I can’t deny, I like racing. When I pay my registration fee, I want timing. I want a measured distance. I want the opportunity to win.

My competitive desire doesn’t make me a better runner. But it does brand me as “old school.”

Nowadays, more runners take to the streets and trails for fun, friends, family and fitness. From events like Foam Fest, held this past June at Camp Lutherlyn to neon light runs to seasonally themed zombie or Santa runs, these short, non-timed events are growing in number and popularity, inviting runners to trade their game faces for smiles.

The Color Run 5K, scheduled Oct. 12 in South Park, calls itself the “Happiest 5K on the Planet.” In this untimed event, participants dressed in white shirts are pelted, showered and splashed with a different color of cornstarch at each kilometer throughout the run. The event starts at 8 a.m. with waves released every few minutes.

Following the run, the fun continues with a finish festival of music and more color slinging. There is also a group color throw every 15 minutes as new finishers arrive.

Although there are other runs loosely based on the Hindu color festival of Holi, The Color Run is the largest brand. The Color Run series debuted in January of 2012 and has already doubled its schedule. This year, more than 100 events are scheduled with more than 1 million people expected to participate worldwide.

More than 60 percent of Color Run participants are running their first-ever 5K. The 5K distance is within the fitness range of most people. And you’re not training for a personal best — you’re training to have fun.

This event series is advertised as family friendly and at The Color Run, you’ll find entire families participating. Kids age five and under run for free. Jogging strollers are welcome, but no dogs are permitted to take part.

My friend Karla Leskovsky is a veteran of color running, having run two Color Me Rad events. Karla recommends that runners try at least one of these fun events — with the emphasis on fun. “Don’t expect this to be a race,” she says. “It’s just not that kind of event.”

She has several suggestions for those planning to attend The Color Run, including wearing old shoes, carrying water or wipes to clean up after the run, and using garbage bags as car seat covers. She also suggests that those with light-colored hair wear head covering since the color may stay in your hair.

The Color Run website also suggests wearing glasses or goggles to keep the food grade colored cornstarch out of your eyes and a bandana or dust mask for your nose or mouth.

As Karla says, “If you’re not completely covered in color, you didn’t do it right.”

All of this fun comes with a price. Registration is $55 per person, $50 per person for a team of at least four.

If you’d like to attend The Color Run for free, the event needs volunteers. Enthusiastic volunteers shower runners with color along the course and get caught up in the excitement. For more information about The Color Run, to register or volunteer, visit thecolorrun.com/pittsburgh.

Upcoming eventsSaturday, 9 a.m.: Applefest Race a Race for Any Pace 5K, Franklin. 814-432-2138 or www.franklinymca.orgSaturday, 10 a.m.: Small and Mighty 5K, Moraine State Park. Starts at Lakeview Beach Pavilion 5. daniellekelly@trulyunique.comSaturday, 6 p.m.: Elderton 5K Run/ Walk, Elderton. 724-354-3779 or rfrailey@windstream.netSunday, 8:30 a.m.: Pittsburgh Penguins 6.6k Run and Family Walk, Pittsburgh. Begins at Consol Enery Center. 412-281-3466 or dparish@mlf66.orgOct. 12, 8 a.m.: The Color Run 5K, South Park. Wear a white shirt; go home with a multi-color. Thecolorrun.com/PittsburghOct. 12, 8:30 a.m.: Harvest Moon Run 10 Mile, 5K, Kids Fun Run, Moon Township. www.race360.com/14346Oct. 12, 8:30 a.m.: Clearfield Pumpkin Run 5K, Clearfield. Part of Fall Festival. 824-765-6000 or www.clearfieldpumpkinrun.comOct. 12, 9 a.m.: AAA Life Services 5K Run/ Walk, Clarion. 814-226-7007 or 814-226-7007Oct. 12, 9 a.m.: Race for Pace 5K Run/ Walk, 1 Mile Dog Walk, 1 Mile Fun Walk, Churchill. Awards for humans and dogs. 412-244-1900 or www.paceschool.orgOct. 12, 9 a.m.: Mahoning Shadow Half Marathon and 5K, Punxsutawney. Starts at Little League field. amytaladay@gmail.comOct. 12, 3 p.m.: MS Monster Stomp 5K Race, Walk and Goblin Trot, New Castle. Also Monster Bash for preregistered runners only following the race. 724-658-8583 or www.msmonsterstomp.comOct. 13, 8:30 a.m.: Ligonier Days 5K Run/ Walk, Ligonier. Part of Ligonier Days festival; begins at high school. 724-238-4200 or visitligonier.comOct. 13, 9 a.m.: Quick Chick 10K, North Park. Starts at Boathouse. 724-772-2808 or mojo.running@gmail.comOct. 19, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Freeport. Register now before this race sells out. quaranta@consolidated.netOct. 19, 9 a.m.: Mustache Dash 5K, Indiana. Also kids race, run on Hoodlebug Rail Trail. sbauer@homercenter.orgOct. 25, 6:30 p.m.: Trick R Trot 5K, DuBois. Starts at DuBois City Park. rachelsyktich@dbcollege.comOct. 26, 9 a.m.: Musical Miles 10K and 5K, Sandy Lake. Run at Lake Wilhelm, Goddard State Park. 724-988-8410 or beckiwilliams@hotmail.comOct. 26, 9 a.m.: Fall Fun Run/ Walk for Special Olympics, Clarion. Halloween costumes encouraged. 814-221-4104 or hollythiem@msn.comOct. 26, 10 a.m.: Ghostly Gray 10K Trail Run, 5K Trail Run or Walk, Prospect. Run through Camp Lutherlyn trails, also 30K mountain bike race. 724-284-1134, ext 250 or troopcampcadet.orgOct. 27, 9 a.m.: Farmer’s Inn Half Marathon and 5k, Sigel. Post race buffet. 724-456-2372 or bonnherb@yahoo.comOct. 27, 9:30 a.m.: Zombie Run, Cranberry Township. Run through North Boundary Park. joella@zoominternet.netNov. 2, 8 a.m.: ZooZilla 5K Run/ Walk, Pittsburgh. Challenging course through Pittsburgh Zoo. 412-365-2536 or gboldizar@pittsburghzoo.orgNov. 2, 9 a.m.: Zombie Mud Run, Allison Park. Zombies, mud, obstacles. www.thezombiemudrun.comNov. 2, 9:30 a.m.: Dirt Monster 5 Mile Trail Race and 1 Mile Trail Walk, North Park. Starts at Grant Pavilion on Wildwood Rd. info@ocfwpa.orgNov. 2, 10 a.m.: Butler YMCA Turkey Trot, Butler. Run from YMCA through Butler Memorial Park. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.orgNov. 3, 9 a.m.: EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler, Pittsburgh. Run from southside to downtown. www.pittsburgh10miler.orgNov. 3, 3 p.m.: Great Pumpkin 5k and 1 Mile, Zelienople. Bucknut2304@gmail.com.

Race resultsGreat Race 10K, Sept. 29: Jim Spisak, 1st Overall M, 28:54; Clara Santucci, 1st Overall W, 32:53; Tyler Jankowski, 3rd 14-16 M, 38:50; Christopher Bloch, 3rd 55-59 M, 40:01; Kim Jokl, 1st 17-19 W, 42:59; Makara Smocer, 2nd 12-13 W, 44:24; Patricia Neubert, 2nd 60-64 W, 52:41; Tom Stuart, 34:48; Mark Hunkele, 37:31; Jason Brehm, 37:44; Matthew Sudak, 37:48; Mark Golla, 38:08; Rick Hinman, 38:35; Laine Seely, 38:33; Nicholas Gust, 39:19; Mark Courtney, 40:10; Brian Kile, 40:20; Kimberly Hohman, 40:38; Sean Armstrong, 41:08; Brandon Honsaker, 41:13; Josh Venderlic, 41:18; Nicholas Scutella, 41:28; Adam Gustetic, 41:29; Matt Marshall, 41:37; Bill Schmidt, 41:56; John Fowler, 42:10; Mark Casteel, 42:17; Christine Lazzara, 42:22; Josh Edmiston, 42:36; Michelle Gogolin, 42:38; Robert Pudlo, 42:44; Lee Ferguson, 42:47; Linsey Westerman, 42:50; Christopher Lazarra, 43:22; Jarrod Synowsky, 44:12; Matt Bagaley, 44:13; Michael Smocer, 44:25; Mark Knapp, 44:41; Kate Stuart, 44:56; Sharyl Relic, 44:58; Nick Radio, 45:03; John Alexander, 45:17; Bernadette Lewis, 45:22; Jeff Peterson, 45:26; Karen Lyle, 45:29; Reuben Pink, 45:35; Justin Mech, 45:39; Jinny Hertweck, 45:46; Lindsey Monahan, 46:02; Dustin Wehler, 46:07; Jesse Rodgers, 46:17; Todd Parry, 46:18; Mandy Sposato, 46:26; Robert Waltrip, 46:35; Christopher Fink, 46:45; Stephen DiAntonio, 46:51; Brian Myers, 46:53; Thomas Lynch, 47:03; Rachel Fedoronko, 47:10; Henry Bernacki III, 47:11; Jeff Hans, 47:14; Darren Webster, 47:15; Kim Spears, 47:16; Nathaniel Nuss, 47:17; Kristen Shebek, 47:25; Michael Pokrzywinski, 47:25; Megan Rippin, 47:30; Cassandra Morgan, 47:44; Stephen Arendosh, 47:47; Jon McCune, 47:48; Lauren Rutkowski, 48:02; Jack Yocca, 48:04; Dan Jageman, 48:09; Christian Muthler, 48:09; William Hirsch, 48:14; Shawn Hennen, 48:27; Richard Yurocko, 48:28; Todd Zehmisch, 48:33; Mark Stanek, 48:33; Steve Mote, 48:38; Tom Kolano, 48:40; Mitsuru Nakadan, 48:41; Craig Steedle, 48:41; Ryan Richards, 48:42; Erica Dietz, 48:45; Tracy Newman, 48:50; Erin Scanlon, 48:50; Daniel Kolano, 48:51; Dave Palascak, 48:54; Brian Magness, 49:03; Andrew Ellis, 49:09; Jim Burns, 49:13; David Slipko, 49:13; Caleb Rauscher, 49:16; Megan Gallagher, 49:17; Charles Huth, 49:22; Clay Spencer, 49:31; Joseph Birch, 49:42; Sara Coon, 49:43; Kristen Petrina, 49:45; Daniel Bolena, 49:58; Jennifer Aprile, 50:03; Scott Wood, 50:10; Kelly Stenger, 50:12; Ryan Miller, 50:13; Shaelyn Parry, 50:18; Amy Peterson, 50:19; Christa Bjalobok, 50:20; Christopher Febbraro, 50:21; Scott Golla, 50:25; Joe Church, 50:25; G. Ronald Ripper, 50:27; Jackie Shakley, 50:30; Kristin Strayer, 50:32; Aaron Domitrovic, 50:42; Marie Pelloni, 50:46; Lindsay DeFelice, 50:46; Kevin Gallagher, 50:48; Susan Trinch, 50:53; Amy Fowler, 50:55; Lisa Stugart, 51:02; Megan Spear, 51:06; John Gust, 51:11; Joe Cagni, 51:12; Charles Warden, 51:13; Kelli Hartman, 51:17; Valerie McGee, 51:25; Nicholas Hufnagel, 51:33; Sharmila Gupta, 51:41; Jason Moore, 51:42; Melody Chiaramonte, 51:46; Jason Kozlowski, 51:50; Ron James, 51:51; Chris Miller, 51:54; Emily Peterson, 51:56; Jennifer McNabb, 52:01; Jenna Laughlin, 52:02; Greg Fender, 52:04; Kayleigh Roberts, 52:05; Edward Schrieber IV, 52:07; Todd Roberts, 52:10; Julie Bone, 52:10; John Ryan Markey, 52:11; Olivia Reddick, 52:15; Leah Devlin, 52:16; Michael McGuire, 52:16; Ronald Ackerman, 52:20; Mark Vandedwater, 52:20; Jeffrey Heeter, 52:25; Orryn Sledge, 52:27; Anna Haney, 52:30; Brett Johnston, 52:32; Eric Domitrovic, 52:32; Evan Standish, 52:36; Rob Vandenburgh, 52:37; Ally Demetriadis, 52:39; Will Gramlich, 52:46; John Verona, 52:46; Kristan Casteel, 52:58; Daniel Spears, 53:02; Laura Goossen, 53:04; Jeff Jokl, 53:08; Jeffrey Altmire, 53:10; Jason Braun, 53:10; Ian Schauer, 53:16; Amy Rickman, 53:17; Mark Dunaway, 53:18; John Reddick, 53:20; Scott Peoppel, 53:31; Joshua Green, 53:31; Landon Wood, 53:32; George Karpakis, 53:40; Amy Pry, 53:40; Jessica Melaro, 53:43; Gypsy Dreveniak, 53:44; Michael Dreveniak, 53:44; Jeffrey Caskey, 53:45; John Alexander, 53:46; Jessica McKnight, 53:47; Peter Taube, 53:47; Tony Pityk, 53:48; Cyndie DeLucia, 53:49; Sara Fowler, 53:49; Robert Todd, 53:50; Jeff Yannuzzi, 53:56; Liz Mancing, 53:56; Tedd Nesbit, 54:02; Joseph Dominijanni, 54:07; Liz Wildes, 54:08; Jessica Irwin, 54:12; Thomas Ray, 54:12; Heather Venderlic, 54:19; Ted Kinney, 54:24; Richard Jacobson, 54:25; Jennifer Beachem, 54:26; Tracy Hartle, 54:27; Dorothy Moxie, 54:27; Kevin Faulkner, 54:31; Jeffrey Kopinski, 54:32; Rick Mercante, 54:38; Julie Anderson, 54:46; Michelle Tresky, 54:48; Bethany Barich, 54:52; Belinda Ashley, 54:57.Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone or fax 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net