A big city event like this month’s Pittsburgh Marathon offers thousands an opportunity for competition and camaraderie.

If you ran or walked in one of the weekend events, raised money for one of the marathon charities, volunteered, or watched the race unfold as a sideline spectator, you gained a sense of accomplishment, success or wonder simply by being there.

But you don’t have to join in a major marathon to feel that sense of purpose or enjoyment. Our own Butler Road Race June 28 provides area residents — runners and non-runners, with an opportunity to set and achieve personal goals, raise money for a good cause, and have fun on a small town scale.

More than 500 local runners, including past Butler Road Race Scholarship winners, make the Road Race an annual event. Running or volunteering to help with the event is a great way to stay connected with Butler family and friends, help our hometown and meet fitness goals.

If you’ve never participated in the Butler Road Race, one of the region’s oldest and most respected running and walking events, you still have plenty of time to get involved.

Sign up now. Signing up for a race is a formal commitment, a promise to get yourself to the starting line. There are several ways to sign up for this year’s Butler Road Race, including mailing a paper application and, new for this year, online registration. Both are available at www.butlerroadrace.org.

Six weeks to the starting line. If you’ve never run the Butler Road Race, there’s still time to get in shape for at least the 2 Kilometer Run and Health Walk. If you’ve never run, aim to complete 20 to 30 minutes of brisk walking three days per week.

Introduce running to your fitness routine. There’s an easy to follow, tried and true plan called Couch-to-5K Running Plan at www.coolrunning.com or try this simplified version: Warm up with five minutes of brisk walking. Alternate jogging one minute with walking one to two minutes for 15 minutes. Finish with a few minutes cool down walk. In the coming weeks, gradually increase the length of your running interval while decreasing the walk break until you can run the entire 20 minutes.

Check your equipment. Running will be safer and more enjoyable with the right equipment. That includes proper fitting shoes made for running and/or walking.

Visit a running specialty store on an off-peak day and time for personal attention in fitting.

Give back to Butler. In 21 years, Butler Road Race has awarded $357,350, 672 scholarships, to cross country scholar-athletes from eight area high schools. Consider making an optional donation to the Butler Road Race Scholarship Fund along with your race registration fee.

Give back by giving yourself. A race is only as good as its volunteers and Butler’s volunteers are some of the best. If you’re not running or walking, consider volunteering your time for this event to benefit student athletes. Call the race hotline, 724-284-4676 or email brrmail@butlerroadrace.org.

Support your hometown athletes. As a spectator, you’ll inspire and be inspired by runners taking on the challenge of the BRR. Pick your cheer spot along the course but also plan to join in the pre and post race festivities in Diamond Park on June 28.

Upcoming events

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

Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.: Mojo Sports Group Run, Cranberry Township. 724-772-2808

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Ohio Valley Hospital 5K, McKees Rocks. Cash prizes, post race banquet. 412-777-6313 or ohiovalleyhospital.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Home Run 5K, Knox. 814-221-0041 or Lauer9989@windstream.net

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Charlotte’s 5K Run XXV, Monaca. Run at Beaver Valley Mall. 724-312-0914 or hdsa.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Jump for Java 5K, Zelienople. Also 1 mile family fun run. 724-462-1159 or www.jumpforjava.com

Sunday, 8 a.m.: Lloyd’s Trail Challenge 10 Run/ Walk, Vanport. Hilly, rugged terrain. 724-774-1111

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Mighty Moraine Man Spring Sprint Triathlon, Moraine State Park. ¼ mile lake swim, 13 mile bike on back roads, 5k run on paved park bike trail. 724-321-4265 or www.mightymoraineman.com

May 24, 8 a.m.: Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic & 5K, Wheeling, WV. Ogdenhalfmarathonclassic.com

May 24, 8:30 a.m.: Run for the Valley 6 Miler, New Bethlehem. Trail race. Also 2 mile walk/ run on rail trail. 412-445-5439 or mficko@gmail.com

May 24, 9 a.m.: Mars Band on the Run 10K and 5K, Mars. Also 1K Kids Fun Run. Starts at Mars High School. 412-526-4637 or www.marsband5k.com

May 25, 9 a.m.: It’s About the Warrior Foundation 5K Run/ Walk, North Park. 724-712-1355 or itsaboutthewarrior@zoominternet.net

May 26, 9 a.m.: Miracle Mountain Ranch Run, Spring Creek. Choice of 5K road run/walk or challenging 4.6 mile trail run. 814-964-8548 or dgrosie3@gmail.com

May 31, 9 a.m.: Freeport Flash 5K Run/ Walk, Sarver. Run on Butler-Freeport Trail starts at Monroe Road. 724-353-1945 or www.freeportcrosscountry.com

May 31, 9 a.m.: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 5K RiverRace, Grove City. 724-372-9598 or jhighland@northwood.com

May 31, 9 a.m.: RACE Youth Triathlon, Ellwood City. Open to youth ages 6-15 with pool swim, flat run and bike. 412-215-7612 or www.riversideaquaclub.org

May 31, noon: Buffalo Stampede, Freeport. Run 3.2, 10 or 17 miles on rugged trails. Also mountain bike race at 2 p.m. and post race party. 724-272-7155 or www.southbuffalodash4cash.com

June 4, 6 p.m.: Elite Runners Summer Outdoor Series 5K, 5mile, Settler’s Cabin Park. Trail run, post run pizza and beer. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.com

June 7, 7 a.m.: God’s Country Marathon and Team Relay, Coudersport. 888-POTTER-2 or www.godscountrymarathon.com

June 7, 8 a.m.: God’s Country Half Marathon. 888-POTTER-2 or www.godscountrymarathon.com

June 7, 9 a.m.: Run or Dye Color Run, Prospect. Color run held at Camp Lutherlyn. www.runordye.com

Race results

Pittsburgh Marathon, May 4 (Under 4:00:00): Gebo Gameda, 1st Overall M, 2:16:29; Clara Santucci, 1st Overall W, 2:32:24; Dean Rippee, 1st 55-59 M, 3:02:25; Stacy Kopchak, 1st 50-54 W, 3:17:41; Robert Grant, 1st 60-64 M, 3:22:11; Irene Katres, 2nd 50-54 W, 3:28:25; Katelyn Jones, 3rd 19 & Under W, 4:02:47; Luke Badaczewski, 2:43:14; Colin Galey, 2:58:00; Gerald Neely, 3:00:44; Rob Diloreto, 3:04:19; Tom Stuart, 3:07:33; Benjamin Hoffman, 3:08:31; Trent Wilson, 3:10:29; Darryn Zawitz, 3:16:29;Richard Colonello, 3:18:37; Brian Thomas, 3:19:09; Wayne McCracken, Jr., 3:21:06; Chris Boyd, 3:22:01; Becky Searight, 3:22:12; Nicholas Hufnagel, 3:23:17; Jeff Leya, 3:25:15; Mark Courtney, 3:26:05; Jesse McKinnis, 3:26:43; Robert Malchano, 3:27:05; Robert Pudlo, 3:28:32; Jeff Wiley, 3:30:24; Rebecca Smith, 3:31:25; Tim Ferrell, 3:32:52; Jeffrey Simons, 3:32:57; Timothy Washko, 3:33:19; John Armstrong, 3:33:44; Jason Brehm, 3:34:42; Bob Miller, 3:36:24; Adam Leskanic, 3:36:55; David White, 3:38:31; Beth Roitz, 3:40:24; Caleb Rauscher, 3:40:26; Douglas Marsteller, 3:40:31; Justin Achezinski, 3:40:36; Megan Clouner, 3:40:38; Jay Dwyer, 3:40:44; Nick Medica, 3:41:58; Sylvain Rovera, 3:42:17; Dan Mitchell, 3:42:18; Catherine Hrach, 3:42:24; Kristen Suvick, 3:42:26; Josh Edmiston, 3:42:28; Tim Shackleton, 3:42:54; William Osche, 3:43:02; Dorothy Lassinger, 3:43:28; Kristin Krause, 3:43:53; Paul Pesanka, 3:44:07; Dana Longwell, 2:44:14; Rick Paese, 3:44:23; Rachel Fedoronko, 3:44:40; Harry Peterson, 3:45:32; Tim Brack, 3:46:29; Kaitlin Turnley, 3:47:13; Robert Klasmier, 3:48:28; Philip O’Hara, 3:48:31; Sarah Landeene, 3:49:24; Jamie Gramz, 3:49:29; Cecil Crouch, 3:50:00; Steve Segulla, 3:50:24; Michael Segulla, 3:50:27; Tracy Newman, 3:50:31; Salina Smialek, 3:50:37; Thomas Ray, 3:50:52; Michal Kawecki, 3:51:21; Tom Genevro, 3:51:34; Kenny Lehman, 3:51:57; Kelly Stenger, 3:52:07; Tyler Ross, 3:52:38; Shelly Perko, 3:52:38; James Franks, 3:52:43; Mike Stubler, 3:52:44; John Alexander, 3:52:44; David Lovett, 3:53:23; Tim Weil, 3:53:27; Travis Bender, 3:54:32; Michael Corcoran, 3:54:46; Tim Spang, 3:54:48; Edna Spang, 3:54:49; Travis Kelly, 3:55:39; Amy Formica, 3:56:20; Sean Girdwood, 3:56:22; Kate Stuart, 3:57:08; Mary Deet, 3:57:33; William Hirsch, 3:57:40; Mike Bredl, 3:58:16; Greg Green, 3:58:48; Brian Magness, 3:58:54; Tracey Smith, 3:58:56; Mark Hoppe, 3:58:57; Scott Poeppel, 3:59:05; Anthony Gantzer, 3:59:06; Alex Lauer, 3:59:20; Rob Waltrip, 3:59:33; Cassandra Morgan, 3:59:35; Ken Ebbert, 3:59:41; Erin Humphrey, 4:00:15; Brandon Honsaker, 4:00:25; Maggie Hutchison, 4:00:45; Ryan Smith, 4:01:29; Megan O’Keefe, 4:01:34; Joe Remic, 4:01:35; Eric Slagle, 4:01:42; Lana Stockdill, 4:01:44; Jesse Rodgers, 4:03:16; Erich Sepich, 4:03:35; Steve Swan, 4:03:45; Jordan Ferrero, 4:03:54; Richard Lommock, 4:04:05; Jeremy Peffer, 4:04:32; Matt Crouch, 4:05:21; Marissa Minto, 4:05:44; Debbie Courtney, 4:05:52; Thomas Lynch, 4:06:29; Evonne Patterson, 4:06:29; Mara Carson, 4:08:07; Lisa Poepoe, 4:08:08; Sydney Huerbin, 4:08:33; Michael Prokesch, 4:08:37; Bernadette Lewis, 4:08:46; Tony Chan, 4:08:55; Andrea Scioscia, 4:09:19; Kevin Boyd, 4:09:32; Brianne Voelp, 4:09:44; Angela Oldfield, 4:09:45; Anja Brandt, 4:09:54; Jordan Carmichael, 4:11:20; Todd Crouch, 4:11:23; Christie Beaver, 4:11:26; Kristina Paracca, 4:12:26; Bobbie Griffith, 4:12:41; Michelle Ellery, 4:12:48; Jeff Geibel, 4:12:53; Justin Bloom, 4:12:55; Dylan Fabish, 4:13:04; Charles Huth, 4:13:26; Scott Wahlstrom, 4:13:29; Marianne Murphy, 4:13:32; Jess Quinn, 4:13:53; Nathan Shepp, 4:14:09; James Hodgson, 4:14:27; Leah Devlin, 4:14:54; Bob Todd, 4:15:04; William Curry, 4:16:01; Eric Huff, 4:16:05; Justin Cooper, 4:18:00; Christina Traynor, 4:18:07; Matthew Crawford, 4:19:03; Susan Gentile, 4:19:25; Nancy Thenthongkham, 4:19:28; Derek Priester, 4:19:42; Lindsey Knaby, 4:20:18; Kelley McAndrews, 4:20:31; John Davis, 4:23:35; Kayla Gould, 4:24:29; Patty Beck, 4:25:04; Scott McBride, 4:25:39; Katherine Colton, 4:25:49; Susan Landry, 4:26:22; Brad Kennedy, 4:26:30; Danielle Fry, 4:26:47; Gabrielle Hock, 4:27:09; Eric Rudish, 4:28:55; Susan Moury, 4:29:46; Jim Csonka, 4:30:45; David Duessel, 4:30:57; Andrea Ferko, 4:31:47; Danielle McKenzie, 4:31:58; Brian Radford, 4:32:51; Brianne Young, 4:32:55; Yenpeng Kao, 4:33:32; Beth Sauers, 4:34:06; Darren Webster, 4:34:34; Leigh Goughler, 4:35:18; Bipin Salunkhe, 4:35:40; Stacey Wilson, 4:35:48; Travis Bailey, 4:36:04; Katherine Behr, 4:36:33; Doug Schaeffer, 4:36:35; DavidCrowl, 4:37:08; Scott Hart, 4:37:35; Andrea Fashion, 4:38:36; Kala Williamson, 4:39:13; Hank Terrell, 4:39:45

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone or fax 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle