Races everywhere are riding the high tide of a recent running boom. The 2010 City of Pittsburgh Marathon, Boston Marathon and other major races have reached maximum capacities.

Races in our area also are seeing record participation. Many races that I've attended for years, such as the St. Barnabas 5K, Courtney's Ice Cream Race and the recent Gatorade-Steelers 5K, have set new attendance highs.

Despite the popularity of the old favorites, there seems to be plenty of room for new races. Bridge to Recovery 5K Race-Walk, set for Sept. 18 in Butler, is one of those new additions.

The event is being held to raise awareness of the role of Irene Stacy Community Mental Health Center in the lives of Butler County residents.

Each year, more than 3,000 county residents rely on Irene Stacy services that address mental health, substance abuse, intellectual disabilities and psychiatric health issues.

Lisa Moss, the center's CFO, and Community Treatment Team member Rita Lane, both avid runners, serve as co-directors of the event.

Moss, who runs at least five days a week with her dog, also is a regular at races and completed her first marathon last November in North Carolina.

Lane is an experienced event director, having coordinated other mental health related running and walking events on the Butler County Community College campus.

Bridge to Recovery 5K will start and end in front of Founders Hall at BC3 and will be run entirely on paved college drives and parking areas.

Along with the competitive 5K race and non-competitive walk, the event features a kids run for boys and girls ages 4 through 10 and a 5-yard Diaper Dash for toddlers. Each participant in the kids events receives a finisher's ribbon and special treats.

Each preregistered participant is guaranteed a commemorative shirt and a goody bag.

Everyone will want to stay following the event for a pizza party, awards ceremony, raffle for more than 14 Chinese Auction baskets and door prizes donated by generous local sponsors.

It's not too late to register for Bridge to Recovery 5K Race-Walk at 9 a.m. Sept. 18. (The Kids Run and Diaper Dash start at 10) Contact Moss at 724-287-0791 or at lmass@irenestacy.com for information.

Download an application from www.smileymiles.com. You can register on the day of the event, but T-shirts and goody bags aren't guaranteed.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Your choice of distance and pace. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Festival of the Arts 5K, Saxonburg. Third race in Saxonburg Distance Series. 724-898-2525

Saturday, 8:20 a.m.: IKEA Montour Trail Half Marathon and 5K, Robinson Township. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Adams Area Fire District Herb Kaufman Memorial 5K Run-Walk, Adams Township. http://aafd5k.webs.com

Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Quality Life Cup Sugar Creek Rest 5K, Worthington. Final race in series. 724-431-0770, Ext. 2104 or www.QualityLifeServices.com

Sunday, 9 a.m.: St. Killian Parish School Celtic Way 5K and 1-Mile Family Fun Walk, Cranberry Township. Run in North Boundary Park. 724-494-0880 or caburns@zoominternet.net

Sunday, 5 p.m.: West Kittanning Grace Brethren Church Community Spirit Day 5K, West Kittanning. 724-548-7836 or eleonard@eckertseamans.com

Sept. 18, 7:30 a.m.: Grandparents Race 10-Mile, 5K or 1-Mile Kids Fun Run, Zelienople. Starts at Passavant Retirement Complex. 724-321-4265 or joella@zoominternet.net

Sept. 18, 9 a.m.: 5K for Humanity Walk-Run, Beaver. Benefits Habitat for Humanity of Beaver County. 724-846-1630 or www.beavercountyhabitat.org

Sept. 19, 9 a.m.: Elorapalooza Memorial 5K and 1-Mile Run, Walk or Lollygag, North Park. Benefits Elora's Hope Foundation. 412-608-2135 or www.elorashope.com

Sept. 19, noon: Junior Great Race, Pittsburgh. One-mile fun run and 50-yard dash with lots of perks, prizes and fun for kids age 12 and under. 412-255-2493 or www.RunGreatRace.com

Sept. 25, 8:30 a.m.: Run for Their Lives 5K, North Park. Benefits Western Pennsylvania Chapter of National Hemophilia Foundation. 724-741-6160 or www.westpennhemophilia.org

Sept 25, 9 a.m.: Autumn Leaf Festival 5K and 10K, Clarion. 814-226-8760 or clarionunitedway@verizon.net

September 26, 8:30 A.M.: Great Race 5k, Pittsburgh. Downhill run to downtown. 412-255-2493 or www.RunGreatRace.com

Sept. 26, 9:30 a.m.: Great Race 10K, Pittsburgh. The original distance starting in Frick Park, finishing downtown. 412-255-2493 or www.RunGreatRace.com

Oct. 9, 9 a.m.: Race for Pace 5K, Churchill. Also 1-mile Paws for Pace Dog Walk. 412-244-1900 or www.paceschool.org

Oct. 9, 9 a.m.: Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County 5k Run-Walk, New Castle. 724-758-8662 or www.crisisshelter.org

Oct. 10, 9 a.m.: Montour Trail 5K Run and Walk, Cecil. Honors two soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. 412-257-4716 or vetcenter5k@gmail.com

Race results

Butler LHOT Run for Shelter 5K, Aug. 28: Grant Baron, 1st Overall M, 17:09; Alex Fertelmes, 2nd Overall M, 19:27; Jake Ferguson, 3rd Overall M, 19:49; Rachel Ferguson, 1st Overall W, 22:45; Carrie Smith, 2nd Overall W, 23:52; Holly Depew, 3rd Overall W, 24:58; Nick Buckalew, 1st 25-29 M, 20:30; Aaron Depew, 1st 35-39 M, 20:54; Matt Drohan, 1st 40-44 M, 21:10; Bob Clark, 1st 60-64 M, 21:29; David White, 2nd 35-39 M, 21:30; Charlie Johns, 1st 30-34 M, 22:17; Buddy Turner, 3rd 60-64 M, 22:47; Dave King, 1st 55-59 M, 22:57; Tom Parsons, 2nd 40-44 M, 22:59; Dave Szebalskie, 3rd 35-39 M, 23:42; Olivia Drohan, 1st 12-15 W, 25:00Emmaline Frohnapfel, 1st 11 and under W, 25:02; Michael Gabriel, 2nd 25-29 M, 25:04; Julia Murray, 1st 40-44 W, 25:20; Ray Ferguson, 1st 45-49 M, 25:29; Jack Codispot, 1st 11 and under M, 25:54; Chris Soloski, 2nd 45-49 M, 25:56; Julie Codispot; 1st 35-39 W, 25:58; Sherrie Mazurek, 1st 50-54 W, 26:03; Amanda Cagno, 1st 16-19 W, 26:19; Julie Baxter, 2nd 12-15 W, 26:48; Corrissa Schmidt, 2nd 11 and under W, 26:53; Chance Rummel, 3rd 40-44 M, 27:15; Matt Callihan, 3rd 40-44 M, 27:15; Debra Kuminkoski, 1st 45-49 W, 27:28Gabrielle Anthony, 2nd 16-19 W, 27:29; Michelle Szebalskie, 2nd 35-39 W, 27:43; Carol English, 2nd 50-54 W, 28:33; Laura Augustine, 2nd 40-44 W, 28:39; Jesse Allen, 2nd 55-59 M, 28:53; Karlie Weirich, 1st 55-59 W, 29:11; Dan Spinder, 3rd 45-49 M, 29:19; Barbara Ebbert, 2nd 45-49 W, 29:21; Susan Tassey, 2nd 55-59 W, 29:28; Desiree Atkinson, 1st 25-29 W, 30:49; Donna Preston, 3rd 40-44 W, 31:09; Emma Preston, 3rd 12-15 W, 31:12; Ed Graham, 3rd 55-59 M, 31:39; Craig Smith, 3rd 50-54 M, 32:51; Janice Nulph, 3rd 55-59 W, 33:12Mary Baxter, 3rd 45-49 W, 33:40; Nicole Tascarella, 1st 20-24 W, 33:47; Debbe Smith, 3rd 50-54 W, 34:37; Jen Bindernagel, 1st 30-34 W, 44:23; Dyane Bilowick, 2nd 25-29 W, 44:47; Rosita Michalek, 1st 70 and over W, 45:26; Sandra Grafton, 2nd 30-34 W, 46:03; Amber Kerry, 3rd 25-29 W, 46:18; Ivory Dunlap, 3rd 35-39 W, 48:05; Joline McClure, 1st 65-69 W, 51:24; Barbara Cress, 2nd 65-69 W, 1:15:01Vincent Moore, 24:55; Glenn Brennan, 28:16; David Murray, 32:53; Vicki Turner, 35:09; Sam Brothers, 37:18; Jack Cloud, 37:20; Pam Stewart, 38:00; Lily Murray, 38:21; Kim Greco, 38:24; Maryann Walchesky, 41:01; Al Lane, 43:03; Craig Moss, 44:29; Richard Grafton, 44:44; Lisa Moss, 44:52; Susan Jeffries, 45:33; Linda King, 48:04; Linda Yetter, 51:22; Shannon Harbison, 52:49; Sandra Duncan, 56:07; Teresa Hollobaugh, 56:30; Diana Yough, 56:31; Lorraine Barclay, 1:01:56; Michelle Schnur, 1:02:12; Thomas Barclay, 1:13:12; Carolyn Shriver, 1:15:02Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. E-mail lotzak@consolidated.netPat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle