When I'm on vacation with my family, we always like to get in a round or two of miniature golf. It's not the score that matters, though competition can be fierce, especially between father and son.

The thing that makes it so much fun is the unique goofiness of the courses. It's the finesse of sinking a putt on top of the anthill hole or the delight of watching someone else's ball get knocked off the course by the giant swinging log. Afterward, there's the fun of comparing scores and laughing over ice cream or a cold beer.

Sometimes road races should be like minigolf — a lot less serious on the course and with more ice cream and beer afterward. Luckily, we've got two of those races coming up in August.

The 17th Annual St. Barnabas Medical Center 5K, which will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday in Gibsonia, is a race with a serious purpose that doesn't take itself too seriously. The event benefits St. Barnabas Charities Free Care Fund, which provides services to those unable to afford medical care.

St. Barnabas 5K follows a rolling out-and-back course on partially shaded Meridian Road in Gibsonia. The undulations of the course are challenging enough, but the heat of August makes the race tougher.

Luckily, runners have more to focus on than the clock. After the finish line carnation for women and a cooling water spray for everyone, runners are treated to one of the best post race picnics in the area.

There's plenty of pizza, chicken, ice cream and beer to go along with the usual post run fare of fruit and bagels. Runners sprawl on the lawn or sit in the shade listening to live music while waiting for the awards ceremony.

Get there early on Saturday for day-of-event registration which opens at 7 a.m. For information call 724-444-5512 or visit www.stbarnabas5k.com.

Courtney's Ice Cream Race 5K, which is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 13 in Grove City, combines two of my favorites: running and ice cream.

The race is the last event in Mercer County Twilight QUAD, whis is marking its 25th anniversary as the region's oldest continuous running series.

Courtney's Ice Cream Race follows a gently rolling out-and-back course through rural countryside. The half-mile downhill finish is perfect for sprinting past the competition on the way to the post race ice cream buffet.

There's really no need to hurry, however. With more than 100 gallons of ice cream in assorted flavors, the only rush is to eat it before it melts.

Courtney's Ice Cream Race is an especially kid-friendly event. For those ages 11 and under who choose not to run the 5K, there's a half mile kids race at 7:45 p.m.

Registration fee for the event includes a commemorative lapel pin. T-shirts are extra and should be ordered in advance of race day.

For information about Courtney's Ice Cream Race 5K, call 724-866-1374 or visit www.runhigh.com.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Hot Harry's Runners Group Run, North Park. Starts at Stone Field for easy run.

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

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Bob Swanson Memorial 5K, Mount Jewett. 814-778-5940 or kirbyp@verizon.net

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Lee Foster Memorial 5K, St. Marys. 814-776-1528

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

Wednesday, 6 p.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Change of day and time for summer. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.com

Aug. 6, 6 p.m.: Team in Training Info Meeting, Wexford. 800-482-8326 or www.teamintraining.org/mail

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.: Brookline Breeze 5K, Pittsburgh. USATF Three Rivers Open and Masters Championship. www.brooklinebreeze.com

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. Run then eat. Final race of Twilight QUAD series. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

Aug. 16, 7 a.m.: Beat the Heat 5K, Murrysville. 412-352-7961 or www.active.com

Aug. 16, 8 a.m.: Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon, Parkersburg, W.Va. No day-of-event registration. www.NewsandSentinelHalfMarathon.com

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

Aug. 17, 6 p.m.: Run for the Trail 7K Run-Walk, Indiana, Pa. Run on Dilltown Ghost Town Trail. 724-479-0769 or Thaddeus.Pajak@ffic.com

Aug. 23, 8:30 a.m.: Tom Murray-Cranberry Township Aquathlon, Cranberry Township. Run three miles, swim 400 meters, run two miles in North Boundary Park. 724-774-5746 or jkercovich@yahoo.com

Sept. 1, 9 a.m.: Gatorade/Steelers 5K Race, Fitness Walk and Kids Kickoff Run, Pittsburgh. 412-697-7713 or 5k@steelers.com

Race results

Junkyard Jaunt 5K, July 19: Colin Galey, 1st Overall M, 17:46; Brian Forester, 2nd Overall M, 18:10; Sergei Dines, 3rd Overall M, 18:42; Rich Makin, 4th Overall M, 18:42; John McCullough, 5th Overall M, 18:52; Monica Walter, 1st Overall W, 22:48; Dorothy Moxie, 2nd Overall W, 22:50; Amy Sue Amadee, 3rd Overall W, 23:29; Jaden Humel, 5th Overall W, 24:38; Dave Terrill, 1st 50-54 M, 19:44; Ashley Pernazza, 1st 16-19 W, 27:46; Scott Williams, 1st 45-49 M, 30:25; Mary Williams, 1st 40-44 W, 30:56

Presque Isle Half Marathon, July 20: Jake Walker, 1st Overall M, 1:07:54; Melissa Shaeffer, 1st Overall W, 1:30:44; Leslie Kramer, 2nd Overall W, 1:31:17; John Neff, 2nd 30-34 M, 1:23:29; Jeff Lann, 1st 40-44 M, 1:29:39; Bob Gracie, 1st 60-64 M, 1:38:18; Christine Murray, 2nd 55-59 W, 1:58:43; Susan Altemus, 3rd 50-54 W, 2:03:25; Michael Dreves, 1:28:44; Chris Dumbroski, 1:29:13; Jonathan Cortez, 1:33:33; Jeff Leya, 1:33:39; Damian Skal, 1:39:43; Sarah Thompson, 1:41:23; Tim Weil, 1:41:38; Frank D'Ambrosio, 1:41:58; John Armstrong, 1:47:19; Megan Prazenica, 1:48:39; Bill Swanik, 1:54:27; Steve Schupp, 1:55:52; Leslie Mularski, 1:56:40; Ryan Urik, 1:58:29; Carol Donahey, 1:59:04; Tammy Moore, 1:59:22; Stacy Juchno, 2:03:47; Carrie Smith, 2:06:06; Meghan Johnson, 2:07:04; Eliza Lowe, 2:10:13; Rachel Biziorek, 2:10:14; Beverly Lowe, 2:10:23; Grace Smith, 2:11:11; Evan Lowe, 2:11:13; Adam Lowe, 2:11:14; Brian Shuttleworth, 2:12:15; J.J. Hensley, 2:13:50; Tedd Nesbit, 2:15:06; Andy McIntyre, 2:32:49; Dana Hogue, 2:37:54; Stephen Merchant, 2:58:15Send 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.