Are you tougher than a 5-year-old? You can answer that question at Tuff Tornado 2 Mile Obstacle Run in Butler’s Alameda Park on Sept. 30.

This marks the fifth year that runners and walkers of all ages challenge themselves and the clock on a gentle run interrupted by 21 unique obstacles. Race chairperson Audray Muscatello Yost expects more than 350 participants, depending on weather, to get up, down and dirty to benefit the Golden Tornado Foundation, Inc. and its mission to enhance the lives of Butler School District students and strengthen the Butler community as a whole, now and in the future.

Participants face obstacles such as hay bale jump, laser maze, and tree trunk hop. There are also several crawls — tire, Army, and pipe, and runs through various materials thick and thin — slime, color, foam, and mud. Just past the finish line is a spray-off station because, as the website advertises, “You will get dirty.” For a course map including obstacles, visit smileymiles.com.

As a board member, Audray was inspired to recreate a charity obstacle run to benefit Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation after attending a similar event with family in Rhode Island. Butler Township Commissioner and former USMC Sgt. Major Sam Zurzolo got involved when Audray asked for help. He’s made the course’s obstacles ever since.

“It takes time but it’s rewarding. It’s heartwarming to see kids, parents and families out there,” he said.

Sam says the original obstacles took months to plan, gather and assemble. He had help from Butler High School and Vo-Tech students as well as assistance from Starr Lumber Co. and Lowes. Most of the obstacles are now stored at Butler High School. When I spoke with him on Tuesday, he was hauling 100 bales of hay for the hay bale jump and climb obstacles.

The actual setup in Alameda Park takes place the day before the run. It takes 30 to 40 volunteers from 4 to 6 hours to set up the course. On race day, many of those volunteers will return as course monitors along with students from Butler schools. Each obstacle requires two volunteers to monitor obstacles and keep everyone safe and on course. Volunteers then work until dark disassembling the entire setup.

Although the event is timed, there are no awards other than striving for personal bests. There are no cut-off times for completion. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are welcome to challenge themselves on the course.

Audray calls the event “fun and family friendly.” Exposed roots and rocks on the wooded portion of trail are marked with orange. Sunglasses are available for all kids running through the Color Run obstacle.

Individuals and teams may register online until midnight on Sept. 29 at runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/TuffTornadoRun. Kids under 5-years-old can enter for free. There’s a $5 discount for ages 5 through 12 and a family of up to six members can sign up for $50. It’s too late to receive a commemorative t-shirt, but there will be a limited number on sale on race day.

Festivities begin with packet pickup at 10 a.m. on Sept. 30 at Alameda Park’s Odd Fellows Gazebo. Day of event registration opens at 11 a.m. with payment in cash or check only. There will be a pre-event warm-up and music and food trucks from Kona Ice and Burgers N’at available throughout the day. All participants and spectators are encouraged to take a chance on the 50-50 drawing, which rewarded last year’s winner with $1,705.

Tuff Tornado is run in heats, maximum of 50 per heat, every 15 minutes beginning at 11 a.m. with the final heat at 1:30 p.m.

Tuff Tornado benefits Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation, Inc. which has supported learning excellence in the Butler Area School District for more than 20 years. Last year, the organization awarded over $122,000 in scholarships for Butler graduates and it annually awards up to $30,000 in Creative Teaching Grants for ideas in innovative learning.

GTSF, Inc. also supplies eligible Butler Elementary Schools’ 4th Grade students with weekend take-home meals and snacks through its Weekend Backpack program. Find out more at www.goldentornadoscholasticfoundation.org.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, 8 a.m.: 46th City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5k, Pittsburgh. www.rungreatrace.com/faqs

Sunday, 9:30 a.m.: 46th City of Pittsburgh Great Race 10k, Pittsburgh. www.rungreatrace.com/faqs

Sept. 30, 11 a.m.: Tuff Tornado Run, Butler. Run 2 miles with 21 obstacles in Alameda Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/TuffTornadoRun

Oct. 1, 9 a.m.: #Get Nebby 5k, Butler. Run/walk in Alameda Park in memory of Missy Barto. wolfcreektrackclub.com/event/get-nebby-5k/

Oct. 7, 10 a.m.: Applefest 5k YMCA Race for Any Place, Franklin. Also Tiny Trot 50-yard dash and Junior Jog 1 mile race held before 5k. 814-432-2138 or rbish@franklinymca.org

Oct. 14, 8 a.m.: FAAP Race/Walk, Allison Park. Run on North Park Trails with choice of 20k starting at 8 A.M., 10k at 9:30, or 5k at 10:15. faap5krace.yolasite.com

Oct. 14, 8:30 a.m.: Fineview Step Challenge 5 Mile and 2 Mile, Pittsburgh. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/FineviewStepChallenge

Oct. 14, 9 a.m.: Mahoning Shadow Shuffle Half Marathon, 10k and 5k, Punxsutawney.

runsignup.com/Race/PA/Punxsutawney/PUNXSUTAWNEYMAHONINGSHADOWSHUFFLE

Oct. 15, 8 a.m.: Pittsburgh Penguins 6.6k Run and 3.3k Family Walk, Pittsburgh. Benefits Mario Lemieux Foundation and Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. runsignup.com/pens66k?_cldee=XCEaAPHpdMQffcnhEm8oC9fFc-Wwphi6eMdXOQHO9wlZrGbwQ7BXMGvFszDSWHs5&recipientid=contact-9e82a227da5de51180c50050568153f8-6eda01f7403c422aa1029ab38152b662&esid=3b8cacc7-0f2b-ee11-bdf4-002248268ac5

Oct. 15, 2 p.m.: Buffalo Creek 5k, Worthington. Kids run immediately following. 724-543-1120 or acampbell@mechlingheller.com

Oct. 21, 7:30 a.m.: Sinnemahone Ultra Trail Run, Emporium. Choice of 12k, 25k or 50k trail runs. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Emporium/SinnemahoneUltraTrailRun

Oct. 21, 9 a.m.: 18th Annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Cabot. Point-to-point on Butler-Freeport Trail. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/Cabot/BuffaloCreekHalfMarathon

Oct. 21, 8 a.m.: LECOM Costume Caper 5k Family Fun Run/Walk, Pittsburgh. Held in conjunction with Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/PittsburghLECOMCostumeCaper5k

Oct. 22, 9 a.m.: Preston Park 5k, Butler. Run on Preston Park drives and trails. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/PrestonPark5k?rsus=100-200-601f95ac-9bcd-4317-9901-6472ff9f26f1

Oct. 22, 9 a.m.: The Great Pumpkin Race 5k Race and 3k Walk, Monroeville. Run through Monroeville Community Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Monroeville/MonroevilleFoundationGreatPumpkinRun

Oct. 28, 10 a.m.: Run for your Life 5k, Kittanning. New race, out-and-back on flat and scenic Armstrong Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Kittanning/KittanningRunforyourlife5k

Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m.: 3rd Annual Quarry Shack 5 Miler, Vintonville. Out-and-back on Ghost Town Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Vintondale/QUARRYSHACK5MILER

Oct. 29, 9 a.m.: Highland Fall Scramble 12 Miler, Cook Forest. Run on remote portions of North Country Trail through Cook Forest State Park. ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=104907

Hot to Trot 5k, July 22: Phillip Silvis, 1st Overall M, 18:28; Brooke Molde, 1st Overall W, 23:36; Clara Silvis, 2nd Overall W, 24:42; Cameron Cramer, 1st 19 & Under M, 21:06; Jeff Smith, 1st 50-59 M, 21:12; Brad Jones, 1st 30-39 M, 21:33; Dave Rawlings, 1st 40-49 M, 21:50; Roberto da Silva, 2nd 30-39 M, 22:40; Gerry Riazzi, 2nd 60+ M, 23:11; Nicholas Mazzeo, 3rd 30-39 M, 23:11; Brian Matheison, 2nd 40-49 M, 24:10; Tracy Brodie, 1st 50-59 W, 25:26; Jace Roth, 2nd 19 M, 25:55; Mitch Radella, 2nd 50-59 M, 26:34; Rhonda Maloney, 2nd 50-59 W, 27:55; Molly Ditommaso, 1st 30-39 W, 28:12; Kathleen Bruno, 2nd 30-39 W, 28:59; Logan Symons, 2nd 20-29 M, 30:33; Nellie Zuba, 3rd 50-59 W, 31:02; Abigail Kerr, 3rd 20-29 W, 31:06; BethAnn Pohl, 3rd 30-39 W, 31:55; Rebecca Rawlings, 3rd 40-49 W, 35:04; Celia Guy, 1st 19 & Under W, 38:21; Hannah Hornick, 2nd 19 & Under W, 40:15; Mia Perry, 3rd 19 & Under W, 40:16; Kevin May, 23:23; BJ Roth, 25:54; Ire Eisenbrown, 29:42; Matthew Brodie, 29:53; Megan Winters, 31:55; Samantha Poindexter, 36:33; Jordan Poindexter, 36:35; Nan Guy, 38:21; Deborah Takacs, 38:43; Sue Corbett, 38:45; Erin Kennedy, 38:46; Echo Bubb, 38:52; William Bubb, 38:52; Nicole Wisniewski, 40:30; Jamie Wisniewski, 40:41; Chelsea Gallagher, 44:01; Rebecca Smith, 44:36; Hannah Aron, 44:37; Jamie Smith, 44:39; Madison Smith, 44:49; Bill Updegrove, 47:33; Tiffany Updegrove, 47:34; Crystal Horan, 48:01; Kendall Horan, 48:01; Tiffany Frankelhauser, 48:58; Frank Longabarte, 56:47

Two Face 10k Road Race, Aug. 5: Julian Kletz, 1st Overall M, 34:40; Margaret Powers, 1st Overall W, 40:47; Corinne Reed, 2nd Overall W, 42:11; Dan Monhemius, 1st 40-49 M, 38:30; Tessa Symanski, 1st 19 & Under W, 45:58; Sriel Laur, 3rd 30-39 W, 47:48; Kim Platt, 1st 40-49 W, 48:37; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 2nd 40-49 W, 49:28; Mark Likoudis, 1st 60-69 M, 50:04; Michael Gerver, 43:38; Brendon Ignatz, 44:03; Josh Gretz, 45:36; Stuart Cashman, 46:43; Keith Smetak, 48:16; Denise Whitacre, 49:49; Jonathan LaBach, 49:57; Jon Kovach, 50:25; Brian Apel, 50:46; Dana Nicklas, 52:38; Joseph DeRenzo, 53:07; Adair Pietropaolo, 53:20; Gerard Danosos, 53:33; Jessica Moslander, 56:48; Carolyn Grider, 57:26; Suzette Cappola, 58:34; Tom Neff, 59:16; Geoff Fleming, 59:31; Logan West, 1:00:03; Rita Ciccariello, 1:01:54; Kim Marshall, 1:02:28; Brandi Gaertner, 1:03:27; John Borza, 1:07:20; Jenn Mertz, 1:10:15; Maritza Cable, 1:32:21

Hot to Trot 1 Mile, July 22: Darius Custer, 5:55; Lily Mowery, 7:50; Mitch Radella, 7:24; Paige Roth, 9:52; Joel Roth, 9:54; Natalie Sferra, 10:23; Deron Sferra, 10:23; Emily Mowery, 10:29; Norah Mowery 10:29; Rachel Cellurale, 11:46; Ezekiel Yoder, 13:00; Ivy Ditommaso, 14:50; Michael Ditommaso, 14:50; Emma Rawlings, 15:35

Two Face 10k Trail Race, Aug. 5: Julian Kletz, 1st Overall M, 52:47; Morgan Kiebler, 1st Overall W, 1:01:31; Dan Monhemius, 2nd 40-49 M, 1:01:22; Corinne Reed, 1st 19 & Under W, 1:08:18; Ariel Laur, 3rd 30-39 W, 1:14:05; Tessa Symanski, 2nd 19 & Under W, 1:16:01; Kim Platt, 2nd 40-49 W, 1:17:22; Josh Gretz, 1:07:09; Michael Gerver, 1:08:57; Stuart Cashman, 1:09:21; Jeremy Jarrell, 1:09:57; Brendon Ignatz, 1:13:55; Tom Neff, 1:18:07; Carolyn Grider, 1:20:15; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 1:29:23; Jon Kovach, 1:28:59; Denise Whitacre, 1:30:07; Jonathan LaBach, 1:30:09; Kim Marshall, 1:31:33; Jessica Moslander, 1:32:38; Brandi Gaertner, 1:32:57; Dana Nicklas, 1:33:03; Mark Likoudis, 1:34:58; Gerard Danosos, 1:37:04; Rita Ciccariello, 2:08:54

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

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle