One of my favorite races takes place this Saturday and it seems that it’s becoming the favorite of many others in the region.

The seventh annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon runs from Winfield Township to Freeport at 9 a.m. Saturday. But if you’re not signed up, it’s too late. The event sold its 1,000 entries weeks ago.

It’s not surprising that this race has grown in popularity since its inception. The packed gravel surface of Butler-Freeport Trail is easy on runners’ legs. And it follows a downhill point-to-point course through the scenic valley along Buffalo Creek. Cool autumn weather adds to the potential for many runners to set personal best times.

Race director Chris Ziegler isn’t surprised by the half marathon’s success. “From the beginning, we were all interested in the quality of the event. Our volunteers give it their all for the runners,” she said.

Buffalo Creek Half Marathon has built a reputation for being a race that cares about runners, their wants and needs. The event offers plenty of parking at Lernerville Speedway, shuttle service to the indoor staging area at Winfield Fire Department and from the finish line in Freeport, and bag check to the finish area.

The half marathon also provides mile markers along the course, plenty of aid stations and spotters cycling up and down the course in case someone needs assistance. Finishers are welcomed personally by loudspeaker and then welcomed to feast on pizza, bagels, fruit bars and hot cider provided by local businesses.

This year, Buffalo Half Marathon finishers will also receive commemorative finishers’ medals for their efforts along with a technical T-shirt. Ziegler admits she wasn’t altogether in favor of this race perk, citing the expense. But when a local supplier for the medals was found, she warmed to the idea.

“This is one more thing that adds to the quality of the race,” she said, “but we really wanted to do it right.”

Proceeds from Buffalo Creek Half Marathon benefit the Butler-Freeport Trail Association, which maintains the trail. This year’s funds will allow for completion of a final bridge near Butler which has received approval and is now in the design phase. Any remaining funds will be used to resurface the trail between Bonniebrook Road and Marwood.

Ziegler foresees the popularity and size of the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon increasing, although a few changes would have to be made to accommodate a larger field. This includes adding a timing mat at the start of the race to relieve congestion and provide accurate timing for all participants.

If you’ve been shut out of the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, try a shorter and milder run that welcomes the whole family. Art on the Run 2012, also at 9 a.m. Saturday, is a gentle tour of the Butler Senior and Intermediate High School campus.

Art on the Run emphasizes participation, especially for those under the age of 12. The competitive 5K awards top three men and women overall finishers and five broad age groups while all finishers under 12 receive ribbons. The event also has a separate 1K distance fun run/ walk recommended for children under 12.

Now in its second year, Art on the Run is directed by middle school art teacher Allair DeVanney and has the support of the Fine Arts Department staff, parents and students. Junior High School singers will sing the National Anthem prior to the race start and students will hand out water along the course. Student art will also be featured along the race course.

Art on the Run is more than a race. It includes activities such as face painting, print making and paper marbling. There will also be a raffle for gift certificates, prizes and art by local artists.

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. start at Art Bernardi Stadium. Race day registrations are welcome, but bring cash. Organizers will only accept cash payment on race day.

For more information, contact Allair DeVanney at ArtOnTheRun5k@gmail.com.

Upcoming events

Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Post run coffee and snacks. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Wednesdays, 7 p.m.: MoJo Sports Group Run, Seven Fields. Run three to seven miles with friends. 724-772-2808

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Harvest Moon Run, Moon Township. Choice of ten miles or 5K. www.race360.com/14346

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Freeport. Point to point on Butler-Freeport Rail Trail. Sorry, sold out. To volunteer to help, visit www.butlerfreeporttrail.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Art on the Run 5KRun/ Walk and 1K Family Fun Run, Butler. Run on Butler High School campus, art activities, refreshments and raffle prizes. Artontherun5k@gmail.com

Saturday, 3 p.m.: MS Monster Stomp 5K Race, Walk and Goblin Trot, New Castle. Also post race Monster Bash. 724-658-8583 or www.msmonsterstomp.com

Sunday, 9:30 a.m.: Peace Race, Youngstown, OH. Two mile run or classic 10K at 11:30 a.m. 330-637-8466

Oct. 27, 9 a.m.: Dempseytown 5K, Oil City. Challenging out and back course. 814-676-0959 or dempseytown5k@oakandum.com

Oct. 27, 10 a.m.: Ghostly Gray 5K or 10K Trail Run or 20K Mountain Bike Race, Camp Lutherlyn Prospect. 724-284-1134, ext. 250 or www.troopcampcadet.org

Oct. 27, 10 a.m.: Bethesda’s Annual 5K Mud Run, Meadville. Off road run with obstacles. 814-724-7510 or maryann.koman@bethesda-home.org

Oct. 27, 10 a.m.: Freaky Friday 5K and Terrifying 10K, North Park. Pet walk at 9:30 a.m., competitive and costume awards. www.freaky5k.org

Oct. 28, 9 a.m.: Farmer’s Inn Half Marathon, 5K and bike race, Sigel. bonnherb@yahoo.com

Oct. 28, 5 p.m.: 3rd Annual Great Pumpkin Race, Zelienople. Choice of 5K or 1 mile distance, family discount. Irmaloney@zoominternet.net

Nov. 3, 8 a.m.: ZooZilla 5K Run/ Walk, Pittsburgh. Run through Pittsburgh Zoo grounds. 412-665-3640 or pittsburghzoo.org

Nov. 3, 9 a.m.: Run for the Wounded Warrior 5K and 5 Mile, North Park. Starts at North Park Boathouse, benefits Wounded Warrior Project. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.com

Nov. 3, 10 a.m.: Butler YMCA Turkey Trot 5K, Butler. Also one mile kids race. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.org

Nov. 4, 9 a.m.: Ridgway Marathon, Ridgway. Flat out and back course on Clarion River- Toby Creek Rail Trail. 814-594-4173

Nov. 11, 7 a.m.: Marshall Mangler Trail Runs, North Park. Choice of 50K, 25K or 5 miles, benefits Operation Troop Appreciation.www.race360.com/15303

Nov. 11, 9 a.m.: Indiana First Bank Veterans; Marathon and Half Marathon, Black Lick. Almost flat course on Ghost Town Rail Trail. 724-349-3200 or dhscanlon@hotmail.com

Race results

Pittsburgh Great Race 5K, Sept. 30: Justin Taylor, 1st Overall M, 15:09; Kristen Leslie, 1st Overall W, 17:56; Emily Wolfarth, 2nd Overall W, 18:23; Heather Melzer, 3rd Overall W, 18:25; Dominic Wyzomirski, 1st 50-54 M, 17:24; Steve Schupp, 3rd 40-44 M, 19:45; Dorothy Moxie, 3rd 45-49 W, 21:19; Megan Gallagher, 1st 11 & Under W, 23:13; Ryan McCormick, 17:23; Gregory Schiller, 18:44; Mark Knapp, 19:28; Christian Renaud, 20:46; Mitch Radella, 20:48; Shelly Shebetich, 21:56; Zachary Waters, 22:11; Michael Loranzo, 22:40; Kevin Gallagher, 23:28; Leigh Anne Shubert, 23:34; Andrew Waters, 23:44; Rachel Fedoronko, 23:59; Jim Lorenzo, 24:02; Myah Merhaut, 24:12; Kierstin Smay, 24:22; Douglas Miner, 24:29; Mark Blasinsky, 24:32; Pam Cooper, 24:48; Justin Snider, 24:48; Malissa Mascari, 24:51; Damien Wissolik, 24:57; Lance Trott, 25:24; Logan Baker, 25:26; Daniel Christo, 25:29; Veronica Keenan, 25:29; John Opsasnick, 25:29; Bill Snider, 25:52; Lauren King, 26:22; Ryan Moffett, 26:24; Rodney King, Jr., 26:24; Jeffrey Moffett, 26:24; Shelly Rushe, 26:29; Jenna Kolano, 26:31; Samantha Scacchitti, 26:31; Anthony Scacchitti, 26:39; Heather Cook, 26:42; John Reddick, 26:53; Robert Sands, 27:05; Dennis Duryea, 27:10; Amber Nelis, 27:27; Madison Merhaut, 27:34; Craig Stauffer, 27:43; John Dyer, 27:46; Owen Oesterling, 28:16; Sharon Barlow, 28:29; Cynthia Reddick, 28:34; Michael Renaud, 28:35; Maggie Federowicz, 28:44; Christopher Federowicz, 28:44; Ann Cheman, 28:57; Matt Ciocca, 29:26; Lisa Scacchitti, 29:37; Shawn Firster, 29:40; Phil Lucas, 29:45; Eric Slomer, 29:46; Anne Marie Emswiler, 29:50; Lois Adams, 29:52; Jane Sherry, 29:54; Emily Sherry, 29:54; Valerie Eckley, 30:02; David Shebetich, 30:05; Sydni Smith, 30:05; Lauren Verona, 30:08; Melanie Smith, 30:13; Patrick McCurdy, 30:14; Melinda Hatajik, 30:30; Gregory Silliman, 30:33; Melissa Bemis, 30:33; Colleen Dadura, 30:35; Grant Waltrip, 30:40; Chuck Bittner, 30:41; Nicole Waltrip, 30:41; Susan Hardt, 30:47; James Hardt, 30:48; Luke Waltrip, 30:48; Justin Waltrip, 30:50; Michelle Zandarski, 30:51; Elizabeth Smith, 30:51; Lauren Donato, 30:51; Joseph Zandarski, 30:52; Joseph Merhaut, 30:57; Dawn Nickleach, 30:58; Robyn Gross, 31:04; Meghan Firster, 31:07; Maria Scroggs, 31:07; Heidi Allison, 31:08; Paul Pry, 31:18; Brian Rosenzweig, 31:34; Judy Rosenzweig, 31:35; Leona Mitchell, 31:36; Tim Nichols, 31:37; Michelle Nichols, 32:07; Kim Veon, 32:08; Molly Black, 32:09; Kristen Hoskinson, 32:12; Jack Harding, 32:24; Jessie Keenan, 32:30; Samantha Oesterling, 32:44; Tricia Gray, 32:52; Amanda Hoban, 32:54; Heather Daugherty, 32:56; Devin Schupp, 3:05; Kathy Schupp, 33:05; Janet Renaud, 33:16; Racquelle Davis, 33:20; Heidi Graham, 33:20; Douglas Klocko, 33:30; Addie Klocko, 33:31; Christy Malcho, 33:36; Nora Malcho, 33:37; Olivia Knebel, 33:37; Sarah Shodi, 33:40; Rusty Pfeiffer, 33:41; Jacqueline Alcantara, 33:46; Domenic Scacchitti, 34:20; Christina Proctor, 34:21; Ted Manna, 34:22; Chritie Brockley, 34:23; Jillian McCurdy, 34:24; Christian Scalo, 34:45; Tammy Lynd, 34:46; Ryan Macurak, 34:52; Tim Thenthongkham, 35:07; Brianna Shade, 35:22; Valerie Sands, 35:33; Shirley Stine, 35:41; Jaclyn Rauscher, 35:47; Dana Kaltenberger, 35:51; Christina Rocco, 35:51; Stefanie Baker, 35:55; Benjamin Cutts, 36:09; Lisa Moss, 36:10; Sarah Anthony, 36:33; Christine Lynd, 36:35; Tammy Fridley, 36:36; Barry Fridley, 36:37; Kerrin Vandenburgh, 36:45; Adele Snider, 36:46; Dina Snider, 36:48; Cara Plese, 37:00; Bonnie Gramsky, 37:11; Karen Novak, 37:12; Amy Anthony, 37:21; Rachel Moore, 37:34; Cianna Nuzzo, 37:34; Carly Dzierzawski, 37:34; Dana Moore, 37:34; Joseph Dzierzawski, 37:35; Stephanie Crail, 37:39; Amber Melo, 37:43; Raymond Koch, 37:46; Cathy Hertweck, 37:49; Lydia Anthony, 38:32; Voni Woods, 39:04; Carrie Ortsey, 39:05; Andrea Beyer, 39:06; Christopher Donato, 39:19; Tamara Oesterling, 39:55; Olivia Macurak, 39:57; McCall Shade, 40:08; Amy Gerwig, 40:09; Karen Shade, 40:15; David Haskins, 40:29; Lauren Haskins, 40:29; Zachary Marzan, 40:32; Somphone Thenthongham, 40:44; Nancy Thenthongkham, 40:45; Michael Shaheen, 41:39; Rebecca Kolano, 41:57; Mary Lee Kolano, 41:58; Craig Moss, 42:12; Ken Ebbert, 42:44; Mary Jo Crail, 43:31; Brenda Febert, 43:43; Tricia Cattrell, 43:50; Glenn Woods, 44:28; Marie Moreau, 44:54; Edward Crail, 45:20; Sally Schuster, 45:23; Cathy Wurzer, 45:25; Cathy Anderson, 45:43; Catherine Reese, 46:33; Michael Reese, 46:34; Colleen Wilson, 46:39; Kathy Kobert, 46:40; Kali Kobert, 46:40; Dennis Ditch, 48:28; Maureen Gallagher, 50:07; Erica Trimble, 50:35; Jason Trimble, 50:37; Kathy Ditch, 52:05; George Perry, 53:58; Debra Perry, 53:58; Lori Zarichnak, 54:33; Matthew Malcho, 55:42; Elise Malcho, 55:42; Diane Grajear, 59:48; Jared Webber, 1:01:09; Pamela Kilwein, 1:05:16

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