Fall is here. Although the temperatures of the past week don’t indicate, we’ve got lots of cool, cridays ahead of us: perfect running weather.

One of the area’s best celebrations of the season takes place in Franklin on Oct. 7 with the 35th running of the Applefest 5k Race for Any Pace. More than a run, Applefest 5k is part of a weekend of festivities centered on the favorite fall fruit.

Applefest 5k features a level out-and-back course starting on Liberty Street in the heart of the festival. Race coordinator Deb Krizon promises plenty of spectators for the 10 a.m. start since people will already be arriving for the festival.

Deb is the Wellness Director of the Franklin YMCA. Although she comes from a gymnastics background and is not a runner, she has organized other races and triathlons for the YMCA. She has been coordinator of the Applefest 5k for 15 years and shares those duties with YMCA Membership Director Marcy Shoenfelt.

Deb says that running or walking the 5k, then attending the festival is an annual tradition for many families. The event typically hosts between 700 and 1,000 participants though last year saw an unusually low attendance due to a deluge of rain on the morning of the race. The 5k is chip-timed and for the first time, the race will use disposable timing chips.

The event offers running and walking opportunities for all ages and abilities from a Tiny Tot Fun Run, a 50-yard dash for kids ages 3 through 7 held at 9:15 a.m. and Junior Jog 1-mile fun run for kids ages 8 through 12 starting at 9:30 a.m. to the 5k for runners and walkers.

The shorter events for kids have been held for the past eight years and typically attract 80 to 100 youngsters.

The 5k event has separate starts for runners and walkers and offers awards in both divisions. Deb estimates that approximately 20 percent of the usually 50 to 70 walkers are competitive race walkers. The rest are just out for a morning saunter. Dogs are not allowed on the course, but kids in strollers are welcome if they start in the back of the pack.

Awards in both running and walking events include overall three top male and female finishers and age group winners in categories from 12 and under through 65+. New for this year, the awards ceremony will take place at the race starting area rather than at the YMCA as in past years. The YMCA will still be open until 1 p.m. with shower and changing facilities.

It’s not too late to register for Applefest 5k. Download and print an application at www.runhigh.com. There should be t-shirts available for those who register this week, but are not guaranteed to the 100 or so day-of-event registrations. There is also registration and packet pickup at the Franklin YMCA on Oct. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. to avoid the sometimes long lines on race morning.

Deb says to come early on race day since parking could be an issue. The school near the start area offers all-day parking for a small fee. There is on-street parking on several side streets and additional parking across the bridge and at Joy Manufacturing.

Following the 5k, plan to spend the day at Applefest where you’ll find food, entertainment, historic tours and more. Enter a pie in the pie baking contest or, even more fun, register for the pie eating contest in the afternoon.

For a complete schedule of the weekend’s activities, visit www.franklinapplefest.com

Upcoming events

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Clarion County 5k/10k Race, Clarion. Run begins at Clarion University Memorial Stadium. 814-226-8760 or clarionunitedway.com

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.: Wexford Ram Run 5k and 1 Mile Family Run/Walk, Allison Park. Starts at North Park Harmar Pavilion, 1 mile at 8:30 A.M., 5k at 9:15 A.M. 412-897-1309 or www.wexfordramrun.org

Sunday, 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, 10 a.m.: Applefest A Race for Any Pace, Franklin. Held in conjunction with Franklin’s Applefest. 814-432-2138 or dkrizon@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, 7:30 a.m.: JC Stone 50k Trail Ultra and Half Marathon, North Park. www.lightspeed-racing.com

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. 14, 9 a.m.: West Penn Trail Triathlon, Saltsburg. Sprint distance triathlon with 7-mile paddle on Conemaugh River, 14-mile bike and 5k run on West Penn Trail. 724-676-4712 or barrytuscano@verizon.net

Oct. 15, 8 a.m.: Mario Lemieux Foundation 6.6k Run and 3.3k Family Walk, Pittsburgh. Kids ages 5 and younger in strollers free of charge, pets permitted in 3.3k Pet Walk. lemieuxfoundation@mlf66.org or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/PittsburghPenguins66KRunandFamilyWalk

Oct. 15, 9 a.m.: SRU Wellness 5k Run/ 2k Walk, Slippery Rock. Starts at SRU football stadium. 724-738-4138 or www.srufoundation.org/5k

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

Oct. 22, 9 a.m.: Allegheny 9 Hartwood Acres, Pittsburgh. Run 5k on scenic Hartwood Acre trails and roads. www.acparksfoundation.org/allegheny-9-race-series/

Oct. 22, 10 a.m.: Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners Fall Classic 10k or 5k, Pittsburgh. Starts at Highland Park Swimming Pool. 412-441-8973 or www.gprrc.com

Nov. 4, 10 a.m.: Butler YMCA Turkey Trot 5k and Kids 1 Mile, Butler. Starts at YMCA, runs through Memorial Park. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcymca.org

Nov. 5, 8 a.m.: EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler, Pittsburgh. Run starts at Station Square. www.pittsburgh10miler.org/RaceInfo

Nov. 5, 9 a.m.: Indiana First Bank Veterans’ Marathon and ½ Marathon, Black Lick. Relatively flat out and back on Ghost Town Trail. 724-599-5929 or www.indianaroadrunners.com

Race results

Great Race 10k, Sept. 24 (first 2,300 finishers): Samuel Meuller, 1st Overall M, 31:02; Travis Myers-Arrigoni, 9th Overall M, 32:32; Jennifer Bigham, 1st Overall W, 35:23; Anthony Ferraro, 2nd 12-13 M, 41:44; Mark Courtney, 3rd 60-64 M, 41:48; Ashley Beam, 2nd 17-19 W, 45:39; Val Wolfarth, 3rd 60-64 W, 47:49; Tara Staresinic, 2nd 12-13 W, 49:20; Mark Golla, 39:29; Will Shuttleworth, 40:29; Tyler Ross, 40:43; Colleen Acerra, 40:52; Matt Sudak, 40:59; David France, 41:40; Evan Miller, 42:55; Bob Pudlo, 42:59; Eric Peterson, 43:04; Anthony Ferraro, 41:44; Owen Schessler, 43:48; Todd Roberts, 43:49; Bill Schmidt, 44:17; Tyler Singer, 45:05; Maanas Belambe, 45:10; Roger Lutz, 45:24; Daniel Kolano, 45:35; Andrew Bender, 45:48; Kim Spears, 45:50; Randy Rawa, 45:54; Ryan Beer, 45:55; Bill Schessler, 46:08; Matthew Corbin, 46:13; Sean Armstrong, 46:13; Jerry Kosar, 46:18; Eric Domitrovic, 46:20; Scott Meskel, 46:36; Brian Meyers, 46:56; Ryan Columbo, 47:25; Jinny Hertweck, 47:33; Nicholas Raible, 47:38; Henry Stahl, 47:47; Brian Irwin, 47:47; Brian Kile, 48:02; Katelyn Jones, 48:05; David Rawlings, 48:15; Josh Edmiston, 48:26; Henry Bernacki, 48:27; Dustin Kalkbrenner, 48:31; Steve Mote, 48:32; Jennifer Markey, 48:38; Ryan Richards, 48:44; Chad Coblitz, 49:06; Corey Savannah, 49:10; Danny Lynch, 49:13; Jacob Bruno, 49:20; Jonathan Majernik, 49:22; Henry May, 49:25; Erica Trimble, 49:30; Anne Bernacki, 49:32; Andy Anauo, 49:36; Paul Halenda, 49:47; John Alexander, 49:48; Jack Reidy, 50:08; Darla Ferraro, 50:10; Mark Stanek, 50:16; Stuart Cashman, 50:22; Dean DeNicola, 50:38; Jonathan Bost, 50:40; Christine Edmiston, 50:44; Christina Harbaugh, 50:50; Terrilyn Tomaszewski, 50:54; Dan Spears, 50:56; Elizabeth Smialek, 51:03; Chad Ellis, 51:09; Sherry Cusatis, 51:10; Michael Cortese, 51:11; Scott Golla, 51:21; Amanda Zacchia, 51:21; Holly Palmer, 51:24; Lexie Nieri, 51:27; Salina Smialek, 51:29; Joseph Hanna, 51:42; Ernest Kuhs, 51:43; Myah Merhaut, 51:48; Laura Goossen, 51:51; Steve Robertson, 51:52; Nathan Reed, 51:53; Daniel Klaas, 51:55; William Spirnock, 52:08; Thomas Lynch, 52:10; Michael Curren, 52:12; James HaGeorge Karpakis, 55:36; Christine Sevin, 55:37; rdt, 52:18; Joseph Haefner, 52:27; Kirk Black, 52:34; Kathy Hensler, 52:42; Robert Todd, 52:42; Mark Mottola, 52:42; Kyle Allshouse, 52:45; Jennifer McNabb, 52:52; Charles Warden, 52:55; Ryan Miller, 53:02; Doroty Moxie, 53:06; Jayson Covert, 53:06; Ben Craven, 53:07; Jeffrey Wessel, 53:14; Megan Wessel, 53:14; Andrew Laux, 53:16; Rhonda Merhaut, 53:25; Paul Gentile, 53:32; Val McGee, 53:32; John Fowler, 53:36; Amy Fowler, 53:36; Patrick Reitz, 53:49; Michael Weaver, 53:53; Kathleen Filiaggi, 53:57; J. Jocuns, 53:58; Will Gramlich, 53:58; Renee Whiteman, 53:59; Ashley Rodgers, 54:00; Gary Hayden, 54:01; Gina De Lucia, 54:03; Allison Miller, 54:23; Michael Menchyk, 54:24; Shannon Perry, 54:35; Samantha Sheets, 54:39; January Scheidlmeier, 54:44; Sabrina Mitchell, 54:50; Earlene Allshouse, 54:50; Jeff Hans, 55:03; David Pacella, 55:06; Marlaina Weaver, 55:08; Kristen Evans, 55:09; Eric Stauffer, 55:09; Rachel Diehl, 55:09; Katherine Hohos, 55:24; Marcia Bergerson, 55:40; Vincent Moore, 55:43; Ashley Holman, 55:46; Amanda Hardt, 55:51; Jared Froedtert, 55:54; Abby Sannes, 56:03; Gary Boy, 56:06; Kevin Gallagher, 56:12; Chris Flynn, 56:13; Craig Riner, 56:20; Amy Bayne, 56:20; Brian Shuttleworth, 56:23; Larry Laughlin, 56:24; Corinne Petrus, 56:26; Brandon Gold, 56:30; Leanne Finney, 56:30; Audrey Foster, 56:35; Chelsey Patricca, 56:41; Don Perry, 56:43; Bob Manfredi, 56:43

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

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle