It's as much a part of fall as the autumnal equinox and the harvest moon. This weekend marks the 33rd year of the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 10K and 5K.

The 2010 running of this annual rite of fall promises to be the biggest ever. On Tuesday, race director Mike Radley announced registrations have reached the limit of 14,000 and are now closed.

The 10K boasts that it's the largest in the state, but that event won't see numbers reach those of the Great Races of the 1980s, if the race is capped at its current level. In 1987, a record 12,807 finished the 10K dash from Frick Park to downtown.

In 1993, organizers added the 5K event, which now competes with the 10K for registrations. Last year, the 10K had nearly 7,000 finishers while 3,350 finished the 5K.

Like many classic events, the Great Race has undergone a lifetime of changes. Founded in 1977 by Pittsburgh mayor Richard S. Caliguiri, the race began as a celebration of fitness and community.

After the beloved mayor died of the rare disease of amyloidosis in 1988, the city honored his memory by adding his name to the Great Race title. A portion of race proceeds is donated to the Richard S. Caliguiri Amyloidosis Fund.

In its early days, the Great Race attracted world-class runners by offering substantial prize money. In a drastic attempt to limit spending in financially troubled Pittsburgh, the Great Race was canceled in 2003.

But runners wouldn't let the event die. More than 1,100 runners ran the hastily organized Great Replacement Race in Schenley Park to bridge the gap until the city-sponsored race returned.

With the city still on shaky ground financially, prize money disappeared for the resurrected 2004 Great Race. But the lack of visiting professional runners allowed the event to showcase regional talent.

Although the name is the same, the Great Race course has changed over the years. All of the course permutations share the original starting line in Frick Park, but the middle of the 10K has been altered slightly.

The dramatic race finish over the bridge and into Point State Park was eliminated several years ago because of park construction and the race simply ended abruptly on the street, though the 2009 Great Race once again ended in Point State Park.

The current 10K and 5K courses are USATF certified for distance but can't be considered for world records because they are point to point with a net elevation drop of several hundred feet.

That means we can boast about setting personal bests, but not personal records, on the extreme downhill races.

If you are registered for this year's Great Race, you can pick up your race packet at the Great Race Expo at the Circuit Center on Pittsburgh's South Side from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. On race day Sunday, pickup is available from 7 to 8 a.m. in Oakland for the 5K and from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. in Frick Park for the 10K.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 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

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

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Run for Shelter 5K, Indiana. 724-840-0263 or ktaylorporter7@gmail.com

Oct. 1, 6 p.m.: Elderton 5K, Elderton. rfrailey@windstream.net

Oct. 2, 9 a.m.: Patrick Madden Memorial 5K, Slippery Rock. 724-504-6338 or smadden11@gmail.com

Oct. 2, 10 a.m.: Franklin YMCA Applefest 5K, Franklin. 814-431-2138 or krizon@franklinymca.org

Oct. 3, 8 a.m.: ZooZillz 5K Run-Walk, Pittsburgh. Run through Pittsburgh Zoo. 412-365-2536 or jszoszorek@pittsburghzoo.org

Oct. 9, 9 a.m.: Butler Lions Club Scoot and Toot, Butler. Starts at Carousel Shelter in Alameda Park. 724-287-4059 or jbindernagel@theblindassociation.org

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 action in Iraq and Afghanistan. 412-257-4716 or vetcenter5k@gmail.com

Oct. 10, 2 p.m.: Quality Life Series 5K, Emlenton. Final race in series. 724-431-0770, Ext. 2104 or mikel@qualitylifeservices.com

Oct. 16, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Freeport. Register online at www.active.com. Information at 724-898-2525 or www.buffalocreekhalfmarathon.com

Oct. 30, 10 a.m.: Ghostly Gray Trail Race, Prospect. Mountain bike race, 5K or 10K run through Camp Lutherlyn trails. 724-284-1134

Race results

Grandparents 10-Mile, Sept. 18: Cam Baker, 1st Overall M, 1:00:12; Jason Jacobs, 2nd Overall M, 1:01:16; Christiana Keck-Streli, 1st Overall W, 1:05:53; Michael Yankel, 1st 35-39 M, 1:10:28; Bob Markovich, 1st 45-49 M, 1:15:02; William C. Marsh, 1st 40-44 M, 1:15:32; Paul DiBucci, 2nd 35-39 M, 1:17:19; Sam Poloyac, 3rd 35-39 M, 1:18:34; Jillian Lavelle, 1st 30-34 W, 1:18:38; Bob Stanionis, 1st 55-59 M, 1:19:40; Avery Lawson, 3rd 30-34 W, 1:19:42; Joella Baker, 2nd 40-44 W, 1:19:47; Pam Dick, 3rd 40-44 W, 1:20:36; Christi Novak, 3rd 30-34 W, 1:23:30

James Gascoine, 1st 50-54 M, 1:23:33; Rob Morrow, 1st 25-29 M, 1:27:21; Pete Allen, 2nd 40-44 M, 1:30:00; Ken Tack, 2nd 60-64 M, 1:34:46; Krista Novak, 1st 35-39 W, 1:34:47; Sherree May, 1st 50-54 W, 1:35:09; Anne Semmler, 2nd 50-54 W, 1:39:54; Monica Thompson, 2nd 35-39 W, 1:40:45; Natalie Bray, 2nd 25-29 W, 1:40:57

Cheryl Fox, 1:23:00; Andy Super, 1:23:04; Angela Marchiori, 1:23:34; Pamela Macmurdo, 1:24:22; Brad Kehm, 1:28:47; Jason Brown, 1:31:41; Nancy Thenthongkham, 1:31:52; Becky Monhemius, 1:34:12; Scott Baker, 1:34:41; Heather Oros, 1:36:41; Alexis Colonello, 1:52:09

Grandparents 5K, Sept. 18: Jason Jacobs, 1st Overall M, 18:12; Mike Fugate, 3rd Overall M, 18:44; Christina Keck-Streli, 1st Overall W, 19:40; David Fugate, 1st 45-49 M, 20:22; Jeffrey Platt, 1st 30-34 M, 21:01; David Adams, 2nd 60-64 M, 21:42; Scott Schultz, 1st 50-54 M, 22:59; Gary Farrar, 2nd 35-39 M, 23:21; Andy Super, 2nd 30-34 M, 23:28; Erin Brock, 1st 13 and under W, 23:40

Bob Markovich, 3rd 45-49 M, 23:56; Bob Stanionis, 1st 55-59 M, 24:13; William C. Marsh, 1st 40-44 M, 24:25; Adam Zalenski, 2nd 13 and under M, 24:30; Dianne Zalenski, 1st 35-39 W, 24:30; Jillian Lavelle, 1st 30-34 W, 24:41; Avery Lawson, 2nd 30-34 W, 24:42; Angela Marchiori, 3rd 30-34 W, 24:46; Debbie Fugate, 1st 40-44 W, 25:27; Bob Elwell, 3rd 55-59 M, 25:37; Janet Dick, 3rd 13 and under W, 26:07

Mickey Maloney, 3rd 13 and under M, 26:07; Holly Quinn, 2nd 40-44 W, 26:10; Keith Alexander, 1st 19-24 M, 27:13; Pete Allen, 2nd 40-44 M, 27:57; Lou Lodovico, 1st 70 and over M, 28:06; Dawn Dixon, 1st 45-49 W, 31:06; Katie Semmler, 36:24; Anne Semmler, 1st 50-54 W, 36:34; Angela Hall, 1st 25-29 W, 38:42; Chanthy Thenthongkham, 2nd 65-69 M, 39:27; Somphone Thenthongkham, 2nd 60-64 W, 39:29; Cindy Rosequist, 2nd 50-54 W, 42:13; Wendy Reuter, 1st 55-59 W, 42:52; Timothy Mickle, 2nd 19-24 M, 42:53 Gary Paracca, 3rd 50-54 M, 46:21; Carol McCandless, 1st 70 and over W, 54:30

Brett Fox, 23:37; Seth Blizzard, 24:26; Sam Poloyac, 25:23; Maddie Zalenski, 26:16; Brad Kehm, 27:25; Christi Novak, 28:40; Backy Monhemius, 28:42; Joni Dick, 28:43; Pami Dick, 28:44; Haylee Fredericks, 28:51; Pami Fredericks, 28:51; Krista Novak, 29:49; Jack Harding, 30:13; Ken Tack, 31:17; Katie Maloney, 32:09; Jamie Bandzak, 33:19; Paul Blinn, 33:26; Nancy Thenthongkham, 33:34; Zachary Marzan, 42:00; Stacy McCandless, 42:53; Donna Tillander, 54:27; Amanda McCandless, 54:30

Grandparents 1-Mile, Sept. 18: Jason Jacobs, 1st Overall M, 5:36; Christina Keck-Streli, 1st Overall W, 5:56; Jillian Lavelle, 3rd Overall W, 7:24; Gary Farrar, 3rd 30-39 M, 7:29; Owen Marsh, 1st 14-15 M, 7:43; Ryan Marsh, 2nd 14-15 M, 7:44; Avery Lawson, 1st 30-39 W, 7:50; Maribeth Marsh, 1st 40-49 W, 7:52

Jacob Yankel, 2nd 10-11 M, 7:55; Zachary Baker, 1st 6-7 M, 7:55; Dylan Marsh, 3rd 10-11 M, 7:55; Bob Markovich, 1st 40-49 M, 8:01; Pete Allen, 2nd 40-49 M, 8:15; Pami Dick, 3rd 40-49 W, 8:34; William C. Marsh, 3rd 40-49 M, 8:36; Emma Bodkin, 1st 12-13 W, 8:52; Becky Monhemius, 2nd 30-39 W, 9:11; Krista Novak, 3rd 30-39 W, 9:15; Belle Cranston, 2nd 6-7 W, 9:29

Ken Tack, 1st 60-69 M, 10:09; Dillon Fassinger, 1st 8-9 M, 10:17; Denise Leezer, 1st 50-59 W, 11:38; Anne Semmler, 2nd 50-59 W, 11:58; Bill Fugate, 1st 70+ M, 13:40; Jacob Trapp, 1st 4-5 M, 14:30; Makenna Cable, 1st 1-3 W, 15:35; Bob Stanionis, 1st 50-59 M, 15:38; Beverly Sutch, 1st 70 and over W, 17:59; Jonathan Baxley, 2nd 4-5 M, 18:21; Marni Hennessey, 2nd 60-69 W, 18:48 Christina Costello, 3rd 50-59 W, 19:20; Elaine Fugate, 2nd 70 and over W, 19:26; Russell Riethmiller, 3rd 70 and over M, 23:37; Jennifer Kardos, 2nd 19-29 W, 23:38; Ada Spithaler, 3rd 70 and over W, 23:39

Sam Poloyac, 7:33; Michael Yankel, 7:57; Nancy Thenthongkham, 9:52; Brad Kehm, 10:17; Beth Yankel, 11:06; Ian Gazacko, 11:15; Shea Standish, 11:19; Christi Novak, 11:38; Angela Marchiori, 11:46; Emily Trapp, 12:02; Sarah Bodkin, 12:43; Dana Bodkin, 12:55; Frank Longobardi, 13:37; Jodi Baxley, 18:20; Claudia Gazacko, 18:48; Colleen Sybert, 19:12; Lauren Super, 19:45; Noelle Super, 21:13; Andy Super, 21:13; Stephanie Kardos, 21:59; Walt Stern, 23:39

Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail: lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.