Optimum weather for competitive distance running puts temperatures in the low 40s, overcast skies and little or no wind.

That describes last Saturday's Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, a race in which several records fell.

Regional running talent might have been drawn to Buffalo Creek this year by the $200 bonus for breaking the course record, but course conditions certainly made earning this paycheck possible for two runners from Slippery Rock.

Chris Geddis broke the old men's course record by more than three minutes with his time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, 33 seconds. Nicole Blaesser blazed the course in 1:18:45, breaking the old women's record by more than six minutes.

Although the race does not offer cash for masters records, runners over the age of 40 broke both men's and women's masters records for pride alone. Bill Lamb of Beaver set the new master's standard with his 1:17:35 finish while Mary Kaye Pazder of Erie broke the women's over-40 record by exactly one minute with her 1:29:42 finishing time.

The biggest margin of record breaking time belonged to age-group ace Margretta Lutz, who set a new single age record for 79-yea-old women with her time of 2:10:33. The old record, also an age group mark for age 75-79, was 2:24:14.

Buffalo Creek Half Marathon has increased participation in each of its three years, listing 315 finishers this year. This is due in part to the race's growing reputation as a quality event on an extremely fast course and partly due to the growing popularity of the half marathon distance in road racing.

Upcoming events

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

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Harvest Moon 10-Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk, Moon Township. www.signmeup.com/62126

Saturday, 9:15 a.m.: Community Options 5K, North Park. Starts at boathouse. 412-431-7079 or Courtney.kazmerski@comop.org

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Ghostly Gray Cross Country 5K Walk, Run and Mountain Bike Excursion, Butler. Held at Camp Lutherlyn to benefit Troop D Camp Cadet Organization. 724-284-1134, ext. 250

Saturday, 4 p.m.: Haunted Hustle 5K, North Park. Also 1- mile walk, benefits MS Society. 724-444-5311 or info@runningwildpa.com

Nov. 1, 10 a.m.: Turkey Trot 5K, Butler. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.org

Nov. 8, 9 a.m.: Armstrong County YMCA Fall Classic 5K-10K, Kittanning. 724-545-9622 or k_knepshield@yahoo.com

Nov. 8, 10 a.m.: Pittsylvania XC Challenge, Pittsburgh. 412-885-2537

Nov. 15, 9 a.m.: Fight for Life 5K Run-Walk, Apollo. 724-568-2517 or dzukas@cancer.org

Race results

Great Race 10K, Sept. 27: Ryan Place, 1st Overall M, 30:45; Leah Shouey, 1st Overall W, 35:32; Stephanie Madia-Mobley, 3rd Overall W, 36:32; Nicole Blaesser, 4th Overall W,36:35; Dave Vacarrello, 1st 17-19 M, 34:02; Jerry Maher, 3rd 40-44 M, 35:04; Leslie Kramer, 2nd 30-34 W, 39:07; Sharyl Relic, 2nd 45-49 W, 42:21; Michelle Choo, 1st 50-54 W, 42:28; Bob Gracie, 3rd 60-64 M, 43:07; Cindy Grimm, 1st 55-59 W, 44:21; Patricia Neubert, 2nd 55-59 W, 48:23; Katie Sitterle, 3rd 14-16 W, 48:39; Nelson Noto, 3rd 70-74 M, 50:53; Margretta Lutz, 1st 75 and over W, 1:00:56; Jim Walsh, 3rd 80 and over M, 1:28:54Sean Gallagher, 34:03; Matt Montellanico, 34:52; Tim Monfre, 35:55; Brian Forester, 35:56; Matt Schmidt, 36:34; Z, 36:34; Cory Steinhagen, 36:56; Rich Makin, 37:37; Mark Courtney, 38:13; Endre Stogard, 39:19; Zachery Majzun, 38:34; Dan Nguyen, 39:37; J. Rice, 39:37; Brad Zerbe, 39:45; Matt Marshall, 40:38; Alex Fertelmes, 40:22; Eric Habich, 40:32; Bill Schmidt, 40:36; Mark Golla, 40:55; Stephen Fowler, 40:55; William Peace, 40:59; Lawrence Ross, 41:05; Gayle Specht, 41:12; Ryan Miller, 41:24; Michael Finikiotis, 41:27; Christopher Bise, 41:41; Phil O'Hara, 41:54John Millea, 42:21; Robert Pudlo, 42:40; Todd Roberts, 42:43; Jarett Buchanan, 42:47; Michael Druschel, 42:55; Wayne Babcock, 43:10; Dean Rippee, 43:21; Scott Ferguson, 43:31; Derek Smith, 43:32; Tina Fagan, 43:42; Pete Carcaise, 44:01; Bradley Schmitt, 44:11; Jeff Cypher, 44:40; Val Wolfarth, 44:46; Philip Mathew, 44:46; Michael Rhein, 45:02; Mark Stanek, 45:08; Chris Cutone, 45:09; Bob Schroeck, 45:11Dave Nelson, 45:38; Dorothy Moxie, 45:38; Brian Shoemaker, 45:42; Robert Malchano, 45:45; Mark Spontak, 45:47; Emma Christensen, 45:49; G. Ronald Ripper, 45:50; Adam Bilger, 45:58; James Confer, 46:01; Thomas Blanchard, 46:02; Branden Chute, 46:07; Mario Grana, 46:13; Wes Huang, 46:13; Mark Blasinsky, 46:14; Kathy Hensler, 46:15; Bill Colombo, 46:19; Susan Moury, 46:24; Bill Swanik, 46:38; Kris Kramer, 46:40; Stephen DiAntonio, 46:46; Thomas Parenti, 46:49; Michelle Heinz, 47:04; Bruce Barnes, 47:10; Israel Christie, 47:12; Erin Kling, 47:15; Reuben Pink, 47:23; Greg Peitz, 47:24Melissa Kemp, 47:26; Ken Fredericks, 47:31; Rick Steinle, 47:33; Kimberley Ebbert, 47:35; Todd Fuller, 47:37; Michelle Kocham, 47:42; Julie Sambago, 47:43; Mark McCullough, 47:45; Amanda Johns, 47:48; John Alexander, 47:53; Bob Markovich, 47:53; John Limbacher, 47:56; Michael Cratty, 47:59; Thomas DeCola, 47:59; Jeff Joki, 48:02; Bill Flynn, 48:09; Bill Schessler, 48:13; Erin Nicotra, 48:15; Dewayne Falkner, 48:26; Rachel Lunn, 48:30; John Verona, 48:31; Jerry Heinz, 48:33; Sarah Shodi, 48:35; Michael Helbling, 48:36; David Jungling, 48:47; Ryan Leonberg, 48:56; Orryn Sledge, 49:02; Brittany Vogel, 49:04Kenneth Ebbert, Jr., 49:07; Scott Taylor, 49:10; Olivia Miller, 49:11; Jacki Yingling, 49:16; Jeffrey Yingling, 49:16; Steven Day, 49:25; Jason Logue, 49:26; David Hall, 49:38; Lori Scott, 49:38; Christopher Dietz, 49:40; Cameron Adams, 49:40; David Zynn, 49:47; James Clark, 49:58; Jeff Caskey, 50:04; Jon Zalenski, 50:05; Brian Fill, 50:05; Sualp Ozel, 50:05; Richard Jacobson, 50:06; Gerald Orban, 50:12; Joe Maloney, 50:16; Karen Bruch, 50:30; Anne Pfennigwerth, 50:38; Chuck Johns, 50:54; Randy Cameron, 51:12; Mark Gibbons, 51:19; Brett Fox, 51:20; Kelly Dressen, 51:21; Carleen Burns, 51:29; John Gust, 51:29; Jill Serold, 51:34; Mortimer Snero, 51:34; Diane Zalenski, 51:46; George Karpakis, 51:54; Mike Sutton, 51:54; John Choma, 51:55; Beth Winhold, 51:59; Joe Thaner, 52:05; Richard Jenkins, 52:07Lou Petersen, 52:08; Cory Hruska, 52:13; Christopher Anderson, 52:14; D.J. Green, 52:20; James Burgess, 52:23; Mark Zinkiewicz, 52:27; Michael Redilla, 52:32; Tim Atkinson, 52:37; Patty Connors, 52:40; Aaron Stanley, 52:45; Thomas Evans, 52:49; Ferdinando Saglio, 52:51; Patrick Mentzer, 52:52; Rebecca Miller, 52:58; Andrew Sibble, 52:59; Elaine Rheim, 53:02; Becki Smith, 53:02; Cecelia Barbosiewicz, 53:12; Louis Lazzara, 53:12; Terry Fuller, 53:16; Ron Neyman, 53:17; Louis Biancanello, 53:22; Mark Klopfer, 53:28; Anthony Petraglia, 53:31; Patty Schmidt, 53:33; Angela Mencer, 53:35; Eric Domitrovic, 53:39; Susan Altemus, 53:41; James Pfeifer, 53:42; Jeffrey Yannuzzi, 53:43; Samantha Peitz, 53:43; Aaron Hall, 53:45; Tammy Friedt, 53:46; Jose George, 53:46; Cyndie DeLucia, 53:52; Amy Leonard, 53:53; Dana LaGamba-Clark, 53:55Lynn Royhab, 53:55; Elizabeth Dalton, 53:56; Lindsay Klaum, 53:57; Evan Long, 54:04; Larry Bettencourt, 54:05; Stephen Maxwell, 54:07; Chris Lochner, 54:09; Wendy Krug, 54:17; Brian Sondej, 54:18; Taylor Montgomery, 54:22; Pam Kristoff, 54:23; Jessica Mamros, 54:24; Kristen Kramarik, 54:28; Stacie Doughty, 54:30; Allison Miller, 54:37; Adam Foust, 54:41; Holly Depew, 54:42; Shelly Koman, 54:44; Jeffrey Altmire, 54:48; Brian Shuttleworth, 54:49; Phil Swisher, 54:50; Don Graham, 55:05; Joanne Sutton, 55:17; Robert Matschener, 55:20; Timothy Corcoran, 55:20; Sean Biro, 55:28; Dawn Carlson, 55:51; Lori Minnis, 55:53; Jen Beachem, 55:54Patrick Hughes, 56:01; Chad Ellis, 56:04; Karen Fredette, 56:05; Eric Rogers, 56:06; Mark Ohlund, 56:11; Stephen Golebiewski, 56:13; Robert Congdon, 56:13; Mark Stahl, 56:14; Jeff Koman, 56:19; David Lewis, 56:26; Susan Leonberg, 56:30; Matthew Callihan, 56:31; Stacie Brethauer, 56:43; David McFarland, 56:43; Anthony Battaglia, 56:46; Pamela Black, 56:47; John Cavaluchy, 56:50; Amy Baird, 56:52; Darren Klaum, 56:55; Rob Bonetti, 56:55; Richard Watenpol, 56:56John Donahue, 57:02; Nicklas Monfredi, 57:12; Denise Cervanyk, 57:14; Melissa Kramer, 57:18; John Fiore, 57:20; Nicole Fiore, 57:21; Diane Miller, 57:30; Corey Hess, 57:31; Susan Gentile, 57:32; Marydonna Ravasio, 57:45; Benjamin Stewart, 57:48; Matt MacMurdo, 57:52; Robert Sands, 57:55; Debbie Gallagher, 58:00; Alexandra Michalova, 58:02; Kellie Donahue, 58:04; Robert Monfredi, 58:10; Wes Parker, 58:13; Mike Cornell, 58:17; Rodger Fletcher, 58:19; Deena McHenry, 58:20David Guenther, 58:22; William Abbate, 58:31; Tom Mooney, 58:33; Chelsea Cavanaugh, 58:34; William Wright, 58:38; Natalie Jackson, 58:39; Tim Ellis, 58:40; Wayne Hindman, 58:41; Diane Gross, 58:57; Lori Csaszar, 58:58; Denise Grimm, 59:05; Heather Esham, 59:10; Brian Dawkins, 59:10; Kirk Mitchell, 59:11; James Coyle, 59:12; Kathy Kramer, 59:16; Megan Spear, 59:19; Bill Curry, 59:20; Tyler Piedimonte, 59:32; John Nicotra, 59:38; Ada DeFanti, 59:46; Molly Jeffers, 59:54; Heather Clark, 59:56; Jim Hannon, 1:00:00; Daniel Milliron, 1:00:08; Stephen Casker, 1:00:09Philip Lope, 1:00:11; Bell Kerrigan, 1:00:19; Carolyn Bebb, 1:00:21; Christine McMeekin, 1:00:25; Cory Cameron, 100:25; Melissa Mahood, 1:00:31; Amy Redilla, 1:00:36; Matt Irvin, 1:00:38; Carey Emig, 1:00:46; Dennis Simpson, 1:00:56; Nancy Miller, 1:00:57; Lynn Dixon-Stewart, 1:01:03; Thomas Esterline, 1:01:05; Candice Shave, 1:01:08; Denise Heilgenstein, 1:01:09; Gary Golebiewski, 1:01:09; Clifford Franklin, 1:01:15; John Hoffman, Jr., 1:01:17; Alexis Stimmel, 1:01:21; Oleva Slaughenhaupt, 1:01:23; Dawn McElwain, 1:01:24; Frank Piedimonte, 1:01:30; Megan O'Hara, 1:01:44; Benjamin Banyas, 1:01:48; Becky Lodovico, 1:01:55; Michelle Nichols, 1:01:58; Joyce Meredith, 1:02:01; Debra Siedt, 1:02:05; John Millea, 1:02:07; Carol Black, 1:02:27; Heidi Berkley, 1:02:30; Nicole Hruska, 1:02:39; Randy Carmichael, 1:02:43Robert Boyd, 1:02:49; Mike Chir, 1:02:50; Ronald Stec, 1:02:52; M. Hawkins, 1:02:57; Monicalynn Susanin, 1:03:07; John DeCola, 1:03:10; Scot Cameron, 1:03:13; Diana Marshall, 1:03:20; Vincent Moore, 1:03:20; Andy McIntyre, 1:03:27; Rachel Rutkowski, 1:03:32; Davidson Davidson, 1:03:41; Jeanne Iasella, 1:03:48; Molly Green, 1:03:54Louis Yossa, 1:04:07; Steve Lodovico, 1:04:23; Jennifer Cornely, 1:04:24; Jonathan Cornely, 1:04:28; Lara Essey, 1:04:44; Robert Murra, 1:04:45; Kristin Stumm, 1:04:49; Val Sands, 1:04:53; Corrine Satriano, 1:05:07; Rosvita Matthes, 1:05:14; Beth Ellis, 1:05:19; Ken Boben, 1:06:27; Erica Lesko, 1:06:03; Shawn Hanlon, 1:06:43; Tina Kramer, 1:06:59; Gina Weber, 1:07:16; Mike Grabowski, 1:02:28; Sean Kelly, 1:07:44: Matt Lowes, 1:07:45; Stefan Bandas, 1:07:49; Laura McMeekin, 1:07:54; Elizabeth McMeekin, 1:08:18; Desiree Winterhalter, 1:09:14; Alissa Vozel, 1:09:15; Fred Bruch, 1:09:19; Andrew Kess, 1:09:55; Suzann Margo, 1:10:26; Amy Gallagher, 1:10:25; Nicholas Cannon, 1:11:08; Bradley Kehm, 1:11:57Mike Ward, 1:12:45; Shawn Chapman, 1:12:46; Beth Huffman, 1:13:17; Jennifer Himes-Smith, 1:13:36; Catherine Thompson, 1:13:45; Melissa Jungling, 1:13:54; James Fornof, 1:13:56; Jamie Rueckles, 1:14:08; Karen Rueckles, 1:14:09; Mary Ehmann, 1:14:31; Darlene Callihan, 1:14:11; David Byers, 1:15:35; Teresa Scholze, 1:15:58; Steven Swan, 1:16:07; Brandan Swan, 1:16:07; Fran Fuhrer, 1:16:08; Andrea Bartosiewicz, 1:17:01; Al Macasaet, 1:18:33; Bruce Cover, 1:18:35; Annie Succop, 1:22:39; Carly Eakins, 1:27:26Send 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.