Where does the time go? The Butler Road Race was one of my first-ever races. I’m still running and so is the Butler Road Race.

Butler Road Race is the oldest consecutively held race in western Pennsylvania and the biggest running event in Butler, celebrating its 37th running at 9 a.m. June 23.

I’ve changed a lot over my years of running, and the Butler Road Race has changed, too. Originally a tough 10K that included a challenging climb up Alameda Hill, the race is now a gentler out-and-back five-mile run on a USATF certified course.

In 2000, race organizers included a two kilometer distance to make it accessible to more runners and walkers.

Because the five-mile course is certified, USATF recognizes finishing times as official records. Over the years, nine national single age records have been set at the Butler Road Race, including Job Christianson’s age 4 record of 45 minutes, 5 seconds and Lou Lodovico’s age 87 record of 47:20.

Although not national records, both the women’s and men’s course records are impressive. Ellwood City’s Jake Walker set the men’s course record in 2008 with his finishing time of 24:32 while Nicole Blaesser set the women’s record of 25:41 in 2009. Paul Zimmerman and Tammy Slusser hold the masters men’s and women’s course records of 25:41 and 30:43, respectively.

Tammy also holds the record for most Butler Road Race wins at ten. She posted her first victory in 1984 and her most recent in 2011.

During its early years, Butler Road Race awarded $64,000 to competitive winners. While the original BRR offered cash prizes to reward a few top runners, the race now spreads the wealth among graduating cross country runners from area high schools. In the past 19 years, Butler Road Race has awarded 607 scholarships totaling $318,600. That means that each qualifying recipient receives $500 with the top honored boy and girl earning $1,000 each to further their educations.

One of the most impressive moments of its post race award ceremony is Butler Road Race board president Mike Franko’s call for past Butler Road Race scholarship awardees to take the podium. Usually, 20 or more students return annually to pay homage to the race that helped fund their educations.

In addition to helping young runners, Butler Road Race acknowledges masters runners with a special 5-Mile Masters competition. Runners over the age of 40 compete for top three men’s and women’s masters awards along with senior awards to ages 50 through 59 and super senior prizes to those 60 and older.

There are plenty of competitive awards at Butler Road Race — top five overall in the five-mile race and top three in the two -kilometer distance. The first Butler County male and female finishers earn special recognition. Age group awards include medals for top three finishers in ten-year age increments in both events.

Franko credits the Butler Road Race sponsors for making this event a success year after year. Butler Health System, the event’s major sponsor for the past 13 years, encourages participation as a way for local citizens to maintain health and fitness. Franko says that support by Butler Health System’s President and CEO Ken DeFurio, a Butler Road Race board member, has been invaluable.

In addition to supporting Butler Road Race’s scholarship program, sponsors provide goods and services that enhance the experience for runners and walkers. Irene Stacy Community Mental Health Center sponsors ChampionChip timing services. Texas Road House offers a dining certificate for each family of four registered and Butler Family YMCA opens its facilities for runners to shower and change clothes. Other sponsors provide refreshments and prizes for a random drawing held in Diamond Park.

It’s not too late to be a part of this year’s Butler Road Race. Applications are available at several businesses around town or at www.butlerroadrace.org. Registered runners may pick up their race packets from 4 to 6 p.m. June 22 at the Cubs Hall or Saturday at the starting area in Diamond Park beginning at 7:30 a.m.

For more information about the 37th annual Butler Road Race, visit their website or call 724-284-4676.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Your choice of mileage, post run coffee and snacks. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Cecil Jarvis Greater Clarksburg 10K, Clarksburg, WV. 2 mile race at 10 A.M., cash prizes. 304-848-3086 or runwithhat@yahoo.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Dayspring Harvest Ministries 5K Race and 2 Mile Fun Walk, Ellwood City. 724-752-1600

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Warren County YMCA 10K and 5K Fun Walk, Warren. 814-726-0110 or chris@warrenymca.org

Sunday, 8 a.m.: Man Up Father’s Day 10K and 5K, Pittsburgh. 724-328-0013

Sunday: Towpath Ten, Cleveland, OH. Run on Towpath Canal Trail. 216-520-1825

June 20, 7 p.m..: Strawberry Days 5K, Grove City. First race in Mercer County Twilight QUAD series. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com. Download application at www.runhigh.com

June 20, 7 p.m.: Sharpsville 5K, Sharpsville. www.sharpsville5k.moonfruit.com

June 23, 9 a.m.: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 5K RiverRace, Grove City. Run on Greenwood Bike Trail. 724-372-9598 or jhighland@northwood.com

June 23, 9 a.m.: 37th Annual Butler Road Race 5 Mile Run/ 2K Run & Health Walk, Butler. Butlerroadrace.org

June 23, 9 a.m.: Ford City Baptist Bash 5K Race, Ford City. Also kids run at 11 A.M. 724-859-6319

June 24, 9 a.m.: Peace Love Run 13.1 and 5K, North Park. Starts at Boathouse. 724-933-6222

June 30, 9 a.m.: Ellwood City Ledger 10K, Ellwood City. Starts at Ewing Park pool. 724-752-1583

June 30, 9 a.m.: Chardonnay 5K, Mercer. 724-662-1910

June 30, 9 a.m.: Parkinson Awareness Memorial 5K Run/ Walk in Memory of Jerry Maher, Sr., Uniontown. 412-629-9292 or www.jerrymahermemorial5k.com

July 1: Corry 5K, Corry. 814-664-7757

July 3, 7 p.m.: Groundhog Jog 5K, Punxsutawney. 814-938-1008 or punxsyaccenter@gmail.com

July 4, 8:30 a.m.: Firecracker 10K Race and 1 Mile Fun Run/ Walk, Brockway. Brockway4thrunning@yahoo.com

July 4, 9 a.m.: Brentwood Firecracker 5K, Brentwood. Part of community celebration. 412-882-5694 or brentwood5k@aol.com

July 7, 7:30 a.m.: Butler County YMCA Triathlon, Moraine State Park. ¼ mile swim, 7 mile bike, 5K run. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.org

July 7, 9 a.m.: Ford City Heritage Days 5K, Ford City. Flat run through downtown. 724-763-3986 or jsolak@iup.edu

July 7, 9 a.m.: Heritage Day 5K, Greenville. Part of community festival. 724-815-6150 or jchristiansen@thiel.edu

July 7, 6 p.m.: Wines, Vines & Pines 5K, Hartville, OH. Cross country run at Maize Valley Winery. 330-877-8344

July 8, 7:30 a.m.: Trail Blazer 15K and 5K, Meadville. Run on Ernst Rail Trail. Neeners01@yahoo.com

July 14, 8 a.m.: Cross Country Crusade 5K, Saxonburg. First race in Saxonburg Distance Classic runs on Knoch cross country course. 724-898-2525 or mlkletzli@embarqmail.com

July 14, 9 a.m.: European Style 5K, Harmonsburg. Run at Conneaut Lake. 814-382-2534

July 15, 6:30 a.m.: Presque Isle Half Marathon, Erie. 814-881-0060

Race results

Freeport Flash 5K, June 2: Patrick Miller, 1st Overall M, 17:26; Dominic Wyzomirski, 3rd Overall M, 18:10; Emilee Hertweck, 1st Overall W, 19:45; Rebecca Dudek, 3rd Overall W, 20:50; Nick Gentile, 1st 20-24 M, 18:27; Timothy Wyant, 1st 40-49 M, 18:43; Colin Meehan, 1st 16-19 M, 18:53; Josh Brestensky, 3rd 16-19 M, 19:38; Mike Shaffer, 1st 30-39 M, 19:40; Stephen Hepler, 1st 50-59 M, 20:24; Nick Kijowski, 2nd 40-49 M, 21:33; Noah Bowser, 1st 12-15 M, 21:25; Nathan McCombs, 2nd 12-15 M, 21:31; Melissa Kemp, 1st 25-29 W, 21:33; Malique Nadzam, 3rd 12-15 M, 21:50; Larry Lutz, 2nd 50-59 M, 21:52; Kayla Zboran, 1st 16-19 W, 21:54; James Beck, 3rd 40-49 M, 22:00; Alan Peters, 2nd 30-39 M, 22:02; Linsey Stonebraker, 1st 30-39 W, 22:14; Hayley Davis, 1st 12-15 W, 22:46; Dorothy Moxie, 1st 40-49 W, 23:06; Tracy Newman, 2nd 30-39 W, 23:52; Brady Shuster, 2nd 20-24 M, 23:59; Jinny Hertweck, 3rd 30-39 W, 24:14; Laura Will, 2nd 16-19 W, 24:19; Courtney Shanddick, 2nd 12-15 W, 24:24; Andrea Ferko, 1st 20-24 W, 24:24; Chuck Huth, 3rd 50-59 M, 24:32; Haley Redmond, 3rd 16-19 W, 24:40; Lauren Mytinger, 2nd 25-29 W, 25:00; Kari Huth, 3rd 12-15 W, 25:07; Madison Stivenson, 1st 11 & Under W, 25:42; Renee Lichty-Bodnar, 2nd 40-49 W, 26:57; Dez Csizmadia, 1st 70+ M, 27:03; Beth Zboran, 3rd 40-49 W, 27:37; Joseph Molloy, 1st 11 & Under M, 28:10; Patricia Wyant, 1st 60-69 W, 28:17; Frank Prazenica, 3rd 60-69 M, 28:51; Becky Desantis, 2nd 60-69 W, 28:57; Emily Huff, 3rd 11 & Under W, 30:23; Tanner Lichty, 2nd 11 & Under M, 32:43; Pam Ferko, 1st 50-59 W, 33:00; Terrie McCombs, 2nd 50-59 W, 35:06; Aaron McCrea, 3rd 11 & Under M, 36:08; Ada Rumberg, 3rd 60-69 W, 41:13; Donald Cescon, 2nd 70+ M, 41:23; Jack Bowser, 3rd 70+ M, 47:33; Dorothy Wyant, 1st 70+ W, 1:12:12; Kailyn Ziemkiewicz, 3rd 11 & Under W, 44:01; Jared Kapustik, 20:55; Nick Milliron, 23:24; Darrell Nadzam, 23:29; John Nicholas, 23:30; Paul Gentile, 24:17; Ben Goldinger, 24:27; Tyler Long, 24:50; Gregory Huth, 24:59; Joey Sadecky, 25:15; Kyle Zboran, 25:20; Taylor Bombalski, 25:25; Zach Will, 25:26; Samson Wyant, 25:29; Kristie Teorsky, 25:35; Nichol Murray, 25:42; Scott Neft, 25:46; James Meehan, 25:58; Marc Miller, 26:05; David Simon, 26:11; Jade Clinton, 26:14; Ken Long, 26:20; Natalie Martin, 26:45; Megan Manke, 26:46; Mike Malecki, 26:50; Stacey Bowen, 27:08; Kim Weaver, 27:40; Kaitlyn Nicholas, 27:51; Adrienne Lewis, 27:52; Caleb Bowser, 27:55; April Pavlina, 28:10; Maggie Ward, 28:24; Julia Damico, 28:26; Carol Amadee, 28:28; Greg Johns, 28:31; Amy Amadee, 28:46; Don Amadee, 28:47; Alex Smith, 28:48; Joe Zboran, 28:49; Melissa Evans, 29:08; Stacy Cramer, 29:21; Larry Cooper, 29:22; Sara Lewis, 29:28; Karen Nyra, 29:32; Bret Wagner, 29:36; Danielle Weber, 29:53; Tammy Sarver, 29:55; Jake Huff, 30:23; Christin Cooper, 30:24; Hannah Nicholas, 30:26; Susan Affrica, 30:51; Bryan Pavlina, 31:05; Marcia Furman, 31:12; Lurena Stewart, 31:17; Jim Stewart, 31:18; Rhonda Meehan, 31:43; Amy Badger, 31:44; Lisa Oldach, 31:45; Abby Ohl, 31:48; Logan Ziemkiewicz, 32:06; Kelly Bess, 32:19; Penny Ward, 32:29; Grace Ward, 32:31; Carla Schreckengost, 32:48; Glenn Lang, 33:21; Laura Shandick, 33:47; Jeffrey Will, 33:58; Madison Meehan, 34:13; Jenna Davis, 34:42; Jamie Clark, 34:56; Emily Greco, 35:17; Austyn McCombs, 35:31; Joy Foust, 35:51; Kerri Huff, 35:56; Cindy McCrea, 36:16; Mike Dilworth, 36:35; Brenda Murray, 37:25; Troy Adams, 37:49; Trace Trempus, 37:49; Courtney Greco, 37:51; Barry Bowser, 38:33; Taylor Lichty, 38:34; Carla Priester, 38:34; Kennedi Clark, 39:06; Sophia Reitz, 39:12; Autumn Trempus, 39:28; Linda Miller, 39:36; Rebecca Hodkin, 41:00; Cindy Ohl, 41:04; Donna Davis, 42:14; Kristen Ziemkiewicz, 44:07; Donna Wyant, 44:16; Andrea Wyant, 44:16; Debra Kuminkoski, 48:14; Joanne Bowser, 48:26; Cindy Graham, 48:30; Chris Karenbauer, 48:31; Chris Redmond, 49:51; Judy Vascik, 49:57; Carrie Stopko, 50:13; Rhonda Horneman, 50:19; Kelly Young, 53:20; Judi Damico, 55:29; Don Vigliotti, 55:39; Alyssa Vigliotti, 55:42; Kathy Selvaggi, 55:42; Donna Smith, 55:54; Lilli Geracia, 57:12; Mark Wyant, 1:12:11

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle