I waited two years to make the trek to Cooksburg for the 36th Annual Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5k. Last Saturday, the scenic run along the Clarion River finally returned.

Cook Forest Half was always a highlight of Mom’s and my spring running season, whether as a goal or a fitness test for an upcoming spring marathon. Weather was always a guess. Would it be sunshine and spring flowers or ice floes and snow? But we never considered that the race would be canceled.

Little did I know when I registered for the 2020 Cook Forest Half in the fall of 2019 that all our lives would change within a few months when COVID struck. Given the option, I deferred my registration to spring of 2021, again to the fall as race organizers became hopeful and once again to this spring.

Race director and Clarion University Track and Field Head Coach Ben Bevenino says that I was one of about 120 runners who had deferred registrations. Approximately 70 percent of us attended the race this year.

Participation in both the half marathon and 5k were down this year with 80 participants at each distance. Past events have hosted more than 400 runners. Ben partially blames low attendance on late advertising due to the permitting application process between Clarion University and Pennsylvania’s DCNR, but he is happy to announce that a new permit is in place allowing the event to continue for the next 10 years.

Ben has served as race director for the Cook Forest Half for five years, but has been involved with the event for over 20 years, first as a member of Clarion University’s last men’s track and field team, then as a student coach. And 2010 through 2016, he assisted his dad, D.J. Bevenino, who served as head coach at Clarion. Ben says that in recent years, tables are turned as his dad, now Associate Athletic Director at Clarion, assists him on race day.

Members of Clarion’s track and field team traditionally volunteer with registration and at aid stations on the course on race day. Stations were adequately staffed, even though at 28 members, this is the smallest team roster ever.

Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5k provides funding for track and field scholarships each year. Any extra funds benefit the team by subsidizing travel to a spring competition in Myrtle Beach, SC and other program enhancements.

Ben says that the pandemic years have been hard on college athletic programs. Fewer high school students have had access to training and competition, so colleges have a smaller recruiting pool. And while students face heightened anxieties due to COVID fears and academic uncertainties, they can’t handle as much stress in training and competing.

Still, Ben is hopeful that college athletics and running in general will rebound from this. He hopes that society’s new sense of normalcy will bring people back to running or find new people with a love of the sport.

“Running will always stay popular,” he speculates, “just to get outside and enjoy nature.” Of race participation he says, “People may not be ready to run half marathons yet. I think shorter races like 5ks will come back first, then the longer ones.”

Ben is planning for greater participation in next year’s Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5k. He’s created a Facebook page to keep runners updated and promises to advertise the event earlier. He also promises to bring back the popular handmade pottery awards for overall, masters and age group winners.

He suggests that anyone who wants to run the event next year get started now. “Start gradually with walking if you need to, then add a few minutes of easy running. Increasing time increases aerobic capacity.”

Upcoming events

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Dirty Kiln Trail Races at Canoe Creek State Park, Hollidaysburg. Choice of half marathon starting at 9 A.M. or 10k at 9:30 A.M. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hollidaysburg/DirtyKiln?remMeAttempt=

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Run Across Guatemala 5k and 1 Mile, Allison Park. Starts at North Park’s Harmar Pavilion. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/RunAcrossGuatemala5k

Saturday, 10 a.m.: MKG Half Marathon, Sandy Lake. Run on paved bike path around Lake Wilhelm in Maurice K. Goddard State Park. MCTA Marathon Series Race #3. 724-301-6775 or races@mctrails.net

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Helicon Brewing Food Truck 5k and 1 Mile, Oakdale. Flat and fast out-and-back course on Panhandle Trail. Post-race beer and food truck voucher. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Oakdale/HeliconBrewingFoodTruck5K?aflt_token=HrZcYWJT57TH3GH4vWg7QL584fEmdOnK&r=Y

Saturday, 11:30 a.m.: Heineken 0.0 Pittsburgh Earth Day 5k Run, Pittsburgh. Race shirts for all, bottle opener finisher medals for all ages 21+. p3r.org/races/pittsburgh-earth-day-run

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Lady Warrior Ghost Town Tune Up 5k, Ebensburg. smileymiles.com/2022/APP041022%20Lady%20Warriors%205k.pdf

Sunday, 3 p.m.: Run or Walk for Someone Special 5 Mile Race and 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk, Sykesville. Benefit for ARC of Jefferson and Clearfield counties with prizes, food and fun. 814-952-0490 or creativegardencc@gmail.com

April 16, 8:30 a.m.: Run to Breathe Half Marathon and 5k, Portersville. Starts at McDanel’s Boat Launch in Moraine State Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Portersville/RunToBreatheHalfMarathon5K

April 23, 8 a.m.: Boston Trail ½ Marathon and 5k Run/Walk, Elizabeth Township. Run or walk on Yough River Trail of Great Allegheny Passage. 412-780-7802 or donna.bour@bourassociates.com

April 23, 9 a.m.: Dyngus Day Dash 5k, Allison Park. Starts at North Park Boat House. 703-237-0085 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=136327

April 23, 9:15 a.m.: Pace at the Pointe 5k Run/Walk, Hermitage. 724-347-5595 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hermitage/WholeLifeServicesPaceatthePoint

April 23, 9 a.m.: Autism Walk and Resource Fair 5k, Dubois. Flat and fast out-and-back on Beaver Meadow Walkway. 814-371-5387 or runsignup.com/Race?raceId=127191

April 24, 9 a.m.: Foxwall and AVFD Run for the Hill of It, Aspinwall. Uphill 1-mile race on one of the steepest hills in Pittsburgh. Post-race family activities Fireman’s Memorial Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Aspinwall/RunForTheHillOfItChallenge?aflt_token=HrZcYWJT57TH3GH4vWg7QL584fEmdOnK

May 1, 7 a.m.: Pittsburgh Marathon, Pittsburgh. An entire weekend of running events from pet walk and toddler trot to half, full and relay marathons. Also new walkers’ half marathon. www.thepittsburghmarathon.com or 412-586-7785

May 7, 6 a.m.: Glacier Ridge Ultra 50 Miles, 50k and 30k, and 50 Mile Relay, Portersville. Challenging trail race on Glacier Ridge Trail starting at McDanel’s Boat Launch in Moraine State Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Portersville/GlacierRidgeTrailUltramarathonTrailRace

May 8, 9 a.m.: Thrifty 5k, Allison Park. Starts at Harmar Pavilion in North Park. Vintage t-shirts and finisher medals from past races. Custom age group awards from past races. Additional race swag for sale at thrift store prices. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/Thrifty5KPittsburgh

Race results

March Mad Dash 5 Mile, March 12: Kelly Martin, 1st Overall W, 36:59; Greg Shumaker, 1st Overall M, 48:26

March Mad Dash 10 Mile, March 12: Douglas Basinski, 1st Overall M, 1:12:26; Tammy Slusser, 1st Overall W, 1:15:33; Luke Anderson, 1st 19 & Under M, 1:15:41; John Armstrong, 2nd 50-59 M, 1:25:08; Leanna Anderson, 1st 40-49 W, 1:34:02; Mark Likoudis, 1:34:43; Kortnie Mackowski, 1:39:43

Shamrock N Run 10k, March 12: Jake Winter, 1st Overall M, 43:55; Elaine Reedy, 1st Overall W, 46:40; David Suber, 1st 60-64 M, 57:12; Cindy Suber, 1st 60-64 W, 1:04:20; Anthony Sunseri, 1st 70-74 M, 1:08:57

Kiski Area Shamrock 5k, March 19: Brent Kennedy, 1st Overall M, 15:57; Eric Kennedy, 2nd Overall M, 16:42; Meagan Conroy, 1st Overall W, 20:34; Ken Terpack, 1st 30-39 M, 20:31; Aaron Hessom, 2nd 30-39 M, 22:36; Stephanie Kennedy, 1st 19-29 W, 23:05; Samantha Shields, 2nd 19-29 W, 23:05; Tim Piper, 2nd 50-59 M, 24:37; Kim Debes, 3rd 40-49 W, 25:13; Ryan Maher, 22:57; Matt Reagle, 23:14; Colin Martin, 25:10; Alex Downey, 30:49; Nate Summerhill, 31:40; Madeline Downey, 32:20; Jeremy Cameron, 32:21; Amy Swartzlander, 33:43; Brian Swartzlander, 33:44; Roberta Namey, 33:45; Mason Hallstrom, 34:28; David Babyak, 34:45; Parks Denaldo, Jr., 37:23; John Patrus, 43:51; Coleen Gearhart, 46:34; Rylie Sandor, 47:35; Cheryl Halsey, 52:58; Andrew Cappone, 53:00; Jessica Cappone, 53:00; Sarah Wright, 57:08; Michael Petrilla, 1:05:37

Rabid Racoon 100 Miles, March 19: Rick Hohman, 1st Overall M, 24:25:02

Rabid Racoon 100k, March 19: Kyle Cameron, 1st Overall M, 13:09:12; Candice Lockard, 1st Overall W, 15:32:11; Calum Munro, 17:15:30; Travis Ritenour, 18:45:30

Rabid Racoon 20 Miles, March 19: Christopher Dudek, 1st Overall M, 2:57:39; Gwendolyn Sudak, 3:37:01; Michael Fatigante, 3:18:38; Matthew Sudak, 3:36:00; Eric Slagle, 3:38:52; Jonathan Bost, 3:39:46; Nicholas Meriwether, 4:09:58; John Hackworth, 4:13:30; Catherine Spaulding, 4:26:32; Daniel Bencun, 4:28:12; Krista White, 4:29:37; Randy Gaertner, 4:29:39; Jessi Drayer, 4:30:18; Peter Lyons, 4:38:02; Jinny Hertweck, 4:57:18; Christina Traynor, 5:02:16; Lisa Myers, 6:02:45: Paula Renninger, 6:07:31; David Renninger, 6:07:31

Just a Short Run 30k, March 26: Brian Benestad, 1st Overall M, 2:09:36; Jessica Horvath, 1st Overall W, 2:13:35; Caroline Hufnagle, 3rd 30-39 W, 2:40:31; Karl Johnson, 1st 60-69 M, 3:02:11; Matt Drohan, 1st 50-59 M, 3:18:20; Adam Leskanic, 2:24:15; Timothy James, 2:55:53; Kim Spears, 3:10:34; Eliza Drohan, 3:17:00; Michael Labos, 3:36:08

Just a Short Run Half Marathon, March 26: Tom Edwards, 1st Overall M, 1:16:00; Madeline Berry, 1st Overall W, 1:27:36; Nate Fairbank, 1st 20-29 M, 1:24:22; Donald Splitstone, 2nd 40-49 M, 1:39:18; Mark Likoudis, 1st 60-69 M, 1:48:00; Chris Gibson, 2nd 60-69 M, 1:57:11; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 3rd 40-49 W, 2:03:51; Catherine Hrach, 2nd 50-59 W, 2:04:35; Akira Nakanishi, 1:48:45; Rebecca Baker, 2:04:05; Vasilii Surov, 2:13:35; Karrie Coyer, 2:16:09; Lori Fromlak, 2:18:46; Laura Augustine, 2:25:22; Maria Anderson, 2:42:56; Brandi Gaertner, 2:45:25; Alfred Schnabel, 2:51:45

Just a Short Run 8.1 Mile, March 26: Joey Hawley, 1st Overall M, 51:09; Caitlin Rushlander, 1st Overall W, 58:03; Zachary Cataldi, 1st Masters M, 59:42; Francis Molinaro, 2nd Masters M, 1:00:06; Donald Donatelli, 3rd Masters M, 1:03:58; Brent Collins, 1st 50-59 M, 1:05:02; Mitch Radella, 2nd 50-59 M, 1:09:17; Christine Lenz, 2nd 50-59 W, 1:25:34; Taylor Lichty, 2nd 20-29 W, 1:27:30; Michael W Braunstein, 1st 70+ M, 2:34:51; Stephen Cuccaro, 1:17:52; James Caruso, 1:22:38; Holly Komoroski, 1:25:34; Amber Warba, 1:30:46; Laura Potoski, 1:32:43; Scott Walstrom, 1:49:57

Just a Short Run 5k, March 26: Andrew Zentgraf, 1st Overall M, 17:34; Tina Seech, 1st Overall W, 22:39; Dan Spears, 2nd Masters M, 25:16; Laura Evans, 2nd Masters W, 31:26; Nolan Stefaniak, 1st 19 & Under M, 22:57; Logan Leskanic, 2nd 19 & Under M, 23:38; Jeremy Fusaro, 1st 30-39 M, 32:53; Elliette Smith, 1st 19 & Under W, 33:20; Christine Black, 1st 50-59 W, 34:09; Cameron Smith, 3rd 19 & Under M, 35:22; Michelle Pekich, 3rd 50-59 W, 43:40; Kim Kenetz, 49:47; Amy Gillenberger, 54:38; Jen Thomas, 20:32

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

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle