My column might be turning into the newspaper equivalent of TV's "Dinner and a Movie" because it seems that running and food are a natural match.

I'll be heading to Grove City Wednesday to run and then eat at the 26th running of Courtney's Ice Cream Race.

This 7 p.m. event is the final and tastiest race of the Mercer County Twilight QUAD, the oldest continuous running series in the region.

More than 700 hungry participants are expected to share more than 100 gallons of ice cream following the USATF certified 5K.

An additional 125 or so youngsters age 11 and under will join their elders after the half-mile youth run at 7:45 p.m.

Courtney's Ice Cream Race is staged at Grove City Medical Center, so there's plenty of room for parking, packet pickup and warm-ups.

Although all pre-registered runners receive a commemorative lapel pin, most entrants also will pay the additional $6 to wear one of Ice Cream Race's shirts. It pays to preregister because the popular shirts will sell out on race day.

For information about Courtney's Ice Cream Race at 7 p.m. Wednesday, call 724-866-1374 or e-mail smc@runhigh.com

On Aug. 22, Run for Hunger features three events with two goals: to eat and to help the hungry in the community. This third annual event at Birdsfoot Golf Club in Freeport benefits Freeport Meals on Wheels and Freeport Food Bank.

The 8-mile run starts at 6 p.m. and the 5K and 2-mile distance events begin at 7, so that everyone arrives at the dinner table at about the same time.

Spaghetti, beer and soft drinks will be served on the Birdsfoot clubhouse patio following the evening's run with awards and random prize drawings after dinner.

Runners and walkers will really work up an appetite at Birdsfoot. The 5K and 2-mile events follow a challenging but scenic route on the paved or gravel golf course cart paths.

The 8-mile trail run adds another level of difficulty. It follows a technical trail route through the forest over log piles, roots and bridges, and through streams, rock fields and leaves. As race director Tom Parenti wrote in the race application, "The weak need not apply."

Even though there are two water stops along the 8-mile course, runners are encouraged to bring their own water bottles if the weather is hot. I also suggest carrying a cell phone with Parenti's number on speed dial. It's easy to get turned around on the twisting wooded trails, as one runner did in last year's event.

Day-of-event registrations are welcome, though technical T-shirts may be limited. Participants are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate to Freeport Food Bank.

For information about Run for Hunger at 6 p.m. Aug. 22, call 724-295-3656 or e-mail runforhunger@gmail.com

Thumbs up!Congratulations to former Freeport High runner Jamie Rutkowski Donaldson for winning the rueling Badwater Ultramarathon. This is Rutkowski's second win at the event, which crosses 135 miles through Death Valley.

Upcoming eventsSaturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.comSaturday, 8 a.m. to noon: Allegheny General Hospital Running Clinic, Pittsburgh. Learn about injury assessment and prevention, nutrition and training programs. 1-877-284-2000Saturday, 8 a.m.: Hamot Mayor's Cup 10K, Erie. Run USATF certified 10K through Erie or 3-mile fitness walk-run. 814-898-4472 or www.erie-runnersclub.orgSaturday, 9 a.m.: Pleasant Hills 5K Race, Pleasant Hills. 412-418-8701 or www.pleasanthillscommunityday.orgSaturday, 8 p.m.: Howl at the Moon 5K Night Run and Walk, Beaver. Benefits Beaver track and cross country teams. 724-622-7637 or stevegoldcamp@yahoo.comSunday, 6 p.m.: Run for the Trail 7K, Dilltown.724-479-0769 or jswauger@comcast.netSaturday, 9 A.M.: Running on Mars 5k, Mars. 724-898-2184 or tmltab152@zoominternet.netTuesday, 8 p.m.: Group Run, Mars. Weekly run with easy 1.3-mile loops around Adams Township Park. 724-352-4395 or lotzak@consolidated.netAug. 22, 8:30 a.m.: Cranberry Township 3.3 Mile Run, Cranberry Township. Run three loops on gravel track in North Boundary Park. 724-774-5746Aug 22, 9 a.m: Run Around the Square 5K, Regent Square. Also 1Z\x-mile fun run at 8:15 A.M. No race day registration. 412-422-6562 (press 5) or register online at www.runaroundthesquare.comAug. 22: Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon, Parkersburg, W.Va. 304-485-1981 or newsandsentinelhalfmarathon.comAug. 22: Horsethief Days 5K run, 1Z\x-mile walk, Knox. 814-797-1819 or www.knoxborough.comAug. 28, 6 p.m.: Titusville YMCA 5K Ru-Walk, Titusville. 814-827-3931 or www.titusvilleymca.orgAug. 30, 9 a.m.: Gatorade Steelers 5K Race, Fitness Walk and Kids Kick Off Run, Pittsburgh. 412-697-7713 or www.steelers.com

Race results

St. Barnabas 5K, Aug. 1: Scott McGeary, 1st Overall M, 16:05; Kacey Gibson, 1st Overall W, 17:56; Elaina Balouris, 2nd Overall W, 18:35; Tim Monfre, 1st 45-49 M, 17:56; Rachel Ferguson, 1st 16-19 W, 20:45; Ashley Crawford, 3rd 16-19 W, 21:14; Kim Ebbert, 2nd 35-39 W, 21:54; Debbie Deddo, 1st 50-54 W, 22:20; John Antinossi, 2nd 65-69 M, 22:48; Patricia Neubert, 1st 55-59 W, 23:33; Jennifer Zangardi, 1st 30-34 W, 23:37; Gloria Caceres, 3rd 30-34 W, 24:13; Dennis Acon, 1st 45-49 M, 24:46; Lou Lodovico, 1st 80 and over M, 27:53; Nancy Miller, 1st 60-64 W, 29:41; Margretta Lutz, 1st 80 and over W, 30:34; Marcia Semple, 2nd 65-69 W, 31:12; Valerie Sands, 2nd 60-64 W; 31:07; Sandra Wargo, 3rd 60-64 W, 31:47; Annetta Hardt, 2nd 80 and over W, 53:28Brent Kendrick, 17:46; Jeryl Wilborn, 18:09; Theodore Huxtable, 18:23; Alex Mascio, 18:26; Matt Schmidt, 18:38; Michael Baumgartel, 19:08; Ryan Winner, 19:23; Scott Slaney, 19:35; Josh Boudreau, 19:55; Bill Schmidt, 20:00; Randy Black, 20:17; Bob Cunningham III, 20:18; Jake Ferguson, 20:39; Steve Podlaski, 21:19; Jim Burns, 52, 21:31; Wayne Babcock, 21:37; Joelle Scarnati, 22:02; Quentin Torgerson, 15, 22:13; Matthew Pintell, 22:25; Bradley Christie, 22:28; Gale Mussey, 22:50; Justin Stirling, 23:00William Schwalm, 23:06; Luigi Mascio, 23:18; John Wetzel, 51, 23:29; Tom Williams, 52, 23:39; Adam Natale, 23:41; Michael Glew, 44, 23:42; Douglas Fry, 35, 23:43; William Osche, 24:04; Gloria Caceres, 3rd 30-34 W, 24:13; Natalie Milas, 24:15; Bob Pudlo, 24:17; Megan Pudlo, 24:18; Matt Brandt, 24:19; Jacob Porter, 24:32; Jake Seamon, 24:34; Michele Bamburak, 24:36; Jinny Hertweck, 24:45; Ray Ferguson, 25:02; Lenny Yensull, 25:11; Matthew Brennan, 25:19; Todd Hessler, 25:24; Christina Novak, 25:27; Dale Hockenberry, 25:27; Erin Kling, 25:43; Pam Kristoff, 25:43; Shelby West, 25:54; Mary Morgan, 25:59Joe Geyer, 26:06; Josh Carlson, 26:07; Alison Gerginski, 26:07; Geoffrey Bebb, 26:09; Michael Coyne, 26:12; Angelo Quaranta, 26:12; Josh Bender, 26:17; Nichol Dawson, 26:30; Robert Sands, 26:34; Emily Wingfield, 26:35; Kristen Collins, 26:35; Amanda Cagno, 26:43; Thomas Puskar, 26:43; Alex Forcht, 26:43; Connie Hoffer, 26:51; Nathan Williams, 26:53; Chris Solliday, 26:54; Amy Leonard, 26:55; Ronald Bennett, 26:57; Jeremy Weigand, 26:58; Carolyn Bebb, 26:58; Mike Newcombe, 27:03; Ann Cheman, 27:19; Shannon Schwalm, 27:34Sandra Flick, 27:57; Amanda Morello, 27:58; Allyson Ticket; 28:00; Kelly Craig, 28:03; Emily Clark, 28:04; Beverly Heasley, 28:11; Heather Clark, 28:12; Erv Weischedel, 28:17; Karen Munsey, 28:24; Allison Hicks, 28:25; Melissa Pishko, 28:28; Donna Natale, 28:49; Kevin Allen, 28:51; Shari Allen, 28:51; Ed Doyle, 28:53; Autumn Heinz, 29:10; Kyle Deddo, 29:19; Julie Codispot, 29:28; Jack Codispot, 29:28; John Nalepa, 29:28; Lisa Moss, 29:29; Brenda Kronstain, 29:34Kyle Mannas, 29:36; Barbara Gerginski, 29:38; Jason Geyer, 30:05; Carolyn Sabo, 30:08; Danielle Thompson, 30:20; Gary Golebiewski, 30:22; Daniel Morgan, 30:30; Tracy Geyer, 30:33; Nick Cunningham, 30:37; Bob Cunningham, 30:57; Monica Schwalm, 30:59; Nick Milas, 31:09; Lori Milas, 31:23; Megan Gardner, 31:24; Evan Deddo, 31:25; David Bates, 31:38; Ken Deddo, 31:39; Chuck Seibel, 31:51; Rusty Pfeiffer, 31:51; Mary Lambert, 32:01William Atkinson, 32:03; Desiree Atkinson, 32:05; Kelley Baumgartel, 32:06; Christen Edinger, 33:20; Shawn Bobbert, 33:25; Jamie Munsey, 33:30; Rebecca Beck, 33:33; George Wargo, 33:40; Ashley Kristoff, 33:42; Brieann Artz, 35:13; Robert Loper, 35:21; Noah Loper, 35:22; Christina Loper, 35:59; Kathryn Wigton, 36:34; Patty Wright, 36:39; Joseph Miller, 36:40Janet Bennett, 36:42; Jacob Krieser, 36:47; Jessica Forcht, 36:54; Nathan Wright, 37:00; Karen Monday, 37:02; Tom Macmullan, 37:03; Pamela Osche, 38:45; Tyler Podlaski, 39:00; Cindi Hockenberry, 40:45; Charity McLaughlin, 44:20; Janis Spurr, 44:38; Dale Spurr, 44:38; Michael Radella, 45:13; Steven Dunn, 45:47; Cindy Rosequist, 45:54Craig Moss, 45:54; Patrick Sweeney, 49:20; Lisa Sweeney, 49:21; Joseph Henricks, 49:23; Valerie Mannas, 49:24; Michelle Podlaski, 52:37; Katie Podlaski, 52:37; Amy Brennan, 55:28; Julianna Krieser, 55:29; Carol Schoenig, 55:46; John Negich, 55:53; Brandon Negich, 56:35; Joe Weber, 1:00:26; Judy Fischer, 1:00:27; Ernie Fischer, 1:00:27; Evy McLaughlin, 1:01:43; Paulette Negich, 1:02:01; Cole McLaughlin, 1:07:31Send 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.