In the interest of disclosure, I admit that I'm a member of Butler-Freeport Trail Council.

But that's not why I'm recommending its race this weekend.

The Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, which starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, is a fast fall foliage tour that showcases the scenic Butler-Freeport Community Trail.

With a start at Winfield Fire Hall, near Cabot, and a finish in the gazebo along the Allegheny River in Freeport, the course is almost all gradual downhill.

A point-to-point race can be a challenge for organizers. The Buffalo Creek organizers solved the transportation problem by busing runners from the registration area at Lernerville Speedway to the starting line and returning finishers to the centrally located parking area following the event.

Registration opens at 7 a.m. at the speedway and buses will run until 8:30 for the 9 a.m. start. Once at the starting area in Winfield, runners can wait inside the warmth of Winfield Fire Hall.

After the race, runners can take an early bus to the staging area or stay for bagels, bananas and a DJ in the park.

In addition to competitive awards, random-drawing prizes of merchandise gift certificates and posters autographed by Olympian Brian Sell will be awarded.

Buffalo Creek Half Marathon celebrates its third running this year and expects another year of growth in participation. After last year's increase to 272 finishers, the race committee, as well as race director and former trail council president Ron Bennett, hope to see more than 300 completing this year's race.

The race is run on a USATF certified course and uses chip timing for accuracy. Each mile is marked with timers calling splits at the 1-, 5- and 10-mile marks.

Although the trail of packed crushed limestone crosses several roads, runners should have no fear of traffic. Each spectator-friendly intersection will be controlled by fire police from Sarver, Buffalo and Freeport fire departments, as well as with several capable trail council volunteers.

Be warned: At the 2007 event, nearly 100 participants registered on the day of the race, so it could be crowded at the registration desk. Race T-shirts will be available for late registrants, but sizes might be limited.

For information, call 724-898-2525 or visit www.butlerfreeporttrail.org.

Wednesday, 6 p.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday, 3 p.m.: Monster Stomp 5K Race, Walk and Goblin Trot, New Castle. 800-544-5250 or www.monsterstomp.comOct. 25, 8:30 a.m.: Harvest Moon 10-Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk, Moon Township. www.signmeup.com/62126Oct. 25, 9:15 a.m.: Community Options 5K, North Park. Starts at boathouse. 412-431-7079 or Courtney.kazmerski@comop.orgOct. 25, 10 a.m.: Ghostly Gray Cross Country 5K Walk, Run and Mountain Bike Excursion, Butler. 724-284-1134, Ext. 250Oct. 25, 4 p.m.: Haunted Hustle 5k, North Park. Also 1-mile walk, benefits MS Society. 724-444-5311 or info@runningwildpa.comNov. 1, 10 a.m.: Butler Family YMCA Turkey Trot 5K, Butler. Competitive event for ages 11 and older, kids run for ages 10 and under. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.orgNov. 8, 9 a.m.: Armstrong County YMCA Fall Classic 5K-10K, Kittanning. 724-545-9622 or k_knepshield@yahoo.com

<B>City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5K, Sept. 28:</B> Eric Burnett, 1st Overall M, 15:13; Sarah Flament, 1st Overall W, 17:20; Heather Melzer, 2nd Overall W, 18:29; Jon McCullough, 2nd 50-54 M, 18:22; Mitch Radella, 3rd 40-44 M, 18:27; Mark Knapp, 2nd 45-49 M, 18:34; Samantha Brandon, 2nd 14-16 W, 20:42; Lynn McDonough, 3rd 40-44 W, 23:47; Becky DeSantis, 2nd 60-64 W, 27:57Paul Juliano, 18:57; Ryan Gallagher, 19:00; Luke Eckley, 19:04; Tim Biggs, 19:15; Jody Lobert, 19:30; Bob Cunningham, 20:04; James McGowan, 20:08; Dave France, 20:12; Chris Hardt, 20:53; Will McGowan, 20:55; Alex Shoppen, 21:04; Dan Pantano, 21:21; Peter Swain, 21:30; Casey Kramer, 21:34; Steve Schupp, 21:45; Casey Melzer, 22:28; Olivia Laughlin, 22:46; Kelsey McDonough, 23:09; John Baxter, 23:12; Hunter Bartes, 23:13; Mark Villella, 23:23; Kevin Gallagher, 23:44; Jeremy Bennett, 23:49; Damien Wissolik, 23:53Kelley McAndrews, 23:59; William Atkinson, 24:05; Kristina LaRocca, 24:20; Shelly Shebetich, 24:25; Marilyn LaRocca, 24:28; Bill Snider, 24:31; Robert Platt, 24:40; Taina Panichella, 24:49; Jordan Meals, 24:57; Lauren McAndrews, 25:06; Jason Killmayer, 25:06; Danielle Durfee, 25:15; Joseph Seibel, 25:21; Scott Ackerman, 25:48; Robert Bateman II, 25:57; Amanda Hardt, 25:59; Jim Hardt, 26:01; Jake Dillen, 26:01; Erika Barlow, 26:01; Christopher Sutton, 26:02; Kiersten Smay, 26:08; Kimberley Leonard, 26:10; Tom Culley, 26:12; James Yard, 26:28; Michael LaRocca, 26:30; Steve Muck, 26:36; Alex Muck, 26:37Ryan Klemick, 26:45; Ann Cheman, 26:48; Gregory Silliman, 26:53; Ross Serold, 26:55; Chris Taormina, 28:59; Alex Fashion, 27:00; Olivia Reddick, 27:06; John Reddick, 27:06; Robert Cole, 27:08; Heather Cook, 27:14; Amy Yard, 27:23; Dave Shebetich, 27:23; Lauren Caughey, 27:27; Taylor Rains, 27:28; Cathy Ann Rains, 27:30; William Dundore, 27:36; Frank Pantano, 27:39; Derrick Gartley, 27:43; Dennis Chadman, 27:56Jennifer Shults, 27:37; Kiara LaRocca, 27:41; Shawn Hazlett, 27:42; Paula Miller, 27:43; Kolleen Virostek, 28:06; Kate Dillon, 28:10; David McConahy, 28:11; Gabrielle Krieger, 28:13; Ken Krieger, 28:13; Veronica Keenan, 28:20; Matthew Olon, 28:21; Cindy Reddick, 28:24; Sharon Barlow, 28:31; Nathan Piedimonte, 28:33; Lori Piedimonte, 28:35; Jennifer Welsch, 28:37; Gretchen Pink, 28:54; Tim Nichols, 28:54; Rebecca Pereira, 28:56; Cara Nemanic, 28:56; Deron Sferra, 28:57; Robin Sutton, 28:58; Vincent Mariotti, 28:58; James Zingaro, 28:58; Elaine Wissolik, 28:59Sara Brett, 29:04; Michelle Eisel, 29:04; Erin Donaldson, 29:10; John Gruendel III, 29:12; John Gruendel Jr., 29:16; Angela Maloney, 29:19; Timothy Maloney, 29:19; Michelle Mitchell, 29:27; Jennifer Adams, 29:28; Sally Fernandes, 29:29; Patrick Perry, 29:29; William Hohman, 29:31; Denise Knauff, 29:36; Janis Hackett, 29:40; Gregg Troian, 29:44Debra Kuminkoski, 29:55; Drew Satriano, 30:16; Megan Fischer, 30:18; Sarah Opp, 30:19; Melissa Bemis, 30:23; Jared Bemis, 30:24; Amy Hartzell, 30:28; Maureen McCafferty, 30:37; Michael Coyne, 30:37; Allison Kline, 30:43; Kimberley Gambardella, 30:48; Suzanne Platt, 30:50; Susan Hardt, 30:50; Sally Sulfaro-Woler, 30:52; Jema Rejniak, 31:07; Matthew Bejniak, 31:07; Edward Knauff, 31:08; Dawn Maker, 31:13; Melinda Domer, 31:39; Christen Cappatt, 31:28; Marlee Ebbert, 31:37; Trina Shockey, 31:38; Vanessa Ellis, 31:38; Sandra Wargo, 31:40; Sameer Kher, 31:44Casie Zerbe, 31:48; Elena Kolane, 31:49; Rusty Pfeiffer, 31:50; Joseph Smay, 31:54; Judy Rosenweig, 32:05; Austin Goncz, 32:18; Laura Mariotti, 32:18; Meghan McNeil, 33:02; John Sleighter, 33:06; Judy Sapos, 33:08; Amanda Fischer, 33:16; Kathy Mattern, 33:22; Anita Ackerman, 33:23; Alexis Colonello, 33:26; Richard Fischer, 34:34; John Banks, 33:48; Carrie Mileser, 33:59; Joel LaRocca, 34:21; Cassandra Smiley, 34:27; Sandra Olanyak, 34:27; Monica Hohman, 34:36Chris Saxton, 34:44; Nicole Zedreck, 35:07; Neil Strosnider, 35:10; Linda Donaldson, 35:22; Kenneth Ebbert, 35:27; Betsy Lanyard, 35:36; Jennifer Lesniewski, 35:51; Lauren Hanna, 36:15; Jane Patterson, 36:18; Jessica Forcht, 36:27; Allyson Wood, 36:41; Monica Wood, 36:41; Michael Fashion, 36:48; Corey Musico, 37:11; Jeniffer Homison, 37:51; Jenna Kolano, 37:55; Edward Kolano, 37:55; Manasi Shukla, 37:58; Michelle Bender, 38:25; Mishelle Spatafore, 38:52; Jenni Loeffler, 39:05; Angela Wentz, 39:32Trisha Taormina, 39:37; Pamela Osche, 39:57; Desiree Atkinson, 39:58; Christina Rogers, 40:05; Kathy Schupp, 40:32; Ben Cover, 42:45; Robert Meals, 43:17; Max Muck, 43:33; Jill Laughlin, 44:12; Heidi Brandon, 44:15; Angela Geither, 44:29; Erin Gallagher, 45:34; Megan Gallagher, 45:39; Debbie Muck, 46:45; Heather Cypher, 47:26; Debra Cypher, 47:26; Kim Doyle, 48:10; Susan Cable, 48:11; Maureen Gallagher, 48:12; Morgan Fashion, 49:14Katherine Zingaro, 49:31; Susan Zingaro, 49:31; John Ehrhart, 49:41; Dana Bodkin, 49:42; Nicoletta Bleiel, 49:43; Jane Graham, 49:52; Mallory Bateman, 50:29; Mimi Antoinette, 50:31; Spencer Bateman, 50:31; Louise Cappatt, 50:49; Lisa Caughey, 50:49Gregory Haughey, 51:15; Douglas Bartosh, 51:43; Heather Groves, 52:18; Michelle Bellich, 52:25; Aaron Edwards, 52:25; Susan Seibel, 52:36; Erin Dorsch, 52:50; Linda Wearing, 53:09; Patricia Alphonse, 54:26; Janet Fleishner, 54:35; Barb Lipscomb, 54:50; Jean Baker, 56:08; Amanda Schmidt, 56:11; Amanda Ahlers, 56:12; Judy Fischer, 1:00:27; Carol Fischer, 1:00:27; Josephine Schell, 1:00:28; Brian Decima, 1:01:26; Judy Weidenhoff, 1:03:06Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail: bigp16@connecttime.net