Running in Western PA has been hotter than a firecracker for the past few weeks. This weekend’s race calendar features several firecracker events with a nod to the holiday, not the heat.

This Friday’s Kampas Orthodontics Firecracker 5K and 1 Mile is a familiar race with a new name in the heading. Zelienople’s Firecracker 5K celebrates its 14th year of running through Zelienople Community Park and surrounding neighborhoods on July 4th. Kampas has sponsored this Zelie favorite for 7 to 8 years but is stepping to the forefront this year with inclusion in the event’s title.

Based on preregistrations, race director Joella Baker expects more than 225 participants for this year’s Firecracker 5K and 1-Mile. Online signup continues through Thursday at noon at runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/Getfitfamiliesfirecracker. Day of event registration opens in Zelie Park at 7 a.m. Baker encourages everyone to arrive early to avoid congestion at the start area.

Baker was recently inducted into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame for her achievements and dedication to the sport of triathlon and to fitness in the community. Her Get Fit Families fitness company and popular events like Firecracker 5k make Zelienople and Butler County a healthier place. “I just want everyone in the community to get healthy and get moving,” she says.

Firecracker 1-Mile begins first at 8 a.m. on a flat and fast course. Runners and walkers of all abilities are welcome, as are dogs and strollers.

The 5K race starts at approximately 8:15-8:20 a.m., following the finish of the 1-Mile. The 5K tours the nearly flat streets of Zelienople with one big climb of more than a quarter-mile up Cemetery Hill.

You may sign up for both distances at a $5 discount on registration. Typically, 20-25 runners complete the double.

The awards ceremony for both races takes place following the 5K finish. Competitive awards for both distances include top 3 overall and age groups from 8 & Under through 70+. Post-race refreshments include water, Gatorade and donuts.

A portion of Firecracker 5K proceeds benefit Zelienople Community Park, ensuring its beauty and recreational opportunities will be enjoyed by all. In addition to scenic trails and drives, the park offers programs and events year-round for all ages. Facilities include swimming pool, competition-sized skate park, amphitheater, tennis courts and baseball fields. For more information about park events and programs, visit zelieboro.com/department/park_and_pool/new_page.php

Firecracker 5K is the first in an entire Independence Day schedule of events in Zelienople. The Rotary Parade begins at 11 a.m. on Main Street. This year, Joella Baker will serve as the parade’s grand marshal in the lead car. Her family will ride in the second car tossing cinnamon swirl bread to parade watchers.

Other events include free afternoon swimming at the Zelienople Community Pool, live music in the park, and Pittsburgh Philharmonic at 7:30 p.m. The day wraps up with fireworks in the park at dusk.

Next week, Joella Baker’s Get Fit Families will be conducting youth triathlon camp. All kids, experienced or newbies to the sport are welcome to drop in for a day to check it out or to sign up for the weeklong program at getfitfamilies.com.

Next on Baker’s racing schedule is Four Springs Sprint 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run and Walk in nearby Harmony on July 26. The run with rolling hills on a crushed gravel trail introduces the new Four Springs Park in Lancaster Township. For more information, visit runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harmony/FourSpringsSprint5KRunAnd1MileFunRunAndWalk

Friday, 7:30 a.m.: 41st Annual Whiskey Rebellion 5K, Canonsburg. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Canonsburg/WhiskeyRebellion5KRunWalk

Friday, 8 a.m.: Kampas Orthodontics Firecracker 5K and 1 Mile, Zelienople. Run at Zelienople Community Park. Family discount. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/Getfitfamiliesfirecracker

Friday, 8:30 a.m.: Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5K, Allison Park. Challenging course starts at Hampton Community Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/2022HamptonRotaryClubFirecracker5K

Friday, 7 p.m.: Firecracker 5 Mile Run/2 Mile Walk, Latrobe. Starts at Memorial Stadium. 724-537-4331 or latroberecreation.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Ford City 5k/Half Mile Kids Race, Ford City. Flat and fast downtown loop. 724-763-3761 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=141052

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Ellwood City Arts and Crafts Food Festival 10K, Ellwood City. Formerly Ellwood City Ledger 10K. Starts at Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool in Ewing Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/EllwoodCity/EllwoodCityLedgerArtsCraftsFoodFestival10k

Sunday, 7:15 a.m.: Runway 5K Jimmy Stewart Airport YEAR 5!!, Indiana. Run the runway, post run pancake breakfast. FAA prohibits dogs, bikes or scooters. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/Indiana/JimmyStewartAirportRunway5K

July 9, 7 p.m.: Dam Race (QUAD II,) Sharpsville. Run on Trout Island Trail with 2 dam crossings. 724-866-1374 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=141330

July 11, 6:30 p.m.: America’s Mile, Pittsburgh. Run in heats on North Shore.412-586-7785 or americasmile.com

July 12, 9 a.m.: It’s a Wonderful Life 5k, Indiana. Cross country run and Christmas in July Festival at Mytrysak Family Tree Farm. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Indiana/WonderfulLife5K

July 13, 8 a.m.: Murraysville Monster, Murraysville. Challenging trail race with 10K or 20K distances. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Murrysville/MurrysvilleMonsterTrailRaces

July 19, 8 a.m.: Horse Trading Days Hot to Trot 5k, Zelienople. Also 1-Mile Family Fun Run and 100-meter Tot Trot at Glade Run and Passavant Senior Community campuses. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/ZelienopleHorseTradingDaysHottoTrot5k1Mile

July 23, 7 p.m.: Fredonia 5k (QUAD III), Fredonia. Also kids’ race. 724-866-1374 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=141333

July 25, 7 p.m.: All Saints Parish Twilight 5k and 1-Mile Fun Run, Butler. Run at St. Conrad Church campus. 724-355-4038 or chris.singleton06@gmail.com

July 26, 8:30 a.m.: 24th Annual Rube’s Run 5K Run/Walk and Kids’ Race, Prospect. Baseball-themed race with post-race hotdogs. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Prospect/RUBESRUN

July 26, 9 a.m.: John Cossy Costantino Memorial 5K and 10K, Freeport. Starts at Freeport Junior High School, finishes on James Swartz Memorial Field. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Freeport/JohnCossyConstantinoMemorial5K

July 26, 9 a.m.: 8th Annual Killian 5k, Allison Park. Out and back from North Park Boathouse. Post-race DJ and beer. www.killian5k.com

July 26, 9 a.m.: Four Springs Sprint 5k Run and 1 Mile Fun Run and Walk, Harmony. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harmony/FourSpringsSprint5KRunAnd1MileFunRunAndWalk

Thrifty 5k, May 10: Cody Redmond, 1st Overall M, 18:22; Gabriella Greco, 1st Overall W, 22:42; Gerard Danosos, 3rd 40-49 M, 21:23; Jessica Niemeier, 1st 40-49 W, 24:04; Megan Trenz, 2nd 30-39 W, 27:34; Kaitlyn Mecannic, 3rd 30-39 W, 28:36; David Cheung, 22:43; David Rawlings, 23:54; Ryan Brady, 27:04; Angelo Woodrow, 27:32; Amy Woodrow, 28:38; Garth Kohlmeyer, 29:04; Tina Grimm, 29:26; Teresa Grimm, 29:27; Marco Grimm, 29:52; Nicholas Ashenden, 30:22; Christian Leclaire, 31:08; Noah Ashenden, 31:19; Chrissy Kaufman, 31:21; Heather Chen, 31:31; Erin Ohlmeyer, 32:13; Svetlana Tarassov, 32:31; Kaylin Mazzetti, 32:34; Oleg Sukhodolskii, 35:06; Jennifer Mccurdy, 36:33; Joni Clemente, 37:00; Evegeniia Sukhodolskaia, 37:40; Ashley Teuteberg, 39:10; Aleksandra Sukhodolskaia, 40:52; Chelsea Kendrew, 42:08; Olivia Beaudoin, 49:21; Kim Kenetz, 51:33; Megan Bujalski, 55:22

Oil Creek Stacked Trail Races 13-Mile, May 17: Prince Brooks, 1st Overall M, 1:47:51; Justin Pokrivka, 1st Masters M, 2:29:00; Emma Droddy, 1st Overall W, 2:31:11; Traci Hann, 1st Masters W, 2:50:34; Peter Morgan, 1st 16-19 M, 2:15:00; John Morgan, 2nd 16-19 M, 2:15:03; Corry Morgan, 1st 40-49 M, 2:34:08; Sophia Morgan, 1st 16-19 W, 2:35:27; James Donnelly, 2nd 60-69 M, 2:57:01; Michael Wallace, 3rd 40-49 M, 3:12:10; Paul Cameron, 3rd 60-69 M, 3:14:52; David Murray, 3:24:42; Heather Moser, 3:50:03

Oil Creek Stacked Trail Races 5-Mile, May 17: Matthew Woodcock, 1st Overall M, 38:25; Justin Povrivka, 1st Masters M, 53:04; Stacie Marsh, 1st Overall W, 55:43; Marcia Moon, 1st Masters W, 1:01:16; Corey Morgan, 1st 40-49 M, 53:35; Miller Hawke, 2nd 13-19 M, 55:41; Paul Cameron, 2nd 60-69 M, 1:00:26; Michael Wallace, 3rd 40-49 M, 1:01:50; Traci Hanna, 2nd 50-59 W, 1:02:17; Rod Brest, 1st 70+ M, 1:08:35; Benjamin Smith, 52:00; Katie Hogg, 1:22:13; Karen Walzer, 1:49:15; Laura Augustine, 1:49:15

Freeport Flash 5K, May 31: Brian Canny, 1st Overall M, 18:35; Calvin Lindsay, 2nd Overall M, 18:49; Justin Sellinger, 3rd Overall M, 19:35; Meghan McNabb, 1st Overall W, 21:01; Rebecca Hollobaugh, 2nd Overall W, 21:51; Taylor Schaeffer, 3rd Overall W, 23:09; Camden Schaefer, 1st 11-14 M, 19:37; Dustin Mosse, 1st 30-39 M, 19:41; Brad Patsy, 1st 40-49 M, 19:44; Zac Trudgen, 1st 15-18 M, 21:55; Travis Domhoff, 2nd 19-29 M, 21:58; Kaleb Bodily, 2nd 15-18 M, 22:43; Richard Stewart, 1st 50+ M, 23:34; David Portman, 2nd 30-39 M, 23:50; Jake Eckberg, 3rd 30-39 M, 23:54; Josh McClymonds, 2nd 11-14 M, 24:03; Gracie Szul, 1st 10 & Under W, 24:22; Samuel Long, 2nd 40-49 M, 24:26; Mandy Saeler, 1st 30-39 W, 25:13; Lucy Hassler, 2nd 11-14 M, 25:18; Stephen Hepler, 2nd 50+ M, 25:29; Addison Portman, 2nd 10 & Under W, 25:48; Luke Shemanski, 3rd 11-14 M, 26:36; Robin Portman, 2nd 30-39 W, 26:45; Tricia Schaefer, 1st 40-49 W, 26:48; Meili Clark, 3rd 11-14 W, 26:52; Lizzie Schwarz, 1st 15-18 W, 27:00; Annabelle Geist, 2nd 15-18 W, 27:01; Spencer Clark, 3rd 50+ M, 27:15; Heather Cottage, 3rd 30-39 W, 28:17; Owen Danka, 1st 10 & Under M, 28:29; Holden Schmidt, 2nd 10 & Under M, 30:08; Elijah Iachini, 3rd 10 & Under M, 30:30; Mackenzie Miller, 3rd 15-18 W, 31:12; Hedy Mills, 3rd 40-49 W, 32:03; Joy Foust, 2nd 50+ W, 37:26; Carson Schweiger, 23:58; Chase Stephens, 24:33; Mario Lesko, 27:42; Quinn Perry, 27:47; Jill Terwilliger, 28:33; Sofia Slanicka, 28:35; Emma Charlton, 28:52; Paige Lithgow, 28:52; Jeremy Reitler, 29:08; Marlee Reitler, 29:09; Joshua Schmidt, 30:09; Juliet Geist, 30:41; Ryanne Miller, 30:47; Daniel Iachini, 30:51; Adrianna Iachini, 31:06; Adam Salinas, 31:22; Molly Mills, 32:00; Siara Slanicka, 32:44; James Beck, 32:53; Blair Beck, 32:53; Kyle Bodily, 33:44; Kerrienne Danka, 33:48; Chuck Houser, 34:07; Tyler Carr, 35:58; Hazel Geist, 36:18; Lucy Bodily, 36:26; Emily Geist, 36:26; Julie Eckman, 36:35; Owen Hixon, 36:41; Elliott Whitacre, 36:52; Andrew Whitacre, 36:55; Randy Bowser, 37:11; Jennifer Slanicka, 38:57; Laura Barton, 43:36; Isabelle Iachini, 43:49; Jillian Iachini, 44:41; Gaylene Massart, 46:44; Amanda Hixon, 47:34; Adalyn Bodily, 51:51; Stacy Ceccarelli, 57:52

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-822-1577, Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle