Yesterday I ran my last long training run leading to Cook Forest 25k Challenge on Aug. 20. The Challenge has become one of my favorite events — well-marked scenic trails, great support along the course and a much-appreciated chicken barbeque afterward.

But training for the rugged trail challenge means hours of mostly solitary trail running. To balance the load, I’ve come to appreciate Wednesdays and an opportunity to connect socially first, athletically second for an easy few miles with friends followed by refreshments at a local brewery or pub.

It’s normally a simple choice. Someone in the group makes a destination suggestion and whoever’s available on Wednesday meets or carpools for a few easy miles. Although the entire membership hardly ever appears together, there are enough available on any given Wednesday to keep the group active and interesting.

Next Wednesday presents a difficult choice. It doesn’t seem probable, but our calendar suggestions include three scheduled events that I’d love to attend.

It’s an unusual day for racing, but who can turn down the opportunity to celebrate a simple 5k out-and-back run with mounds of ice cream afterward? I’ve run Mark Courtney’s Ice Cream Race 5k more times than I can count, from its early days of starting at an ice cream store in Grove City, to post-race relaxation on Mark and Debbie Courtney’s lawn with scoops of ice cream and toppings.

The event holds special memories of taking the Knoch girls’ soccer team to the event for team building, introducing several neighborhood newbies to road racing and warming up with the great Bill Rodgers on the back roads outside Grove City.

I remember cheering my mom across the finish line of one of her final races. “I don’t even like ice cream,” she’d smile as she hoisted another scoop of melting strawberry.

But Aug. 17 also marks another of my favorite social running events. TN@H3, a branch of Pittsburgh Hash House Harriers, holds a monthly run/walk/talk/drink event for anyone who identifies as female or non-binary. In keeping with HHH traditions, the event includes a trail of the harriette’s choice of distance and terrain marked by flour dots, ribbon or chalk. Devious leaders also include, along with true trail, marks that purposely mislead or misdirect front runners in order to take away their speed advantage. The reward in following the trail, sometimes on city streets, sometimes in backwoods, is in finding beverage stops along the route.

As with other hash groups, there’s a good amount of silliness mixed with genuine friendship and caring. It’s also good, easy exercise and the perfect mid-week break in training whether running to find the trail or walking in the back of the pack.

A third option popped up on my Wednesday schedule when a friend from Western PA Trail Runners planned an evening run for Deer Lakes Park. Deer Lakes is my home turf and where I’ve done a good bit of training for Cook Forest and other trail races.

Even those not familiar with the park should find the planned 4 to 5 miles easy to follow. The WPTR group welcomes all paces. Speedsters are free to run ahead and there’s always a sweeper to be sure no one gets lost.

Post run, all gather for social time. It’s BYOB and it’s good to catch up with friends who, like me, run and train on the same trails, but not necessarily together.

I’m sure there are plenty of other choices for running on this and any Wednesday. My only Wednesday running guidelines are — easy, social, fun.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Slickville 5k Coal Mine Climb and 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk, Slickville. Challenging 5k or easy 2 miles on Westmoreland Heritage Trail, part of Slickville Community Days. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Slickville/Slickville5kCoalMineClimb2MIleFunWalk

Saturday, 6 p.m.: Run for the Trail 7k Run and 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk, Dilltown. Run on Ghost Town Trail. 724-840-5961 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Dilltown/RunForTheTrail7KRunand2MileFunRunWalk

Sunday, 7 a.m.: Drake Well Marathon and Half Marathon, Titusville. www.runrace.net/findarace.php?id=22226PA&tab=a3

Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m.: Deer Lakes Run, Russelton. Join Western PA Trail Runners for an easy 4-5 miles followed by social time. BYOB or plan to stop at a local pub. facebook.com/groups/westpatrailrunners

Aug.17, 7 p.m.: Ice Cream Race 5k, Grove City. Post-race ice cream, 4th race in QUAD Series. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

Aug. 20, 8:30 a.m.: Yinzer 4.12k and Lil’ Yinzer Fun Run, Pittsburgh. Starts at The Great Lawn on North Shore. 412-586-7785 or raceroster.com/events/2022/59528/2022-yinzer-412k

Aug. 21, 8 a.m.: UPMC Hamot/ Mayor’s Cup 5k/10k, Erie. Also 1-mile walk and Tot Trot at 9:45 A.M. erierunners.club/event/upmc-hamot-mayors-cup-5k10k/

Aug. 27, 8 a.m.: Hyner Half, North Bend. Run 14 miles on trails in PA Wilds. Post-race meal, 4.5 hour time limit. Registration closes August 5. ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=96058

Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m.: Towanda Riverfest 5k, Towanda. Also Kids’ mile at 10 A.M. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Towanda/TowandaRiverfest5k

Aug. 27, 9 a.m.: Run Around the Square, Pittsburgh. Choice of 5k run or 1.5-mile fun run through Regent Square neighborhood and Frick Park. 412-780-7802 or runaroundthesquare.com

Aug. 28, 9 a.m.: Festival of Miles, Allison Park. Run 1 mile on Pie Traynor loop in North Park. Categories for open, masters, high school, 12 and under, doggie dash, strollers, non-competitive walk. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/GCXCFestivalofMiles

Sept. 3, 7:30 a.m.: FAAP Fall Classic, Allison Park. Choice of 20k, 10k or 5k trail runs in North Park and on Rachel Carson Trail. ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=95653

Sept. 3, 8 a.m.: Steelers 5k Run and Walk, Pittsburgh. Also kids 160 foot fun run for ages 9 and under. p3r.org/races/steelers-run-and-walk-2022

Sept. 3, 9 a.m.: Butler County Road Race 5 Mile and 2k, Butler. New date for this 47th annual event. bcfymca.org/Butler-Road-Race

Sept. 4, 8 a.m.: New Ken 5k and Fitfest, New Kensington. Choice of run, walk or ruck. Kicks off New Kensington Fitness Festival. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NewKensington/NewKensingtonFitFest5k

Sept. 5, 9 a.m.: Buhl Day 5k, Hermitage. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hermitage/HERMITAGEBUHLDAY5K

Sept. 10, 8 a.m.: Barber Beast on the Bay 10 Mile, Erie. 814-480-6810 or www.barberbeast.org

Sept. 10, 8:30 a.m.: 13th Annual Run for Their Lives 5k, Allison Park. Run starts at North Park Pool Area. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/RunForTheirLivesPA

Sept. 11, 7 a.m.: Erie Marathon @ Presque Isle, Erie. 814-504-2631 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Erie/ErieMarathon

Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m.: Hoodlebug 5k Run & Walk, Homer City. Flat and fast course. 412-289-6299 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/HomerCity/hoodlebug5k

Sept. 17, 7:30 a.m.: Bull Run 5k, Freeport. Starts at Jr. High School, finishes on James Swartz Memorial Field. localraces.com/events/freeport-pa/bull-run-5k

Race results:

Summer Solstice 5k, June 22: Dean Banko, 1st Overall M, 17:24; Caleb Bickel, 2nd Overall M, 18:07; Bob Teagarden, 3rd Overall M, 18:28; Amy O’Donnell, 1st Overall W, 20:34; Tessa Szymanski, 3rd Overall W, 23:11; Viktor Zahn, 1st 13-17 M, 18:54; Anthony Robare, 2nd 13-17 M, 19:22; Jim Gallagher, 1st 50-59 M, 21:57; Dustin Kalkenbrenner, 2nd 30-39 M, 22:02; Olivia Campbell, 1st 18-29 W, 23:24; Jacob Jefferis, 3rd 30-39 M, 23:30; Rebecca Springirth, 1st 13-17 W, 23:32; Chad Green, 1st 18-29 M, 23:38; Ron Haller, 2nd 50-59 M, 23:44; Kevin Condon, 3rd 50-59 M, 23:45; Chase Prioletti, 1st 12 & Under M, 23:47; Lydia Springirth, 1st 12 & Under W, 23:47; Robin Springirth, 1st 40-49 W, 23:47; Henry Jefferis, 2nd 12 & Under M, 24:09; Joshua Brenneman, 2nd 18-29 M, 24:18; William Jefferis, 3rd 12 & Under M, 24:53; Mike Wallace, 3rd 40-49 M, 24:53; Harold Domville, 3rd 18-29 M, 24:55; Nicole Prioletti, 1st 30-39 W, 25:42; Rylan Zupko, 2nd 13-17 W, 25:53; Liza Jefferis, 2nd 12 & Under W, 26:23; Raely FaJohn, 3rd 13-17 W, 26:24; Beth Davis, 3rd 40-49 W, 28:39; Shawna Hardy-Emerson, 2nd 30-39 W, 32:12; Lylah Robare, 3rd 12 & Under W, 33:08; Emily Jefferis, 3rd 30-39 W, 33:26; Alana Colvin, 2nd 18-29 W, 33:28; Samantha Frazier, 3rd 18-29 W, 33:28; Laura Augustine, 2nd 50-59 W, 33:42; Sherrie Mazurek, 1st 60-69 W, 34:18; Lisa Jamison, 3rd 50-59 W, 35:19; Rick Orlowski, 2nd 60-69 M, 37:30; Marty Luffy, 3rd 60-69 W, 40:37; Liam Robare, 22:22; Eddie Schreiber, 24:33; Noah Hodges, 24:57; Craig Huba, 24:59; Jeremy Cameron, 25:12; Jerry Porter, 25:18; Brian Kalmar, 25:45; Josh Tustin, 26:24; Emily Frazier, 26:37; Anora Robare, 26:42; Lucas Kuhn, 27:15; Clark Schwarz, 27:43; Tim Holtz, 28:04; Lucas Porter, 28:08; Kory Nowakowski, 28:21; Eric Evanko, 28:26; John Kuhn, 28:41; Maegan Johnson, 29:28; Braden Corliss, 30:10; James Perez, 30:23; Leah Perez, 30:24; Jen Bickel, 30:45; L. Harcar, 30:46; Ellie Jedrzejewski, 31:13; Tom Sparrow, 31:13; Harrison Fritz, 31:36; Melissa Jungling, 31:56; William Perez, 33:01; Joe Robare, 33:16; Marie Bickel, 33:28; Shannon Weber, 34:49; Aria Harcar, 35:01; Dayna Zupko, 36:05; Emilee Leuish, 36:35; Kelley Kuhn, 37:16; Julia Murray, 38:10; David Murray, 38:13; Jayse Covert, 39:16; Madelyn Rozic, 39:40; Heidi Tustin, 39:57; Janice Pakozdi-Luffy, 40:19

Summer Solstice Kids 1 Mile, June 22: Carter Rozic, 1st Overall M, 6:49; Sonja Cwynar, 1st Overall W, 7:00; Fitz Jefferis, 7:53; Seraphina Cwynar, 9:01; Grant Meyer, 9:13

Butch’s Bucket Brigade 5k, June 25: Evan Weaver, 1st Overall M, 17:47; Hannah Miller, 1st Overall W, 22:14; Bret Atwood, 3rd Overall M, 23:30; Tessa Szymanski, 2nd Overall W, 25:02; Aubrey Grafton, 3rd Overall W, 27:01; Paul Cypher, 1st 21-30 M, 23:35; Owen Valasek, 1st 14-20 M, 24:15; Ty Moore, 2nd 14-20 M, 26:10; Caleb Walker, 3rd 14-20 M, 26:56; Jared Grafton, 1st 31-40 M, 27:20; Bruce Gates, 1st 13 & Under M, 28:07; John Karpace, 1st 60+ M, 28:49; Ben Gallassi, 2nd 21-30 M, 29:47; Cole Clark, 3rd 21-30 M, 29:49; Sadie Atwood, 1st 13 & Under W, 30:00; Amy Farr, 1st 51-59 W, 34:33; Becca Bowser, 2nd 13 & Under W, 38:17; Lauren Bowser, 1st 14-20 W, 40:29; Tracy Bowser, 1st 41-50 W, 35:57; Weston Transue, 2nd 13 & Under M, 38:17; Brad Transue, 2nd 31-40 M, 38:19; Laini Berry, 2nd 14-20 W, 40:29; Kristeena Radaker, 1st 21-30 W, 41:08; Connor Welton, 3rd 13 & Under M, 42:29; Caitlin Welton, 1st 31-40 W, 42:30; Justin Welton, 1st 41-50 M, 42:33; Georgia Bowser, 2nd 41-50 W, 44:16; Morgan Carpenter, 2nd 21-30 W, 44:22; Erin Butler, 3rd 21-30 W, 45:11; Paula Berry, 2nd 51-59 W, 47:59; Kendall Gates, 3rd 13 & Under W, 53:03; Derek Mechling, 3rd 31-40 M, 53:04; Nicole Barton, 2nd 31-40 W, 54:36; Jennifer Bowser, 3rd 31-40 W, 56:18; Brandon Byers, 30:55; Andrew Patton, 33:19; Dakota Fickes, 44:20; Logan Bowser, 44:23; Dave Berry, 47:59; Reid Bowser, 50:44; Evan Bowser, 52:49; Janelle Szymanski, 53:15; Wanda Milito, 55:13; Jim Tarr, 55:41; Brooke Barton, 56:08; Emily Gates, 56:21; Allie Green, 56:21; Dillon Green, 56:21; Natalia Green, 56:22

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

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle