Some runners are just digging their shoes out of the closet after winter hibernation and the rest of us who run year round are nowhere near racing shape.

But with many races celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, runners might want to train through rather than compete in an event.

Most training plans are designed to build endurance, speed, stamina and pacing. It’s easy to emphasize one of these aspects of training while having fun with friends at a local race.

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Endurance. The weekend is the traditional time for building endurance with a long run. If you’ve just begun spring training, any run is a long one.Choose a short race, even a 5K. Alternate five minutes of running with a minute of walking.Runners who’ve been training throughout the winter can choose a longer race, such as Saturday’s St. Paul’s March Mad Dash in North Park or the Shamrock Challenge March 19 in Harmony. Both offer 10-mile distances. For a longer run, arrive early for a few miles of warm up.Those who truly want to challenge their endurance can try the Lt. J.C. Stone 50K Ultramarathon. This is a great introduction to ultrarunning as it features the familiar North Park Lake loop and offers aid every 2Z\x miles along the course.•

Speed. What better place to work on speed than at a race? Turn the event into an interval workout by picking out a runner ahead of you, then picking up the pace until you pass him or her.Or work with a friend. Take turns setting a fast pace for a minute or two with rest periods in between. Save a little for the end of the race and a sprint to the finish.•

Strength equals speed. Many runners charge up the bleachers of their high school football stadiums to build leg strength and improve leg lift. The American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb March 19 takes the stair climbing indoors. Run or walk 38 flights of stairs in Pittsburgh’s Gulf Tower.•

Hills. Running hills builds strength and improves form. Run a hilly course like The Shamrock Challenge on Strawberry Ridge Golf Course or the rolling St. Patrick’s Day 5K in Chippewa.If you’re a beginner, just running the hills will be challenging enough. More experienced runners should concentrate on running harder uphill with good form while coasting downhill.•

Stamina. Runners add tempo runs to their training to increase stamina, which is endurance plus speed. Use one of the springtime races as a steady, but not all-out, effort. Keep in mind that you’ll run a more even pace on a flat course.•

Pace. I’ve been running for decades but still have a hard time judging pace, especially at the beginning of the season. Training through a race removes some of the anxiety and pressure to perform.Most races have mile markers. Some offer split times at mileposts, too. That makes it easier to judge pace. Try to run even splits over the entire course.Upcoming eventsSaturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: Leprechaun Leap Distance Festival, Erie. Choice of 10K or 5K in Presque Isle State Park. 814-580-8330 or jimlang@bigwhitetrailer.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: St. Paul’s March Mad Dash, North Park. 412-585-2361Saturday, 9:30 a.m.: St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run, New Brighton. 724-495-9417 or hilfinger@newbrightonborough.orgMarch 19, 7:30 a.m.: Lt. J.C. Stone 50K Ultra Marathon, North Park. 412-366-8740 or www.jcstone50k.comMarch 19, 8 a.m.: The Shamrock Challenge 10 Mile Run, Harmony. 5K and 1-mile runs and walks start at 10:15. 724-321-4265 or joella@zoominternet.netMarch 19, 8:30 a.m.: American Lung Association Fight for Air Climb, Pittsburgh. Run or walk 38 flights of stairs in Gulf Tower. 724-933-6180 or tvillalba@lunginfo.orgMarch 19, 9 a.m.: Diane Kelly Memorial 5K Run and Fun Walk, Warren, Pa. chris@warrenymca.orgMarch 19, 9 a.m.: St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run, Chippewa. 724-843-8177 or wissnerc@verizon.netMarch 26, 8 a.m.: Martinsville Half Marathon and 5K, Martinsville, W.Va. www.martinsvillehalfmarathon.comMarch 26, 8:30 a.m.: Just a Short Run, North Park. Choice of half marathon, 5K, 30K or 8.1 miles benefits Leukemia Society. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.comMarch 26, 10 a.m.: Pure Thirst 5K and Fun Run, Brockway. 814-591-9531 or www.purethirst.orgApril 2, 9 a.m.: Hustle for Muscle 5K, Sharon. Nlr5086@psu.eduApril 2, 11 a.m.: Cook Forest Half Marathon, Cooksburg. 814-393-2081 or www.cookforest.com/marathonApril 9, 10 a.m.: Fools Run 10K and 1-Mile Fun Walk, Indiana. First leg of Indiana Triple Crown. 724-349-0501 or www.indianaroadrunners.comApril 16, 9 a.m.: Big Foot Half Marathon and 5K Run-Walk, Kittanning. 724-545-9622May 14, 8 A.M.: UPMC Pittsburgh 5K Run, Pittsburgh. Held on marathon weekend. www.pittsburghmarathon.com

Race resultsEllport Winter Wonderland 5K, Feb. 5: Steve Strelick, 1st Overall M, 16:15; Nick Minich, 2nd Overall M, 16:24; Bethany Walker, 1st Overall W, 19:02; Holly Bauer, 2nd Overall W, 20:06; Ben English, 2nd 35-39 M, 17:31; Tyler Cranmer, 3rd 15-19 M, 18:15; Mitch Radella, 2nd 45-49 M, 19:46; David Adams, 2nd 60-64 M, 23:21; Ron Hartle, 3rd 50-54 M, 23:36; Cindy Suber, 2nd 50-54 W, 28:17; Kay Schettler, 1st 60-64 W, 33:45; Cathy Hertweck, 1st 55-59 W, 43:33; Gary Chabala, 23:25; David Suber, 23:38; Stacey Bowen, 28:40

Spring Thaw 10-Mile, Feb. 26: Gregory Byrnes, 1st Overall M, 56:17; Michelle Corkum, 1st Overall W, 1:02:36; Grant Baron, 1st Under 20 M, 59:38; Herb Cratty, 2nd 45-49 M, 1:04:14; Mark Courtney, 3rd 55-59 M, 1:08:24; Erin Nicotra, 3rd 35-39 W, 1:14:15; Gineen Dutkovic, 3rd 40-44 W, 1:24:23; Patricia Neubert, 2nd 55-59 W, 1:27:20; Marcia Semple, 1st 65-69 W, 2:09:43; Margretta Lutz, 1st 70 and over W, 2:10:06Dylan Anderer, 1:13:03; Jeff Lynn, 1:14:19; Karl Zellars, 1:17:37; Jeff Smith, 1:19:40; Casey Boyd, 1:23:01; Brian Kile, 1:29:12; Gary Snyder, 1:29:32; Scott Ackerman, 1:34:37; Mike Zatchey, 1:38:39; Charles Johns, 1:39:52; Alfred Schnabel, 1:41:20

Spring Thaw 15-Mile, Feb. 26: Mitch Radella, 1:53:41; Thomas Grame, 1:59:15; John Lemmex, 2:00:56; Mark Pekich, 2:02:26; Jason Acerra, 2:02:37; Lisa Kostelnik, 2:03:45; William Marsh, 2:04:06; Paul McCartney, 2:05:19; Melissa Schaefer, 2:06:50; Joel Schaeffer, 2:06:50; Patrick McCurdy, 2:13:45; Cindy Waltemire, 2:20:52; Carrie Smith, 2:21:07; Greg Green, 2:22:03; Louann LoDico, 2:25:14; Marilyn Larocca, 2:25:36; Michelle Pekich, 2:26:03; Ken Tack, 2:27:00; Charles Johns, 2:28:31; Jinny Hertweck, 2:29:36; Nicole Khoury, 2:30:32; Suzanne Leonberg, 2:37:52; Heather Slater, 2:38:16; Wayne Toy, 2:38:16; David Murray, 2:47:27; Beth Ann Skinner, 2:49:49; Carol English, 2:55:19; Laura Augustine, 3:04:26

Spring Thaw 20-Mile, Feb. 26: Josh Christopher, 1st Overall M, 1:56:16; Benjamin English, 3rd Overall M, 2:06:46; Holly Bauer, 3rd Overall W, 2:35:18; Herb Cratty, 2:10:10; Richard Marcotte, 2:29:19; Dean Rippee, 2:30:43; Jim Carr, 2:33:26; Mark Shipley, 2:38:00; Todd Roberts, 2:39:29; Ashley Brooks, 2:42:24; Gineen Dutkovic, 2:58:32; William Osche, 2:58:32; Patricia Neubert, 3:04:57; Bruce Barnes, 3:05:42; Robert Todd, 3:05:42; Paul Dibucci, 3:11;49; Mary Morgan, 3:51:30Send comments 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.