Sometimes it isn't clear whether we eat to run or run to eat. Either way, runners can satisfy the need for speed and the need to feed at a choice of two races Saturday.

Runners in the southern end of Butler County can feast at the 18th Annual St. Barnabas 5K, which starts at 9 a.m. in Gibsonia. This race has it all: good course, lots of awards and random drawing prizes, and a great picnic after the race.

The St. Barnabas course is a rolling out-and-back, USATF certified run along shade-dappled Meridian Road.

The course records for this 5K were set in 2004 and are held by Butler native Kevin Doyle (14 minutes, 57 seconds) and Mary Alico of Pittsburgh (17:51.). Kelly Timms holds the long-standing wheelchair record of 20:10 set in 1995.

The race attracts runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, and welcomes strollers and wheelchair athletes. Walkers are requested to line up toward the back of the pack for safety reasons as the event typically attracts close to 900 participants — and leave your pets at home.

Although the race is fun, the main attraction probably is the post race picnic. Runners are treated to a sumptuous buffet that features pizza, wings, coffee and doughnuts, ice cream, and beer, along with much healthier choices like fresh fruit and bagels.

Plan to arrive early at the starting area Saturday, especially if you are not preregistered. Registration lines can be long and traffic is restricted on Meridian Road before the start.

For information on the St. Barnabas 5K, call 724-444-5512 or visit www.stbarnabas5k.com.

On the northern end of the county, Quality Life Services serves up a full breakfast following their Countryside 5K event in Mercer at 9 a.m. Saturday. This is the first running of this event but it's the fourth race in the Quality Life Cup Series.

More than $800 in awards are given at each Quality Life Series race. Runners can run individual races in the series but are eligible to earn additional awards based on their best five overall finishes in the six-event series. Series awards will be given to overall, masters and seniors winners following the last cup race at Emlenton's Laurel Manor Oct. 25.

Proceeds from the events benefit the Dream a Little Dream fund, which makes wishes come true the residents of the Quality Life Services facilities.

For information about Countryside 5K or other upcoming series events, call Mike Lysakowski at 724-431-0770, ext. 2104 or e-mail mikel@qualitylifeservices.com

Note of thanks

Thank you to all of my running friends for carrying me through these difficult weeks following the sudden deaths my sister and then my husband. I plan to write more about traveling down this dark and rocky part of my life's journey, but I honestly haven't found the words yet.

Upcoming eventsSaturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Ed's got the coffee on. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.comSaturday, 8 a.m.: Junkyard Jaunt 5K, Natrona Heights. 724-991-3003 or coachHa5555@comcast.netSaturday, 9 a.m.: Lee Foster Memorial 5K, St. Marys. 814-776-1828 or w_fornan@hotmail.comSaturday, 7 p.m.: Debbie Green Memorial 5K Run-Walk for Leukemia, Wheeling, W.Va. Also, 100-yard dash for 9 and under. 740-359-7533 or visit www.debbiegreen5k.comAug. 8, 8 a.m.: North Park Kids Triathlon, North Park. For youth ages 7 through 12. mwithrow@pittsburghhabitat.orgAug. 8, 8 a.m.: Samuel A. Mumley Memorial Classic 5K, St. Clairsville, Ohio. Cross country run 740-695-4209 or www.stcsunrise.orgAug. 8, 8:30 a.m.: Roebling's Run 5K, Saxonburg. Race 2 in Saxonburg distance series. 724-898-2525Aug. 8, 9 a.m.: Rimersburg Cookie Daze 5K, Rimersburg. 814-473-6427.Aug. 9, 7 a.m.: Drake Well Marathon and Half Marathon, Titusville. 703-203-7007 or danerunsalot@yahoo.comAug. 15, 8 a.m. to noon: Allegheny General Hospital Running Clinic, Pittsburgh. Learn about injury assessment and prevention, nutrition and training programs. 1-877-284-2000Aug. 15, 8 p.m.: Howl at the Moon 5K Night Run and Walk, Beaver. 724-622-7637 or stevegoldcamp@yahoo.comAug. 16, 6 p.m.: Run for the Trail 7K, Dilltown. 724-479-0769 or jswauger@comcast.netAug. 18, 9 a.m.: Running on Mars 5K, Mars. 724-898-2184 or tmltab152@zoominternet.netAug. 19, 7 p.m.: Courtney's Ice Cream Race 5K, Grove City. Ice cream buffet after the race. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

Race resultsFord City 5K, July 3: Andy Tomaswick, 1st Overall M, 16:09; Veronica Bujdos, 1st Overall W, 18:27; Cory Steinhagen, 1st 20-24 M, 17:40; Tim Monfre, 2nd 45-49 M, 18:20; Brian Forester, 2nd 35-39 M, 18:31; Rich Makin, 1st 50-54 M, 18:37; Adam Olsen, 2nd 16-19 M, 19:07; Kevin Keppel, 2nd 12-15 M, 19:43; Dorothy Moxie, 1st 40-44 W, 22:28; Holly Bauer, 1st 30-34 W, 22:45; Sandy Beck, 2nd 45-49 W, 23:14; Kristopher Keppel, 2nd 11 and under M, 25:09; Judy Keppel, 3rd 45-49 W, 25:12; Tom Dunbar, 2nd 70 and over M, 26:55; Pat Wyant, 2nd 60-64 M, 32:27Bill Swanik, 23:10; Dave King, 23:14; G. Ronald Ripper, 23:15; Larry Hall, 23:55; Patrick Reitz, 24:03; Michael Scott, 24:12; Brian Baculik, 24:30; Kayla Zboran, 24:36; Melissa Kemp, 24:37; Kyle Zboran, 24:58; William Scott, 25:42; Joseph Pronic, 26:44; Frank Prazenica, 26:55; Sandra Cetti, 27:14; Beth Zboran, 27:20; Lara Essey, 27:39; Billy Wolfe, 28:03; Katherine Suwala, 28:21; Zoe Reitz, 28:56; Joe Zboran, 28:27; Jason Peters, 32:21; Herb Peters, 32:21Holly Mellish, 33:11; Mark Mazurak, 33:24; Rick Mendenhall, 34:15; Karli Wolfe, 36:58; Keith Williamson, 40:35; Jackie Fahlor, 40:57; Renee Crossman, 41:31; Lora Williamson, 41:52; Cathy Sims, 42:44; Sally Beck, 42:45; Marsha Fennell, 43:01; Yuri Panchek, 43:59; Emily Macurdy, 44:12; Joshua Flick, 44:28; Keith Kijowski, 46:06; Andrea Cousins, 46:23; Libby Smith, 46:24; Gretchen Panchik, 46:53; Nicholas Panchik, 47:35; Beth Panchik, 47:35; Hannah Panchik, 47:37David Vensel, 48:09; Grace Vensel, 49:34; Paula Jack, 51:03; Madison Walker, 53:09; Wendy Mendenhall, 53:11; Gloria Walker, 53:12; Stephanie Flick, 54:56; Cindy Flick, 54:56

Chase at the Lake 5K, July 22: Jed Christiansen, 1st Overall M, 15:37; Morgan Richards, 1st Overall W, 19:49; Jacob Spurk, 2nd 16-19 M, 17:21; Jerry Maher, 2nd 40-44 M, 17:38; Herb Cratty, 1st 45-49 M, 17:49; Michael Dreves, 2nd 30-34 M, 17:58; Tim Monfre, 2nd 45-49 M, 18:02; Timothy Wyant, 2nd 35-39 M, 18:20; Daniel Jaskowak, 1st 12-15 M, 18:30; Mark Courtney, 1st 50-54 M, 18:37; Ian Powell, 2nd 12-15 M, 19:18; John Ciafre, 2nd 55-59 M, 20:34Hana Casanova, 2nd 16-19 W, 20:43; Susan Dreves, 1st 30-34 W, 20:45; Sarah Thompson, 1st 20-24 W, 20:50; Curt Grimm, 1st 60-64 M, 21:22; Mary Jaskowak, 2nd 12-15 W, 21:55; Allison Plummer, 2nd 20-24 W, 22:00; Lauren Decker, 3rd 12-15 W, 22:08; Cindy Grimm, 1st 55-59 W, 22:35; Bob Clark, 2nd 60-64 M, 23:16; Mary Blom, 1st 45-49 W, 24:19; Dezso Csizmadia, 1st 70 and M, 24:20; Tracey Weaver, 3rd 35-39 W, 24:58; Debbie Courtney, 3rd 45-49 W, 26:11; Kathy Shoaf, 1st 60-64 W, 26:35; Stacie Doughty, 3rd 30-34 W, 27:15; Aaron Ealy, 1st 11 and under M, 28:34; Lou Lodovico, 3rd 70 and over M, 28:38; Anne Dawson, 2nd 50-54 M, 29:40Jordan Nichols, 18:41; Ian Brown, 19:27; Caleb Thrasher, 19:27; Jeff Lynn, 19:31; Ryan Whiteman, 19:31; Alex Flecker, 19:46; Aaron Anderson, 20:02; Charles Casalnova, 20:09; Ryan Sestak, 20:14; Dean Rippee, 20:52; Adam Lowe, 21:19; Sam Lotz, 21:29; Noah Kildoo, 21:39; Dylan Parson, 21:50; Noah Donovan, 22:00; Aaron Depew, 22:03; John Armstrong, 22:11; Mike Brown, 22:23; Michael Labarre, 22:25; Callahan Spigler, 22:30; Mariah Treiber, 22:34; Jim Thrasher, 22:53; Bill Swanik, 22:55; Danny Bailey, 23:01; Ron Hartle, 23:02; Eliza Lowe, 23:27; Jim Smiley, 23:32; Glenn Wargo, 23:33; Jeff Shaffer, 23:33; Bob Dawson, 23:40; Michael Thrasher, 23:52; Kelsey Brendlinger, 23:59; Alaina Sosko, 24:45John Siegfried, 24:53; Nicole Marshall, 24:55; Rita McClelland, 25:00; Andy Howat, 25:04; Rachel Richter, 25:04; Beverly Lowe, 25:19; Steve Maddalena, 25:21; Chad Funfer, 25:38; Eric Bishop, 25:45; James Witmer, 26:07; Cameron Felicetty, 26:10; Tony Sunseri, 26:18; Lucas Zenobi, 26:22; Shawn Berkstresser, 26:34; Beverly Heasley, 26:36; Holly Depew, 26:43; Angela Treiber, 27:08; Renee Decker, 27:23; Heather Oros, 27:24; Donna Eshenbaugh, 27:29Summer Fowler, 27:31; Debra Kuminkoski, 27:54; Jen Beachem, 27:59; Amanda Cagno, 28:13; Margaret Birmingham, 28:19; Susan Timko, 28:23; Alexis Reeher, 28:23; Peter Taube, 28:23; Kristi Allen, 28:31; Tyler Smiley, 28:39; Edward Doughty, 28:52; Lynsi Craig, 29:11; Daniel Austin, 29:27; William Birmingham, 29:41; Kristy Thrasher, 29:45; William Dundore, Jr., 30:14; Erin Hartle, 30:18; Jessee Treiber, 30:28; Ted Nesbit, 30:30; Elizabeth Kruck, 32:30Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail: lotzak@consolidated.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.