Nick Edinger, 27, of Mars cruises to the finish line as the men's 5-mile champion at the Butler Road Race Saturday. It was Edinger's fourth consecutive win.

As an Olympic hopeful in the marathon, Nick Edinger is not one to shy away from challenges.

Being inactive, however, proved more daunting than preparing for and competing in long-distance events for the Mars resident.

Last winter, Edinger was diagnosed with a bulging disc in his back.

“It was from all of the training and running I do,” he said. “I didn't have to have surgery, but there was a lot of rehabilitation. I'm used to running 120 miles per week and I was told I couldn't run for two months. It was a lot of agonizing rest.”

Edinger proved he is well on his way to making a full recovery, winning the men's 5-mile portion of the Butler Road Race Saturday morning for the fourth straight year and fifth time overall.

His time was 27 minutes, 14.27 seconds. Bruin's Becca Pennington won the women's race in 31:43.77.

Edinger began running again in April and competed in the Pittsburgh Marathon in May for the Wolf Creek Track Club, which won the men's team title.

“My time wasn't great (in Pittsburgh), but that was all about helping the team,” he said. “I ran there (in 2017) and placed eighth overall.

“My plan was to run here all along. It's all about getting healthy and gearing up for the Olympic Trials in Atlanta next February.”

Edinger, who first won here in 2013, has competed on a national level, including marathons in Indianapolis and Chicago. But the 2009 Mars graduate still targets the Butler Road Race every year.

“This is one of the best local races and it's important for me to stay ingrained in the community,” he said. “I'm not back to full-strength, but I feel like a runner again.

Edinger's wife, Alayna, competed in the women's race and placed first in her age group.

“I wouldn't be able to do this, compete like I do, without her support,” he said.

Pennington's win follows her incredible freshman year at Chatham University.A Karns City graduate, Pennington reached the NCAA Division III championship meet in cross country last fall and received region honors during both the indoor and outdoor track seasons.She beat out Mars' Olivia Murphy by 55 seconds Saturday to win here for the first time.“This was the fourth time I competed here,” said Pennington. “I finished third one year. I always wanted to win, but never thought I could. This means a lot.”Pennington has put much time and effort into running, but she has also received no shortage in return.“I've learned a lot of skills, like how to work hard ... things I can use in the classroom.“It's also brought me a lot of friendships in college and I still stay in contact with friends from high school.”

Men (Top 3)1. Nick Edinger 27:14.27, 2. Andrew Mascio 28:39.56, 3. Andrew Maxwell 29:15.88Women (Top 3)1. Becca Pennington 31:43.77, 2. Olivia Murphy 32:38.55, 3. Tina Seech 34:06.68Age Group WinnersMen12-15 — Owen Schessler 31:51.7116-19 — Christopher Lewis 31:10.7620-29 — Noah Bowser 32:00.9130-39 — Jack Kelley 32:35.4940-49 — Stu Bewick 31:36.8150-59 — Greg Mussitsch 33:06.4960-69 — Dean Denicola 41:48.79Over 70 — Larry Kovel 44:00.56Women12-15 — Freya Davis 41:59.6816-19 — Hannah Knoll 45:21.1720-29 — Alayna Edinger 39:26.6130-39 — Jessica Pallone 41:22.1240-49 — Connie Hoffer 39:07.9950-59 — Mary White 41:21.9260-69 — Jane Sherry 49:23.37

Harold Aughton/Butler Eagle: Becca Pennington, 19, of Karns City won the women's 5-mile race in a time of 31:43:77.