This week, we commemorated the shocking events of Sept. 11, 2001 and honored the innocents who lost their lives that day and in the days to follow.

Those of us old enough to recall those events will never forget, though the sharp pain has scarred over to a dull ache.

To observe this solemn anniversary, I looked back in the archives to find a column which I wrote in the week after 9-11. The wounds were still fresh and painful, the shock overwhelming, and uncertainty ruled the day:

Fear, sadness can't halt runner (Butler Eagle, Sept. 20, 2001)

The body has two responses to danger — fight or flight.

Some Americans have responded to last Tuesday's terrorist attacks by rushing to arm themselves with everything from guns to plastic knives. My neighbors have satisfied the urge to fight by setting off firecrackers or by taking extra target practice with firearms or bows and arrows.

As natural as those responses might be, none of them had even occurred to me. My response to the national tragedy of the past week is, by choice or biology, to run away.

At first I ran because I didn't know what else to do. As I watched the horror unfold live on television, the metallic taste of fear filled my mouth until I had to go — anywhere.

My heart raced as I thought of helpless secretaries, accountants and salespeople running for their lives as firefighters and police officers overcame basic instincts to run toward the destruction.

In the days that followed, my runs turned more tentative. I looked over my shoulder or to the skies, expecting what? Death from the air? A hit-and-run? The bear that lurks somewhere just off the trail in my darkest runs?

Vague fear haunted my steps. Emotions seemed to roll like my runs on the back roads. Overwhelming sadness in the shady hollows was followed by hope at stepping into the sunlight.

The feeling of the world tilting out of control on a steep downhill gave way to determination to crest the next hill, then to anger that someone or something would rob me of my false sense of security and others of their very lives.

I ran through the fear, shock, despair and anger. On the other side, I found faith that even in the darkest days, God is in control. I ran toward the hope that our country would rebuild, its people would comfort and aid one another. I ran with the strength of all citizens of the world united against barbarism and terror.

In the end, my runs became personal symbols of American life renewed. Amidst the blood drives, collections for fallen heroes and flag raisings, running became part of the prayer for solace and comfort and an act of freedom in a free land.

I ran in a uniquely American way, not because of particular talent or from necessity, but by choice. Running, as everything else in this country, has been forever changed by the events of Sept. 11. While we might run again, when, where and as we wish through our neighborhoods in this free country, we never again will run without the vague awareness of some danger, imminent or remote.

If our running takes on a sense of peril, it also accepts a new purpose. We'll never know if or when we will be called upon to run for our lives or to run into the heart of darkness to save someone.

Until that time, everything is a training run. Get ready.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Premium Outlets 5k, Grove City. Run at Grove City Outlets benefits Simon Youth Foundation. First in Wolf Creek Track Club Fall 5k Series. Wolfcreektrackclub.com

Saturday, 8 a.m.: 5k Run/Walk for Warriors, Saegertown. Run near Woodcock Lake Dam. 814-732-1568 or amatt@edinboro.edu

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Rockin the Knob Trail Challenge 30k and 5 Mile, Claysburg. Run at Blue Knob Four Seasons Resort. 5 mile event starts at 9:30 A.M. www.alleghenytrailrunners.com/rockin-the-knob

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Peanut Butter Festival 5k, New Bethlehem. 814-221-1322 or justinmoorept324@gmail.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Bethesda Mud Run 5k, Meadville. 814-724-7510 or tougherthanyourmudder.com

Saturday, Noon: Junior Great Race, Pittsburgh. Family Fun Run, Tot Trot and Diaper Dash for kids age 0 through 12. Also mascots, crafts, face painting, inflatables and more. rungreatrace.com/junior_great_race.html

Sunday, 7:50 a.m.: Mighty Moraine Man Fall Multi-Sport Sprint Event, Moraine State Park. Choice of run, bike, swim, and kayak combinations. Mightymoraineman.com

Sunday, 8 a.m.: Boston Harvest 5k, 10k and Half Marathon, Boston. Run on Yough River Trail. 10k starts at 9 A.M., 5k at 9:15 A.M. 412-760-5302 or teambrunazzi@gmail.com

Sept. 23, 8:30 a.m.: Pumpkin Festival 5k, Barnsville, OH. Also free food and free kids race at 10 A.M. 740-310-2117 or railstotrails5k.com

Sept. 24, 8 a.m.: Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5k, Pittsburgh. Starts in Oakland, ends downtown. Also 10k starting at 9:30 A.M. Rungreatrace.com

Sept. 24, 9 a.m.: Butler Lions Club Scoot and Toot 5k, Butler. Held in conjunction with Blind Association's Chili Festival. 724-287-4059 or jbindernagel@theblindassociation.org

Sept. 24, 9 a.m.: Pizza Joe's Run Big for a Little 10k and 2 Mile Fun Run, New Castle. Kids race at 8:40 A.M. 724-658-1716

Sept. 30, Clarion County 5k/10k Race, Clarion. Run begins at Clarion University Memorial Stadium. 814-226-8760 or clarionunitedway.com

Oct. 1, 1 p.m.: Stoltz Scion's 5k for PA Wounded Warriors, Dubois. Flat and fast course, post race lunch. 814-371-3333 or rebecca@stoltzcars.com

Oct. 7, 8 a.m.: October Half Marathon, 10k Run and 5k Walk, Hollidaysburg. bsheffer@hollidaysburgareaymca.cog

Oct. 7, 9 a.m.: Applefest A Race for Any Pace, Franklin. Held in conjunction with Franklin's Applefest. 814-432-2138 or www.franklinymca.org

Oct. 7, 2 p.m.: PALS 5k Run/Walk for Education, Saxonburg. Run on roads and grassy trails of Saxony Farms. 724-352-1152 or pittsburgharealutheranschools.org

Oct. 7, 5 p.m.: Monster Mash Dash 5k, Sharpsville. Starts at Sharpsville Plaza, runs on Trout Island Trail. Lauriedwer33@yahoo.com

Oct. 7, 6 p.m.: Rock'n Glow 5k, Slippery Rock. Starts at Slippery Rock High School Stadium. jtgallagher@zoominternet.net

Oct. 14, 9 a.m.: Mahoning Shadow Shuffle Half Marathon and 5k, Punxsutawney. amytaladay@gmail.com

Oct. 14, 9 a.m.: Freeport Girls Basketball 2nd Annual Halloween Hustle 5k, Freeport. Freeporthalloweenhustle5k.weebly.com

Oct. 21, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Cabot. Downhill, point-to-point course on Butler-Freeport Trail ends in Freeport. runsignup.com/Race/PA/SARVER/BuffaloCreekHalfMarathon

Race results

Ice Cream Race 5k, Aug. 16: Jed Christiansen, 1st Overall M, 15:37; Jonah Powell, 2nd Overall M, 16:07; Gianna Labbiento, 1st Overall W, 18:30; Katherine Fedko, 3rd Overall W, 18:41; Kris Cornell, 1st Masters M, 17:32; Benjamin Jones, 1st 16-19 M, 16:57; Luke Owrey, 2nd 16-19 M, 17:26; Sam Homan, 3rd 20-24 M, 17:30; Toby Jones, 2nd 12-15 M, 17:38; Seth Jenny, 1st 35-39 M, 17:54; Heath Piper, 2nd 35-39 M, 17:59; Matthew Sudak, 3rd 35-39 M, 19:15; Todd Allman, 3rd 50-54 M, 20:07; S Mark Courtney, 2nd 60-64 M, 20:12; Tara Lucot, 3rd 12-15 W, 20:36; Delaney McCarthy, 1st 16-19 W, 20:41; Kimberly Hohman, 2nd 35-39 W, 20:48; Leslie Kramer, 1st 40-44 W, 20:54; Steven Biddle, 18:18; Chad Helmininack Jr, 18:29; Barry McLaughlin Jr, 18:38; Deonna Celtnieks, 3rd 35-39 W, 21:09; Tim Sloan, 2nd 45-49 M, 21:26; Enzo Rotelli, 3rd 11 & Under M, 24:23; Beth Graham, 3rd 30-34 W, 24:48; Cindy Suber, 3rd 55-59 W, 27:10; Joann Carrasquillo, 1st 60-64 W, 28:06; Mary Pat Dundore, 2nd 60-64 W, 28:57; Cindy Waltemire, 3rd 60-64 W, 29:32; Sonja Crawford, 3rd 65-69 W, 32:30; Valerie Sands, 2nd 70-74 W, 36:34; Adam Stillwaggon, 18:41; Anthony Miller, 18:43; Jacob Hughes, 18:56; Adam Beck, 19:34; Jacob Lowry, 20:00; Ryan Putorti, 20:07; Evan Miller, 20:32; Mario Johns, 20:34; Jon Hart, 20:37; Maxwell Boshaw, 20:37; Andrew Kearney, 20:43; Hollie Walters, 21:18; John Armstrong, 21:24; Angela Jenny, 21:32; Jonathan Bost, 21:45; John Petko, 21:51; Paul Brinkman, 22:16; Connor Casteel, 22:46; Joshua Jones, 22:48; David Suber, 22:56; Javier SÌÁez, 23:18; Aaron Depew, 23:19; Elizabeth Witmer, 23:27; Makara Smocer, 23:39; Garrett Galcik, 23:50; Will Hannon, 24:08; Jerry Smith, 24:13; Nathanael Nuss, 24:21; Diane Bucknum, 24:42; Nick Wargo, 24:44; Harold Domville, 24:46; Wendy Wick, 25:09; Tamagn Unverzagt, 25:23; Kiana Fleeger, 25:30; Matteo Rotelli, 25:33; Becca Krenzer, 25:39; Jim Lakin, 25:39; John Snyder, 25:40; Jamie Maxwell, 25:44; Mikayla Montgomery, 25:52; Claire Allman, 25:57; Jodi Lutz, 26:00; Eric Anderson, 26:31; Leah Buchan, 26:44; Brian Buchan, 26:44; Cammie Messer, 26:45; Michael Waltemire, 26:51; Bereket Unverzagt, 26:55; John Rea, 27:05; Clara Hannon, 27:06; Mac Messer, 27:06; Jeff Nichols, 27:08; Evan Lowe, 27:11; Emily Rothbard, 27:12; Josiah Unverzagt, 27:23; Rachael Jones, 27:27; William Woods, 27:43; Mitchell McCleary, 27:49; John Sestak, 28:13; Debbie Courtney, 28:15; Kayla Albert, 28:23; Crystal Snyder, 28:27; Melissa Beeman, 28:32; Isaac Criss, 28:43; Robert Sands, 29:03; Robert Crawford, 29:04; Nicole Hughes, 29:52; Grace Messer, 30:00; Matthew Boshaw, 30:13; Lisa Jamison, 30:16; Arianna Armstrong, 30:22; Katie Shuty, 30:37; Steve Maddalena, 30:40; Riley Criss, 31:22; Destiny Morley, 31:28; Hugh Messer, 31:41; Katie Ellis, 31:51; Sherrie Mazurek, 31:57; Carly Casteel, 32:14; Grace Witmer, 32:22; Laura Augustine, 32:45; Amy Thomas, 33:14; Debra Kuminkoski, 33:54; Ryan Cox, 33:58; Madisson Romito, 34:05; Jacquie Isacco, 34:17; Heidi Fleming, 34:29; Kurt Gomez, 34:30; Vickie Turner, 34:31; Debbie Jamison, 35:23; Renae Shawgo, 35:33; Gabe Homer-Jones, 35:57; Tyle Rea, 36:02; Michele Carson, 36:19; Crystal Albert, 36:25; Carol English, 36:29; Ava Frazier, 36:54; Chris Romito, 36:55; Dawn Cox, 37:15; Isabelle Gamble, 37:20; Yvonne Gamble, 37:20; Christie Galcik, 37:29; Nathan Cox, 37:30; Stephanie McCreary, 37:32; Nico Johns, 37:53; Judy Lyle, 39:15; Carissa Spencer, 39:48; Shannon Armstrong, 40:13; Sally Armstrong, 40:20; Bethany Gomez,40:29; Kristen Hartle, 41:01; Ada Rumberg, 41:25; Bridget Casteel, 41:37; David Byers, 41:53; Vanessa Snyder, 42:48; Donald Cescon, 43:41; Nicholas Barger, 43:53; Susan Bowser, 48:17; Chad Helmininack, 57:52

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle