17:50; Malcolm East, 2nd Grand Masters M, 1:24:14; Michelle Choo, 2nd Grand Masters W, 1:37:43; Lou Alaksin, 2nd 65-69 M, 1:40:35; Patricia Neubert, 1st 50-54 W, 1:43:58; Ted Venn, 1st 70+ M, 2:00:51; Pat Crawford, 1:31:55; Robert Miller, 1:35:26; Robert Pawlowski, 1:37:40; Michael Zavage, 1:59:41; Wayne Toy, 2:01:58; Shawn Nettles, 2:04:41; Luke Badaczewski, 2:06:16; Marianne Badaczewski, 2:31:48

Beaver Firefighters 5K, May 26: Jesse Bender, 1st Overall M, 16:50; Jerry Maher, 2nd Overall M, 17:04; Bonnie Lathom, 1st Overall W, 20:41; Cindy Grimm, 2nd Overall W, 21:38; Jacob Montag, 2nd 13-19 M, 18:42; Matt Marshall, 1st 35-39 M, 19:48; Christopher Georgiadis, 1st 12 an under M, 21:09; Mark Eschenfelder, 3rd 50-54 M, 22:54; Imani Greene, 1st 12 and under W, 23:42; Amanda Cagno, 3rd 20-29 W, 25:00; Eryn Brown, 1st 13-19 W, 25:04; Eric Grimm, 3rd 20-29 M, 28:08; Curt Grimm, 3rd 55-59 M, 28:10Terry McGaffic, 21:03; Bruce Hall, 23:09; Jonathan Berger, 24:56; Steven Georgiadis, 25:25; Len Yensull, 26:25; Stacie Doughty, 26:51; Caitlin Feroce, 27:02; Michael Cornell, 27:47; Bob Pellegrini, 30:14; Lisa Cilli, 30:29; Dana Hogue, 31:20; Chris Clark, 32:00; Tom MacMullan, 34:15; Nigel Esterhuizen, 37:03; Emilee Cilli, 37:24

Beaver Firefighters 5K Walk, May 26: Jenny Faull, 1st Overall W, 34:18; Rolf Engdahl, 1st Overall M, 37:18; Laura Wagner, 39:34; Katrina Wagner, 42:51; Michael Radella, 43:24Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone or fax 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net