Who races on a Monday?

With so many local races crowding the calendar, Labor Day is a bonus day in the running schedule. But instead of overloading your training by chasing the clock or an age group medal, use this bonus day to relax and enjoy the social side of a local event.

If you're an early riser, head to the village of Kellersburg (between Kittanning and New Bethlehem) for the 8 a.m. start of the fourth annual Labor Day 5K. According to race director Haley Barrett, the Labor Day 5K course is a relatively easy out and back with one hill in the middle.

Labor Day 5K usually fields about 70 runners. Proceeds from the event have supported Distant Volunteer Fire Department. This year's proceeds will also help the Barrett family whose three year-old son Monroe suffers from epilepsy. As Haley says, “We depend on the first responders from the fire department.”

Runners and their families are welcome to stay for a parade through town sponsored by local churches and to bring something to share for the potluck lunch held at Kellersburg Evangelical Missionary Church at noon. For more information, call Haley Barrett, 814-275-1786 or email barrett82@windstream.net.

If you'd like to sleep in on Labor Day, you can still make the 9:15 a.m. start of Buhl Day 5K, a Hermitage tradition for 17 years. The event is part of Buhl Day celebration which dates back to the first parade held in 1916 by local industrialist Frank Buhl and wife Julia to honor his employees.

The modern Buhl Day celebration is a daylong festival at Buhl's farm, now Buhl Park, with fun for all ages. The festival includes kids' activities such as pony rides, petting zoo and inflatables. All ages may enjoy the car cruise, 100th anniversary memorabilia exhibition, musical entertainment and a mermaid show with synchronized swimming.

Buhl Day 5K boasts a flat and fast course lined with spectators for both the race and the Buhl Day parade which follows. That means great opportunities for people-watching and hi-fiving with kids on the curb.

You may register for Buhl Day 5K on race day beginning at 7 a.m. Commemorative t-shirts may be limited for late registrants. Download an application from buhlcommunityreccenter.org. Find out more about Buhl Day activities at www.buhlfarmpark.com.

Want to get in a few more miles and stretch the Labor Day weekend a little longer? The Spartansburg Fair 5K starts at 5 p.m. on Monday in the Amish country of Crawford County.

This year marks the 26th running of the event. Former competitive runner Dean Maynard has directed the race for 25 years.

“Nothing's changed,” he says. “We always use the same course. The first year, we had about 90 runners. Now we get 200 to 300.”

Maynard describes the course as a challenging out and back run through Amish country with a lot of spectators along the course. The mostly Amish farm families take the day off to attend family picnics and the Spartansburg Fair and turn out to cheer on the runners.

The Spartansburg Fair began as a high school fair 94 years ago. The event has grown into a weeklong small town carnival complete with a midway, food stands, animal and craft displays and farm-themed activities. Maynard says that many runners come early or stay after the race awards — both competitive and random drawing prizes.

For more information about Spartansburg Fair 5K, call Dean Maynard, 814-654-7713. For a full schedule of Spartansburg Fair events, visit www.spartansburgcommunityfair.com.

Upcoming eventsSunday, 9 a.m.: 27th Annual Gatorade Steelers 5K, Pittsburgh. Run ends in Heinz Field, Steelers random drawing prizes. 412-697-7713 or www.steelers.com/5kSunday, 9 a.m.: FAAP Fall Classic 5K and 10K, Run/Walk, North Park. Trail runs with unique awards benefits Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh. attorneymarkknapp@yahoo.comMonday, 8 a.m.: Labor Day 5K, Kellersburg. 814-275-1786 or barrett82@windstream.netMonday, 9:15 a.m.: Buhl Day 5K, Hermitage. 724-981-3500 or www.buhlcommunityreccenter.comMonday, 5 p.m.: Spartansburg Fair 5K, Spartansburg. 814-654-7504 or spartansburgcommunityfair.com.Sept. 12, 8 a.m.: 30th Annual Festival of the Arts 5K, Saxonburg. Scenic small town run. 724-355-5059 or shoes@runpa.comSept. 12, 8 a.m.: UPMC Urgent Care Montour Trail Half Marathon and 5K, Robinson Township. Out and back course mostly on Montour Trail. 412-445-5089 or tri_coach@yahoo.comSept. 12, 8:30 a.m.: Rockin' the Knob Trail Challenge 30K and 5 Mile, Claysburg. Run on trails at Blue Knob Four Seasons Resort. bmazur@intelmarx.comSept. 12, 9 a.m.: American Legion Post 488 5K Run/ 2 Mile Walk for Veterans, East Brady. Starts at Brady's Bend Boat Launch. fandkbeham@hotmail.comSept. 13, 7 a.m.: Erie Marathon at Presque Isle, Erie. Level course in Presque Isle State Park. 814-474-3282 or eriemarathon.orgSept. 13, 7 a.m.: French Creek Half Marathon and 5K, Meadville. Run mostly on Ernst Trail. 814-720-2924 or kristoph.ymca@zoominternet.netSept. 19, 8 a.m.: Boston Harvest 5K, 10K and Half Marathon. Boston. Starts at Yough River Trail Head with 10K start at 9 a.m. and 5K starts at 9:15 a.m. teambrunazzi@gmail.comSept. 19, 8:30 a.m.: Peanut Butter Festival 5K, New Bethlehem. Also mountain bike race at 10:30 a.m. 814-275-3929 or rlhrind@yahoo.comSept. 19, 9 a.m.: Race to End Hunger 5k and 2 Mile Walk and Kids Fun Run, Hermitage. Kids run at 8:45 a.m. 724-981-0353 or mprada@foodwarehouse.orgSept. 19, Noon: Dollar Bank Junior Great Race, Pittsburgh. Fun event for kids ages 12 and under. 412-255-2493 or www.rungreatrace.comSept. 20, 9 a.m.: Positive Steps 5K Run/Walk, Cranberry Township. Run in North Boundary Park. 724-444-5333 or Maureen@positivestepstherapy.comSept. 26, 9 a.m.: 31st Annual Clarion 5K/10K Race, Clarion. 814-226-8760 or uwrace@verizon.netSept. 27, 8 a.m.: Richard S. Caliguiri Great Race 5K, Pittsburgh. 412-255-2493 or www.rungreatrace.comSept. 27, 9 a.m.: Butler Lions Club Scoot and Toot 5K, Butler. Part of Blind Association Chili Festival. 724-287-4059 or jbindernagel@theblindassociation.orgSepte. 27, 9:30 a.m.: Richard S. Caliguiri Great Race 10K, Pittsburgh. 412-255-2493 or www.rungreatrace.comOct. 2, 6 p.m.: Elderton 5K, Elderton. rfrailey@windstream.netOct 3, 2 p.m.: Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Schools 5k, Saxonburg. Run on scenic Saxony Farms. 412-793-5884 or deer@consolidated.net

Race resultsIce Cream Race 5K, Aug. 20: Jed Christiansen, 1st Overall M, 14:55; Marianne Abdalah, 1st Overall W, 19:09; Leslie Kramer, 4th Overall W, 19:57; Grant Straatmann, 3rd 13-15 M, 18:26; Matthew Sudak, 2nd 35-39 M, 18:37; Leslie Perry, 1st 55-59 M, 19:15; Christopher Bloch, 3rd 55-59 M, 19:45; Eric Slagle, 2nd 45-49 M, 20:35; Dean Rowland, 1st 60-64 M, 20:35; Joe Molinaro, 3rd 50-54 M, 20:40; Delaney McCarthy, 1st 13-15 W, 20:58; Kim Hohman, 1st 35-39 W, 21:00; Makara Smocer, 2nd 13-15 W, 21:03; Aaron Daugherty, 3rd 45-49 M, 21:38; Beth Sciullo, 2nd 35-39 W, 22:39; Donna McClymonds, 1st 45-49 W, 23:15; Jennifer Shea, 2nd 40-44 W, 23:34; Jinny Hertweck, 3rd 40-44 W, 23:36; Keely Looper, 2nd 10-12 W, 27:01; Patricia Neubert, 1st 60-64 W, 27:48; Jocelyn Holko, 3rd 10-12 W, 27:57; Joann Carrasquillo, 3rd 60-64 W, 29:05; Braden Ketler, 3rd 6-7 M, 30:43; Kara Fennell, 1st 8-9 W, 30:55; Kendall Loos, 2nd 8-9 W, 30:56; Dezso Csizmadia, 3rd 70+ M, 33:20; Everleigh Abbott, 1st 5 & Under W, 39:05; Judy Lyle, 3rd 65-69 W, 39:40; Chuck Adams, 18:31; Noah Bowser, 18:44; Matt Berzanksy, 18:55; Alex Knaby, 19:12; Nicholas Shea, 19:27; Jacob Taciuch, 19:31; Matthew Fassinger, 20:03; Jordan Powell, 20:15; Justin Reno, 20:33; Micah Reese, 20:43; Richard Roberts, 21:18; Bob Pudlo, 21:26; Tim Kramer, 22:00; Robert Taylor, 22:02; Jarett Buchanan, 22:07; Mason Murray, 22:07; Wyatt Heyl, 22:10; Randy Magnum, 22:17; Zach Wilson, 22:18; Katie Roitz, 22:22; Vincent Falcori, 22:23; Toby Jones, 22:30; Nathan Wright, 22:32; Donald Wallace, 22:32; Evan Maxwell, 22:34; Cloey Wallace, 22:53; George Ackerman, 22:56; David Suber, 23:01; Jarrot Sturgin, 23:06; Shae Grinnell, 23:09; Tabitha Donaldson, 23:12; Mike Brown, 23:26; Norah Sebel, 23:26; Casey Unverzagt, 23:32; Emily Unverzagt, 23:33; Dirk Shakley, 24:20; Jackie Shakley, 24:20; Christa Reese, 24:29; Jason Hoffman, 24:34; Jacob Kriebel, 24:36; Ben Shumway, 24:42; Elijah McClymonds, 24:45; Carson Lang, 24:54; Max Brahler, 25:16; Charlee Caldwell, 25:27; Jen Beachem, 25:30; Mary Ella McCarthy, 25:33; Amanda Mock, 25:35; Brienna Roys, 25:40; John Rottschaefer, 25:41; Zach Vandyke, 25:43; Robyn Stewart, 25:55; Bill Swanik, 25:57; Nick Polka, 26:00; Paul Johnston, 26:15; Mike Bruno, 26:16; Kathryn Straatmann, 26:19; Brooke Schaefers, 26:20; Kara Bobosky, 26:33; Jeremy Pollock, 26:40; Courtney Taggart, 26:48; Zander Winkle, 26:53; Steve Roitz, 26:53; Pam Zahoran, 27:04; Richard Heyl, 27:08; Bj Rottshaefer, 27:09; Lucas Cunningham, 27:16; Joshua Tingley, 27:23; Mary Morgan, 27:33; Kate Shaffer, 27:35; Melissa Jungling, 27:41; Daniel Kulp, 27:46; Madison Loos, 27:58; Peter Johns, 28:06; Samantha Scott, 28:07; Zan Grinell, 28:18; Cindy Suber, 28:32; Mercedes Wallace, 28:45; Alex Gierlach, 28:54; Brant Sloan, 29:15; Mark Sloan, 29:19; Keenan Holko, 29:22; Noah Reilly, 29:28; Katie Mazor, 29:30; Dennis Shea, 29:35; Ashley Kimball, 29:41; Jamie Schiestle, 29:48; Lisa Lee, 29:52; Deanna Watters, 29:53; Danielle Wiles, 29:58; Sarah Maffet, 30:01; Kelly Calve, 30:03; Lisa Hoffman, 30:05; Tim Bobosky, 30:07; Michele Lannis, 30:18; John Nicholson, 30:23; Kara Shuty, 30:23; Robert Lance, 30:40; Gregg Ketler, 30:43; Steve Maddalena, 30:49; Robert Augustine, 30:49; Karen Steffanina, 31:13; Debra Kuminkoski, 31:14; Janet Pudlo, 31:14; Alexis Hast, 31:31; Robert Lasalle, 31:46; Jodi Caldwell, 31:51; Lexi Bani, 31:56; Benjamin Lannis, 31:57; Kearstyn Coulter, 32:04; Kim Keeley, 32:06; Vicki Brendlinger, 32:14; Anna Welch, 32:15; Vickie Turner, 32:37; Robin Trinko, 32:41; Isabella Sanner, 32:41; Danielle Haney, 32:51; Joann Gordon, 32:55; Shelly Bell, 32:58; Sherrie Mazorek, 33:22; Meegan Looper, 33:22; Tom Murray, 33:47; Hannah Hohman, 34:36; Suzanne Schaefers, 34:45; Carol English, 35:17; Jenny Day, 35:27; Bridget Moronski, 35:27; Mark Schaefers, 35:33; Lee Ackerman, 35:55; Joseph Mascari Jr, 36:03; Chris Romito, 36:34; Madison Romito, 36:34; Teresa Glasgow, 36:44; Beth Roitz, 36:56; Ronald Brendlinger, 36:58; Erica Flanders, 37:24; Carissa Spencer, 37:33; Brian Leonhardt, 37:40; Carey Wallace, 38:26; Miranda Nicholson, 39:02; Karsyn Leach, 39:40; Laura Bencik, 40:19; Tracey Fisher, 40:24; Amber Hast, 40:32; Carlee Webb, 40:45; Ryan Cox, 41:24; Dawn Cox, 41:32; Maria Milone, 42:25; Donald Ciscow, 43:05; Nichole Trinko, 44:12; Isabella Jones, 44:18; Rosie Sepella, 44:25; Kathy Donovan, 44:30; Jim Hsieh, 44:39; Jennifer Stoops, 44:48; David Byers, 45:07; Amy Hoffman, 45:16; Maryann Augustine, 47:22; Samantha Jones, 48:07; David Livesey, 50:14; Karyn Kirchofer, 53:02Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle