Several area runners competed on the world stage at Monday's 113th Boston Marathon. The challenging race is the oldest continuously run marathon and attracts elite marathoners from many nations.

Although the temperature at the start of the race in Hopkinton, Mass., was a near-perfect 49 degrees, the wind picked up throughout the morning. This added to the difficulty of the race run from the hills of suburban Boston to the city's downtown.

Boston has been called the everyman's Olympics because it requires a qualifying time at a previous marathon to enter. Only 10 percent of marathoners meet this qualifying time annually. In addition to the qualifiers, several thousand invited and charity runners make Boston one of the largest marathons. More than 25,000 runners toed the starting line at Hopkinton in a wave start.

After years of running well behind the Africans, Americans Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher offered hope that Americans might regain first place in the men's and women's divisions. Both settled for third place after running at or near the front for the entire 26.2 miles of the race. Olympian Brian Sell of Pennsylvania finished 14th in the men's division.

Some area runners bypassed Boston this year to train for the returning Pittsburgh Marathon. The marathon, half marathon and team relay run (and walk) through downtown Pittsburgh on May 3.

If you're not tapering for the marathon, don't forget about those other races of shorter length that need our support.

Genesis of Pittsburgh, a maternity care, adoption, foster care and social service agency in Pittsburgh since 1973, holds its Riverside Run 10K and 5K at 9 a.m. Saturday. The event begins at Heinz Field near Gate A and offers a scenic and flat out-and-back on the North Shore Trail along the Allegheny River.

A new race series debuts in our northern region at 9 a.m. May 2. Quality Life Cup 5K Series begins with a race at Trinity Living Center in Grove City. The race is part of the festivities that include a sports collectible show and outdoor community yard sale from 8 a.m. to noon.

Quality Life Cup Series offers a 5K each month from May through October held on the grounds of a different assisted living facility.

The winner of the 2009 Inaugural Quality Life Cup will be determined by the five best finishing times of the races.

Plan ahead.

It's time to begin the countdown to the Butler Road Race. If you'd like to begin training for this year's 5-mile or 2K event June 27, contact me for a copy of "Eight Weeks from the Couch to the Starting Line." This gentle program starts on May 3 with zero running and ends with a new and healthier you in eight weeks.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run or Highway Clean-up Day, Valencia. Post run refreshments. 724-898-2525 or shoesrunpa.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: UPMC Health Plan Genesis Riverside Run, Pittsburgh. 412-766-2693 or www.genesispgh.org

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Butler Bound Fun Run-Walk 5K, Butler. Begins at Summit Township Municipal Building. www.ButlerFreeportTrail.org

Saturday, 10 a.m.: St. Bernard's 5k, Indiana. 724-422-4338

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Burgh's Pizza and Wing Pub 5k and 10k, Cecil. On Montour Trail, post race party. 412-257-8767 or www.montourtrail.org

May 2, 9 a.m.: Quality Life Cup Series 5K, Grove City. First in series of six races to benefit residents of long term care facilities. 724-431-0770, ext. 2104 or www.qualitylifeservices.com

May 3, 7:30 a.m.: Pittsburgh Marathon and Half Marathon, Pittsburgh. Registration is closed but you can volunteer. 412-392-1021 or www.pittsburghmarathon.com

May 5, 6 p.m.: Team in Training Info Meeting, North Hills. Learn how you can fight cancer while running a marathon. 800-482-TEAM or www.teamintraining.org

May 9, 8 a.m.: Habitat for Humanity 5K Run, Natrona Heights. New location around Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills. Also 3-mile walk and 10- or 20-mile ride. www.habitatav.org

May 10, 8:30 a.m.: Race for the Cure 5K, Pittsburgh. www.komenpittsburgh.org

May 13, 7 p.m.: Muskie Mini Marathon, Jamestown. Heather_harmonjamestown.k12.pa.us

May 16, 9 a.m.: Mars Band on the Run 5K Run-Walk, Adams Township. Starts at Mars High. www.marsband5k.com

May 17, 9 a.m.: MS Miles of Smiles 5 Mile Race, North Park. Run around North Park Lake. 724-713-0934 or msmilesofsmiles.com

Race results

Cook Forest Half Marathon, March 28: Sean McFarland, 1st Overall M, 1:15:33; Christine Turak, 1st Overall W, 1:20:16; Danny Jaskowak, 3rd 14-19 M, 1:28:32; Jeff Leya, 3rd 45-49 M, 1:31:00; Ashley Brooks, 1st 20-24 W, 1:34:30; Ian Brown, 1st 13 and under M, 1:36:40; Curt Grimm, 2nd 60-64 M, 1:37:53; Cindy Grimm, 1st 50-54 W, 1:43:30; Dorothy Moxie, 2nd 40-44 W, 1:47:23; Patricia Neubert, 2nd 55-59 W, 1:48:13; Kris Poloyac, 3rd 35-39 W, 1:54:26; Susan DiCello, 2nd 45-49 W, 1:55:05; Adam Lowe, 2nd 13 and under M, 2:01:43; Dianne Brooks, 3rd 55-59 W, 2:04:24; Margretta Lutz, 1st 70 and over W, 2:24:49Brad Zerbe, 1:35:37; Christopher Bloch, 1:38:11; Dean Rippee, 1:39:50; Ferdinando Saglio, 1:45:57; Colin Carey, 1:46:27; William Marsh, 1:46:44; Martin Whittaker, 1:46:53; Michael Glew, 1:50:38; Bob Markovich, 1:52:17; Emily Unverzagt, 1:52:35; Casey Unverzagt, 1:52:35; Craig Chodkowski, 1:53:01Tom Parenti, 1:53:26; Anthony DiCello, 1:53:26; Brittany Katz, 1:54:55; Madeline Spigler, 1:55:33; David Adams, 1:59:22; Rita McClelland, 1:59:31; Mike Minster, 2:03:37; Joseph Zandarski, 2:04:31; Michael Floro, 2:05:27; Fred Weaver, 2:05:44; Amanda Cagno, 2:09:34; Jeff Lynn, 2:10:44; Kim Keeley, 2:10:44; Leigh Ann Goughler, 2:10:46; Michael W. Jones, 2:14:28; Jinny Hertweck, 2:16:16; Jen Beachem, 2:20:16; Steven Drew, 2:20:17; Ruth Cochran, 2:24:40; Angelo Quaranta, 2:26:25; Julie Chwalik, 2:49:25; Melinda Ripper, 2:31:20; Carol Black, 2:32:11; Dana Hogue, 2:32:59; Ron Bennett, 2:34:25; Bill Chwalik, 2:49:25; Jan Bennet, 2:51:20

Cook Forest 5K, March 28: Tomas Bolger, 1st Overall M, 16:41; Jennifer Mieczkowski, 1st Overall W, 20:51; Dominic Wyzomirski, 1st 45-49 M, 18:09; Joe Holleran, 2nd 20-24 M, 21:46; Michael Brown, 1st 50-54 M, 23:45; Jordan Hoffman, 3rd 11 and under M, 23:55; Anne Jaskowak, 2nd 40-44 W, 26:03; Debra Kuminkoski, 3rd 45-49 W, 30:15; Tanya Schnur, 3rd 30-34 W, 30:30; John Fleishman, 2nd 55-59 M, 33:10Jeff Cypher, 23:55; Josh Brengel, 24:13; Jason Dimmick, 24:18; Eliza Lowe, 24:49; Jason Fox, 25:02; Steve Mix, 25:18; Josh Meute, 25:21; Des Schnur, 26:22; Kelly Wolfe, 26:30; Brianna Shingledecker, 26:46; Vough Norbert, 27:01; Bryan Kennedy, 29:06; Bill Cress, 29:20; Nara G. Ivey, 30:06; Ruth Pemy, 30:41; Lucas Waddell, 30:47; Jenifer Kaye, 31:48; Amanda O'Neil, 31:50; Olivia Lowe, 32:55; Beverly Lowe, 32:55; Evan Lowe, 32:55; Amy McKeever, 40:30; Brian Cochran, 55:26; Eric Toy, 55:26; Diana Toy, 55:27

Boston Marathon, April 20: Deriba Merga, 1st Overall M, 2:08:42; Salina Kosgei, 1st Overall W, 2:32:16; Christopher Rotelli, 2:59:00; Mark Courtney, 3:00:44; Kiyoshi Hayakawa, 3:07:11; Adam Leskanic, 3:13:41; Gregory Miller, 3:17:55; Gayle Specht, 3:29:10; John Armstrong, 3:31:34; John Millea, 3:37:34; Michelle Choo, 3:52:24; Harry Peterson, 3:53:01; Dorothy Moxie, 3:53:55; Michelle Heinz, 3:56:37; Scott Pearson, 3:59:06; Gary Bell, 4:04:52; Cindy Waltemire, 4:08:59; Ron Yeager, 4:58:25Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail :lotzakconsolidated.Pat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.