On Sunday, many of us will head south to Pittsburgh for one of the largest running events in our area: the Richard S. Caliguiri-City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5K or 10K.

While it's fun to run with the masses, it's also easy to get lost in the shuffle.

Runners who want to be more than just a face in the crowd can go west to Boardman, Ohio, for an unusual event that levels the field and lends suspense to the awards ceremony.

The Equalizer 4-Mile Challenge uses the World Masters Athletics age-grading factors to determine winning performances, giving younger and older runners a shot at the awards given for top 15 male and female finishers.

As The Equalizer's application says, "It doesn't matter if you're 8 or 80." In fact, last year's men's winner was 83-year-old Lou Lodovico, a familiar name in the age-group categories. Cindy Grimm, 55, won the women's division.

The WMA age-grading factors take into account the gradual increase in speeds leading to peak performance athletic age and the gradual decline on the other side.

The calculations begin with a time representing the potential best performance for top men and women. This number is not based on world record time, but on a set of consistent best performances by the world's best athletes.

In men, this consistent group of fast times is achieved between the ages of 23 and 27. Women achieve their best between ages 21 and 29. Those ages are assigned a WMA factor of 1, meaning that if you fall in these age groups, you should be at your peak.

As athletes age, speed declines almost linearly, with women's speed declining at a slightly faster rate than men's. The factors are based on the rate of decline due to age from "best performance."

For example, the open standard, the "best performance" for women in the 5K, is 14:48. A woman who runs that time at 25 potentially will see a 4-percent decline in performance at age 40 resulting in a time of 15:00. At 50, that same woman would further decline to a best of 16:40 over 5K.

Rates of decline are fairly accurate for athletes of all abilities, so the same rates of decline apply to middle-of-the- pack runners as well as elites.

To calculate my age-graded result, or my potential finishing time as a younger athlete for a recent performance, I first look up the age grading factor for age 56: .7961, then multiply by my finishing time of 22:41. This results in an age-graded time of 18:03, an equivalent finishing time for a younger me.

A visit to a Web site, www.howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics, will provide an easy calculator for all ages and distances.

In addition to comparing recent times with finishing times for the "younger you," this age-grading calculator allows comparison with performances of other runners of your age. An age-grade percentage number represents how your performance measures up against all other runners of your age and gender.

If your percentage falls between 60 and 69 percent, you're considered a local class runner. Above that in 10 percent increments are regional, national and world class. A world record time should produce a percentage of 100.

Upcoming events

Wednesday, 6 p.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.com

Saturday, 7 a.m.: Akron Marathon, Akron, Ohio. Also half marathon, 2 or 5 person relay. 877-375-2786 or www.akronmarathon.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: HAEE 5K Walk-Run, Hartwood Acres. 412-486-6000 or cardone@hts.k12.pa.us

Saturday, 10 a.m.: New Castle Christian Academy Faith 5K, New Wilmington. Also free quarter-mile kids run for ages 6 and under. www.ncca-education.com

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Good Samaritan Hospice 5K, North Park. 724-933-8888, Ext. 224

Sunday, 9 a.m.: The Equalizer Age Graded 4-Mile Challenge, Boardman, Ohio. Results based on age grading factors. 330-480-5656

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.: Richard S. Caliguiri-City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5K, Pittsburgh. Also 10K at 9:30 412-255-2493 or www.RunGreatRace.com

Sunday: Run Around Erie, Erie. Choice of 15K, 5K or 1-mile run at Presque Isle State Park. jshaw@eriecountygov.org

Oct. 3, 5:30 p.m.: Run for Hunger 5K, 10K, Walk, Freeport. Run on golf course cart path and challenging trail, post race spaghetti dinner. 724-295-3656 or tomparenti@yahoo.com

Oct. 3, 7 p.m.: Elderton Apple Butter Festival 5K Run-Walk, Elderton. USATF certified and sanctioned. 724-354-3779

Oct. 4, 8 a.m.: Chamber Classic Half Marathon and 5k, North Park. 724-934-9700 or naccc@naccc.com

Oct. 4, 8:30 a.m.: Lindsay Graygo Memorial 5K Run- Walk, Erie. 814-461-7638 or lindsaygraygorun@logisticsplus.net

Oct. 4, 9 a.m.: Patrick J. Madden Memorial 5K Run-Walk, Slippery Rock. Memorial run benefits American Cancer Society. www.patmadden5k.org

Oct. 4, 9 a.m.: Walk or Run 5K to Help Children with Dyslexia, New Castle. www.dyslexiawalk.org

Oct. 4, 9 a.m.: Sewickley 5k Heart and Sole, Sewickley. 610-766-2700 or shan.hoyt@hotmail.com

Oct. 4, 8:30 a.m.: His Kids School 5k Run and Walk, Butler. Hilly out-and-back race through Jefferson Township benefits His Kids Christian School. 724-352-0768 or Corace@gmail.com

Oct. 11, 9 a.m.: Race for Pace 5K, Churchill. Also Paws for Pace 1-Mile Dog Walk. 412-244-1900 or www.paceschool.org

Oct. 18, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Cabot. Start training now for this fast downhill run to Freeport. 724-898-2525 or register online at www.active.com

<B>Run on Mars 5K, Aug. 16: </B>Sean Gallagher, 1st Overall M, 17:10; Nick Edinger, 2nd Overall M, 18:00; Chris Alikhani, 3rd Overall M, 18:57; Bonnie Smerk, 1st Overall W, 19:23; Amy Formica, 2nd Overall W, 23:00; Jackie Yingling, 3rd Overall W, 23:10; Mitch Radella, 1st 40-49 M, 19:17; Scott Slaney, 1st 12-15 M, 19:21; Billy Gebhart, 2nd 12-15 M, 19:42; Tim Biggs, 2nd 40-49 M, 19:43; Justin Stadelmyer, 1st 16-19 M, 20:48; Kevin Muska, 1st 20-24 M, 20:49; Brandon Stadelmyer, 2nd 16-19 M, 20:51; Colton Schmoll, 3rd 16-19 M, 20:53; Ryan Winner, 3rd 12-15 M, 21:12; Roger Murray, 3rd 40-49 M, 21:15; Robert Dummer, 2nd 20-24 M, 21:49; Bruce Hall, 2nd 30-39 M, 22:41; Jeff Yingling, 1st 50-59 M, 23:09; Carly Clark, 1st 12-15 W, 23:56; Salina Smialek, 2nd 12-15 W, 24:19;Becky Schmoll, 1st 30-39 W, 24:22; Sean Girdwood, 3rd 30-39 M, 24:22; Maggie McChesney, 3rd 12-15 W, 24:25; Rhonda Kuminko, 2nd 30-39 W, 24:26; Mary Morgan, 1st 40-49 W, 24:49; Cathleen Matuzak, 1st 16-19 W, 25:01; Jeanna Smalek, 2nd 16-19 W, 25:18; Amanda Cagno, 1st 25-29 W, 25:37; Robin Theyer, 3rd 16-19 W, 25:51; Alison Newman, 1st 20-24 W, 28:00; Annie Wiest, 2nd 40-49 W, 28:05; George Knaell, 1st 60-69 M, 29:00; Dawn McElwain, 2nd 25-29 W, 29:10; Marcia Semple, 1st 60-69 W, 30:36Christianna Dawson, 2nd 20-24 W, 34:39; Heather Carpenter, 3rd 20-24 W, 34:40; Tammy Geyer, 3rd 40-49 W, 45:56; Alicia Voll, 3rd 25-29 W, 46:01; Hayleigh Tabisz, 2nd 11 and under W, 46:57; Brenda Ross, 2nd 50-59 W, 47:37; Annetta Hardt, 1st 70 and over W, 50:04; Mary Newman, 3rd 50-59 W, 52:15; Dennis Aiken, 2nd 50-59 M, 52:15; Rene Selzer, 2nd 70 and over W, 56:31Rick Fallecker, 21:10; Bruce Barnes, 22:11; Carl Hill, 23:51; Dennis Acon, 24:04; Bill McConnell, 24:28; James Bolze, 24:37; Ronald Schmoll, 28:16; Matt Hinteriang, 28:23; Kaylyn McDonnell, 28:29; Sarah Hodak, 29:28; Cassie Porri, 30:02; Jessica Moran, 31:09; Derek Smith, 32:40; Chris Kuminkoski, 34:09; Amber Aiken, 34:39; Tiffany Vanyo, 47:04; Elyse Pehel, 47:35; Michele Goodworth, 47:36; David Geyer, 49:31; Kim Aiken, 52:17; Jolene Soergel, 53:18; Stana Seman, 1:10:36; Thomas Seman, 1:10:38Send 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.