Incredible as it seems, running is not the national pastime. Baseball has historically worn that crown.

Over the next two Saturdays, the national pastime becomes the theme for our pastime.

At 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Rube's Run chases baseball history through the streets of Prospect. This seventh annual 5K road race and walk honors baseball Hall of Famer Rube Wadell, whose boyhood home is located in this small town.

Rube's Run begins at Moraine Elementary School and loops on a gently rolling course through residential Prospect. The race passes Rube Wadell's boyhood home twice. Look for it on Route 528, two doors down from Prospect Presbyterian Church.

In keeping with the baseball theme, Rube's Run adds an Old-Fashioned Baseball Breakfast of hot dogs and lemonade to the usual post race fruit buffet.

Youngsters will want to wait a little longer for breakfast because a free race for them begins at 9:15. Ribbons will be awarded to all finishers.

Rube's Run 5K is a fundraiser for Prospect Area Preservation Society. Co-race director Mary Harmon, one of the founders of the organization, says that there's a lot of work to do in trying to preserve and educate people about the history of Prospect, a borough incorporated in 1847.

Day-of-event registration opens at 7 a.m. at Moraine Elementary School.

For information, call Mary Harmon at 724-865-2181 or email Jim Gallagher at jtgallagher@zoominternet.net.

On at 9 a.m. July 26, the Freeport 5K combines the love of running with the love of baseball. The race is held in conjunction with the annual Freeport International Baseball Invitational, featuring 40 teams from around the world playing "for the love of the game."

The Freeport 5K, now in its fourth year, tours the town on a meandering, gently rolling course that finishes on the baseball field. Runners might be joined by baseball players and their families from around the world.

Co-race director Dan Crytzer has a photo to prove it.

"I ran with my granddaughter and we got our pictures taken with a couple of players from the Netherlands who ran," Crytzer said.

Stick around after the race to watch baseball and fireworks.

You still can preregister for the Freeport 5K by mail this week. Day-of-event registration opens at 7:15 a.m. July 26 at Freeport Junior High. The race begins at 9.

For information call 724-295-5511 or email marathonmetal@comcast.net. For information about the Freeport International Baseball Invitational, visit www.fortheloveofthegame.org.

Upcoming events

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

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

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Stampede in the Park 5k Run and Walk, Monroeville. Starts at Boyce Park Ski Lodge. 412-795-6902 or Kevin.dowdell@us.abb.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Shannock Valley Festival 5K, Rural Valley. 724-783-7995 or ascott716@aol.com

Sunday, 8 a.m.: Thorn Hill County Line 5K Race, Cranberry Township. Run through Thorn Hill Industrial Park benefits area high school scholarships. 724-776-4949

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Kayla's Run for SIDS, Pittsburgh. 412-885-3858 or www.sids-pa.org

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

Sunday, 3 p.m.: Gold Medal Camp Alumni Race 5K, California, Pa. Cross country race on California (Pa.) University course. 412-464-2222.

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

Saturday, 8:45 a.m.: Run for Roch 5K Run-Walk, Pittsburgh. Run atop scenic Mount Wahington. 412-488-0912

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. Swimming, biking, running 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. 2, 7 p.m.: Debbie Green Memorial 5K Run-Walk for Leukemia, Wheeling, W.Va. 740-859-0704

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. 9, 9 a.m.: Rimersburg Cookie Daze 5K, Rimersburg. 814-473-6427.

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

Aug. 16, 9 a.m.: Armstrong County YMCA Summer Fun 5K Run-Walk, Kittanning. 724-545-9622 or kknepshield@armstrongymca.org.

Race results

Middlesex Mad Dash 5K, June 28: Daniel Carlino, 1st Overall M, 18:24; Terri Michelle, 1st Overall W, 23:10; Jake Montag, 1st 16-19 M, 19:25; Alan Parish, 2nd 30-39 M, 19:53; Matt Marshall, 3rd 30-39 M, 20:43; Bill Want, 1st 40-49 M, 22:00; Bruce Bovacs, 2nd 40-49 M, 22:51; Tara Fagan, 1st 20-29 W, 23:48; Donny Trapp, 2nd 16-19 M, 24:27; Amy Formica, 1st 30-39 W, 24:53; Carl Hill, 3rd 40-49 M, 24:54; Ben Knauff, 1st 20-29 M, 25:18; Stephanie Yo, 1st 16-19 W, 25:21;Sissy Pehel, 1st 50-59 W, 25:41; Shane Coon, 1st 13-15 M, 25:48; Luke Salter, 3rd 16-19 M, 27:02; Emily Wilkinson, 2nd 20-29 W, 27:36; Joseph Prostko, 2nd 20-29 M, 27:39; James Bolzo, 2nd 10-15 M, 27:38; Jess Saltzer, 2nd 16-19 W, 28:38; Sasha Mathews, 13-15 W, 29:18; Kristen Lutzic, 2nd 30-39 W, 29:22; Jordan Wyant, 3rd 10-15 M, 30:40Sarah Wyant, 1st 9 and under W, 31:16; Cydney Butler, 2nd 10-14 W, 31:31; Dave McConahy, 1st 60 and over M, 31:36; Rob Azarcon, 3rd 20-29 M, 31:53; Dave Knauff, 2nd 50-59 M, 32:23; Marcia Semple, 1st 60+ W, 32:30; Jeanna Sybert, 3rd 10-15 W, 32:59; Lisa Steinmiller, 1st 40-49 W, 33:40; Mary Ehrmann, 2nd 40-49 W, 36:02; Steph Azarcon, 3rd 20-29 W, 42:17; Lori Harris, 3rd 40-49 W, 48:29; Michelle Goodworth, 3rd 30-39 W, 49:21; Annetta Hardt, 2ne 60 and over W, 55:07Craig Lutzic, 23:39; Dennis Aeon, 26:59; Sammi Bosswog, 29:20; Page Proto, 29:57; Jim McEvoy, 30:23; Dana Hogue, 31:17; Zach Phy, 34:55; Maureen Pass, 48:30; Elyse Pehel, 49:41

Hampton Township Rotary Firecracker 5K, July 2: David Vaccarello, 1st Overall M, 16:52; Alex Lochner, 2nd Overall M, 17:09; Elaina Balouris, 1st Overall W, 20:18; Timothy End, 2nd 40-49 M, 20:35; Dave France, 3rd 30-39 M, 21:05; Mark Blasinsky, 2nd 50-59 M, 21:54; Jess Usner, 2nd 15-19 W, 24:14; Bruce Unks, 3rd 25-29 M, 25:50; Joseph Fish, 1st 7 and under M, 26:42; Terry Ann Fuller, 1st 50-59 W, 27:14Eric Dian, 19:14; Jared Steinmetz, 19:42; Steven Andritz, 23:54; Chuck Warden, 23:58; Brian Kirkpatrick, 24:56; Jay McBride, 25:39; Sydney Huerbin, 25:48; Robert Willig, 25:55; Geoff Long, 26:07; John Sleighter, 26:42; Emma Reed, 27:42; James Reed, 27:42; Chris Lochner, 27:48; Tom Culey, 28:38; Patty Long, 28:57; Phil Huerbin, 29:54; Joe Mulqueen, 31:35; Karla Rhoades, 39:42; Mary Winek, 45:35; Charles Winek, Jr., 45:36; Elyse Pehel, 50:14; Michelle Goodmath, 50:15; Jeanie McBride, 50:33

Ellwood City Ledger 10K, July 5: Jake Walker, 1st Overall M, 30:27; Patricia Vargas, 1st Overall W, 37:45; Bethany Walker, 2nd Overall W, 41:00; Leslie Kramer, 3rd Overall W, 42:29; Dustin Smith, 1st 14-19 M, 37:29; Jonny Cortez, 3rd 14-19 M, 39:23; Chris Ludwig, 1st 20-26 M, 40:59; Frank D'Ambrosio, 2nd 41-45 M, 42:52; Frank Sassaman, 1st 51-55 M, 42:55; Curt Grimm, 1st 56-60 M, 43:33; Phil O'Hara, 43:47Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.