Tired of the same old hot and humid 5K races weekend after weekend? If so, try something new and different this Saturday.

The Cross Country Crusade 5K, which begins at 8:30 a.m., is a new off-road run in my hometown of Saxonburg.

The brainchild of Knoch High varsity cross country coach Wess Brahler, the event employs the school's cross country course, offering a shady, foot-friendly and traffic-free romp through woods and fields.

You don't have to be in school to run this event, though many of Knoch's middle school and high school runners will take to the course as part of offseason training. Race co-director Ed Doyle expects participants from other high school teams as well.

"This is a great way for kids to try cross country running and for the younger ones to see how they stack up against middle school or high school runners," Doyle said.

Doyle also recommends Cross Country Crusade for adults.

"I think some adults may be surprised at the challenge," he says. "You can't compare road race times with cross country results."

The course is not extremely hilly but it does offer hazards in the form of wooded terrain and a few wet areas. You might not score a PR at this event, but you'll have fun.

The race is the first event in a new Saxonburg Distance Series. The series includes Roebling Run 5K Aug. 9 and Saxonburg Festival of the Arts 5K Sept. 6.

Each race in the series uses a different course and proceeds from each event benefit a different cause in the community.

Cross Country Crusade benefits Knoch cross country teams. Roebling Run is a benefit for Knoch Track and Field Scholarship Fund, and Saxonburg Festival of the Arts gives funding to the Saxonburg Historical and Restoration Commission.

The three races share organizations. Many of Saturday's volunteers are parents of Knoch cross country or track and field athletes.

Also volunteering will be members of what Ed Doyle calls "The President's Club." The group of four past presidents of Knoch Track and Field Boosters, Jack Hutterer, Terry Melis, Ed Doyle and Karen Robb, continue to help with race organization even though their kids have graduated.

Doyle also includes Art and Janet Black in this group of volunteers who continue to help because they consider these events important to the community.

Those who want to run the Cross Country Crusade are welcome to register on the day of the event. Registration begins at 7 a.m. Saturday at South Butler Intermediate School, though T-shirts might be in short supply.

For information about this race or other Saxonburg Distance Series events, call 72-898-2525 or e-mail shoes@runpa.com.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.com

Saturday, 7:45 a.m.: Butler Country Family YMCA Triathlon, Moraine State Park. 724-287-4733 or www.bcfymca.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Elk County Classic 5K, Johnsonburg. 814-776-2413 or bczappa@penn.com

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Friends of PTARC 5K Bushy Run Trail Run-Walk, Harrison City. 724-744-1900 or ckemerer@penntwp.org

Sunday, 6 p.m.: Hoodlebug 5K Run and Fun Walk, Homer City. 724-479-3142 or jswauger@comcast.net

July 16, 7 P.M.: Fredonia 5K, Fredonia. Part of Twilight QUAD series. 724-662-1776 or smc@runhigh.com

July 19, 8:30 a.m.: Rube's Run, Prospect. 5K run or walk followed by old-gashioned baseball breakfast." 724-865-9582 or jtgallagher@zoominternet.net

July 19, 8:30 a.m.: Junkyard Jaunt 5K, Natrona Heights. 724-991-3003 oe coachtla5555@comcast.net

July 19, 8:30 a.m.: Stampede in the Park 5K Run and Walk, Monroeville. 412-795-6902 or Kevin.dowdell@us.abb.com

July 20, 8 a.m.: Thorn Hill County Line 5K Race, Cranberry Township. Benefits area high school scholarships. 724-776-4949

July 20, 9 a.m.: Wilcox 5K and 2-Mile Walk, Wilcox. 814-929-5929 or pamanderson17@alltel.net

July 26, 8 a.m.: Run with the Deer Flies 25K, Yellow Creek State Park. 724-349-7085 or jswauger@comcast.net

July 26, 8:30 a.m.: Raider Maze 5k Run-Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run, Harmony. 724-538-8940 or raidermaze@yahoo.com

July 26, 9 a.m.: Freeport International Baseball 5K, Freeport. 724-295-5511 or marathonmetal@comcast.net

July 26, 9 A.M.: Turtle Trot 5K, Turtle Creek. 412-823-8595

July 26, 9 a.m.: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training Meeting, Cranberry Township. 800-482-TEAM or www.teamintraining.org

July 26, 10 a.m.: Butler County Family YMCA Youth Triathlon, Zelienople. Swim, bike, run event for ages 6 through 12 in Zelienople Community Park. 724-452-9122 or jgroves@rsymca.org

Aug. 2, 9 a.m.: St. Barnabas 5K, Valencia. 724-444-5512 or www.stbarnabas5k.com

Aug. 9, 8:30 a.m.: Roebling's 5k Run-Walk, Saxonburg. Second race in Saxonburg Distance Series. 724-586-6118 or tmelis@zoominternet.net

Aug. 13, 7 p.m.: Courtney's Ice Cream Race 5K, Grove City. Run then eat. Final race of Twilight QUAD series. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

Race results

"Us Too" Father's Day 5K, June 15: Charlie Ban, 1st Overall M, 15:36; Ann Mazur, 1st Overall W, 18:45; Paul Juliano, 1st 40-44 M, 19:33; Mark Blasinsky, 2nd 50-54 M, 21:42; Margretta Lutz, 1st 70 and over W, 29:36; Bob Cunningham, 19:36; Mark Knapp, 19:40; Matt Troyka, 20:27; Dave France, 20:57; Tim Vantine, 23:34; Thomas Puskar, 25:37; Terry Alvarez, 27:04; Andrew Hodgson, 27:11; Josh McKivigan, 29:04; Griffin Mathew, 30:12; Hansel Lucas, 30:38; Austin Mathew, 31:01; Philip Mathew, 31:01; Rick Kidwell, 31:28; Camden Seybert, 31:46; Mike Seybert, 31:46; Janet Tarr, 32:09; Christine Cormier, 32:14; Jacob Atkinson, 32:35; John Thiebaud, 33:46; Gloria Caceres, 34:21; Briann Artz, 35:00; Alexandra Knapp, 38:39; Aubrie Knapp, 45:27; Ashley Thiebaud, 46:08

"Us Too" Father's Day 10K, June 15: David Adley, 1st Overall M, 33:41; Andrea Moore, 1st Overall W, 41:45; Ben Brewer, 1st 20-24 M, 33:48; Dean Rippee, 3rd 50-54 M, 44:57; Courtney Briola, 2nd 16-19 W, 54:56; John Millea, 42:32; Michael Finikiotis, 44:05; William Marsh, 47:04; Richard Colonello, 49:34; Greg Ripper, 49:47; Chuck Warden, 50:01; Heather Cianfrocco, 53:27; Janine Klein, 57:05; Brad Balkouec, 57:10; Thomas McClure, 58:28; James Hodgson, 59:35; Stacie Brethauer, 59:42; Susan Hoover, 1:01:19; Andrew Super, 1:02:44; Charles Morse, 1:02:51; Melinda Miller, 1:05:01

Corry Fest 5K, July 6: Steve Battaglia, 1st Overall M, 16:51; Herb Cratty, 2nd Overall M, 17:38; Kimberly Turner, 1st Overall W, 19:34; Jeff Lynn, 1st Masters M, 18:08; Mitch Radella, 1st 40-44 M, 18:55; Kim Keeley, 1st 25-29 W, 23:09; Roxanna Altman, 3rd 50-54 W, 42:56Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail: bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.