Butler Road Race hits 50th anniversary, a ‘monumental, historic thing,’ and will harken back to its past
The golden anniversary of the Butler Road Race will be held Saturday. Plenty of runners will flock for one of the most well-known races in the area.
“We’re really, really proud of our little town hosting such a monumental, historic thing,” said Christina Dreher, the Butler County Family YMCA’s marketing and development director.
Dreher said the Butler Road Race “is one of the longest-standing road races in Western Pennsylvania.”
To honor its past, this year’s running shirt for all participants will harken back to the first T-shirt given out in the race’s first year.
“We have a member who submitted a vintage photo of him and his family members and some friends in one of the very first Butler Road Races, so we took that graphic and put it on the front,” Dreher said.
The event will look about the same as it has in recent years. It takes on an out and back format, starting and ending at Diamond Park. Participants can choose to take part in a 5-mile run or a 2K.
Those who take part in the latter will loop around by the Butler YMCA and head back up to Diamond Park, while those running the 5-mile race will run to Alameda Park and back.
“Folks who registered for the 5-miler are required to run because we do have a time limit,” Dreher said. “The race course is monitored by local city police and the CB Rangers, so we have to be wrapped up by 11 a.m.”
The 2K is an easier pace, welcoming families, veteran runners and rookie runners.
There will be awards based on age groups and gender for both races. Funds raised benefit the YMCA’s annual support campaign.
“It’s through the annual support campaign that we’re able to offer things like scholarships to community members, kids, families to connect to the Y through discounted YMCA memberships and programs,” Dreher said. “Things like life-saving swim lessons, summer camps, all the programs.”
Over 100 participants had signed up as of last week, Dreher said. Day-of registration runs from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and costs $45 for the 5-mile run and $35 for the 2K. It costs $20 for the 5-mile run and $15 for the 2K for kids 17 and under.
