This weekend celebrates the 48th year of one of our region’s largest running events — Pittsburgh’s Great Race 10K.

The event, founded in 1977 by then mayor Richard Caliguiri, started as a community fun run. It has since evolved into a weekend of fun and fitness for all ages and a benefit for the Richard S. Caliguiri Amyloidosis Fund.

The fun begins with Dollar Bank’s Junior Great Race at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and the 1-mile Family Fun Run. A 50-yard Tot Trot and short Diaper Dash across a protective mat follow.

On Sunday, the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5K begins at 8 a.m. in Oakland. The 48th Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 10K starts at 9:30 a.m. in Frick Park. Both events finish downtown at Point State Park. For more information, visit www.rungreatrace.com

On the following weekend, the town of Franklin celebrates its own historic community run with the Applefest 5K YMCA Race for Any Pace. The town’s connection to apples runs deep, as John “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman made his home in the area from 1797-1804 before embarking on his mission of planting orchards throughout the Midwest. The town’s three-day Applefest beginning Oct. 3 celebrates its 42nd year while the race is nearly that old.

Applefest YMCA Race for Any Pace starts at 9:15 a.m. Oct. 4 with the Tiny Trotter, a 50-yard dash (ages 3-7), followed by Junior Jog, a 1-mile run/walk (ages 8-12) at 9:30. The 5K run starts at 10 a.m. with a 5K walk at 10:05. Dogs and strollers are welcome in the 5K run or walk with strollers requested to line up toward the rear of the crowd for safety.

The awards ceremony for Applefest Race for Any Pace takes place soon after the 5K finish, allowing participants more time to attend Applefest’s other activities. Competitive awards include medals and a surprise gift for top three overall male and female finishers and top masters in both the run and the walk. Top three runners and first walker in age categories 13-and-under through 70-plus also earn medals. All finishers in Junior Jog and Tiny Trotter also receive medals.

Marcy Shoenfelt, co-race director and membership director for Franklin/Grove City YMCA, describes the out-and-back course as almost flat. Although it can produce fast times, it’s also scenic, passing through the spectator-lined downtown. Shoenfelt says that’s why so many run or walk not for records, but for the fun and community of Applefest.

“Applefest brings people together,” she said. “Walking or running together is part of a long tradition and the feeling of belonging to a community.”

Last year, nearly 600 people of all ages participated in the Applefest run/walk events. Rachel Bish, YMCA health and wellness director and co-race director, hopes to top that number this year. She said having several years of sunny, cool fall weather has helped to bring people out and hopes for more of the same Saturday.

Applefest Race for Any Pace is one of many “mission-based” events directed by Franklin/Grove City YMCA. Proceeds from the event help fund the Y’s Health and Wellness Department’s mission to help youth, seniors with everyday functions and YMCA scholarships to the 35% of members who need them.

It’s not too late to register for Applefest YMCA 5K Race for Any Pace. Online registration is open until Oct. 3 at www.franklinapplefest.com, by phone at 814-432-2138 or in person at Franklin or Grove City YMCA. Day of event registration opens at 8 a.m. at Franklin YMCA near the race start.

Organizers advise arriving early on race day as parking is available on the street and in several lots but in no designated location. And prepare to stay after the race for the Applefest celebration, which includes activities, arts and crafts, plenty of food vendors and, most importantly, a community of friends.

Saturday, 9:30 a.m.: Dollar Bank Junior Great Race, Pittsburgh. Family Fun Run, Tot Trot, Diaper Dash. www.rungreatrace.com/junior_great_race

Sunday, 8 a.m.: 48th Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5K & 10K Pittsburgh. www.rungreatrace.com

Sunday, 1 p.m.: Wounded Warrior 5K, Du Bois. Flat and fast course, post-race lunch. 814-371-3333 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=141096

Oct. 4, 8:30 a.m.: 30th Annual Fineview Urban Step & Trail Challenge, Pittsburgh. Choice of 5 or 2 Mile with 12 public staircases over 1600 steps. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/FineviewStepChallenge

Oct. 4, 9 a.m.: Tiny Hero 5K, 1-Mile Fun Run and Trek Family Fun Day, Beaver Falls. Run in Brady’s Run Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/BeaverFalls/TinyHero5kandTrekFamilyFunDay

Oct. 4, 10 a.m.: Applefest 5K YMCA Race for Any Pace, Franklin. 814-432-2138 or frgc.recliquecore.com/programs/38158/applefest-5k-races-fun-runs/?locations=-1

Oct. 10, 6 p.m.: Riverview 5K, Pittsburgh. Run through scenic Riverview Park. 412-328-0190 or elizabeth.bliss@pittsburghpa.gov

Oct. 11, 9 a.m.: Slippery Rock Community Library Halloween Hustle 5K Run and Walk, 1-Mile Kids Run/Walk, Slippery Rock. Run at Cooper’s Lake Campground. runsignup.com/Race/PA/SlipperyRock/SlipperyRockCommunityLibraryHalloweenHustle

Oct. 11, 9 a.m.: Mahoning Shadow Shuffle Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Kids Fun Run, Punxsutawney. Run on Rail Trail starting at Little League Field. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Punxsutawney/PUNXSUTAWNEYMAHONINGSHADOWSHUFFLE

Oct. 11, 6:45 p.m.: Light the Night 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run, Butler. Glow-themed event in Butler Memorial Park to benefit Butler Catholic School. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/ButlerGlowRun

Oct. 12, 9 a.m.: 33rd Annual HAEE 5K and 1.5 Mile Walk, Allison Park. Run in Hampton Community Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/HAEE5k

Oct. 12, 9 a.m.: 51st Annual Youngstown Peace Race, Youngstown, OH. Choice of 25K, 10K, 2-Mile Run/Walk or 400-meter Kids’ Fun Run. runsignup.com/Race/OH/Youngstown/ytownPeaceRace

Oct. 12, 3 p.m.: NOW Foundation Color Run 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk, New Castle. Also Kids Run in Pearson Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NewCastle/NOWFoundationColorRun

Oct. 18, 8 a.m.: Lecom Costume Caper 5K Family Fun Run/Walk, Pittsburgh. Held in conjunction with Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Festival. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/PittsburghLECOMCostumeCaper5k

Oct. 18, 9 a.m.: 20th Annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Cabot. Point-to-point on scenic Butler-Freeport Trail. New course finish this year. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/Cabot/BuffaloCreekHalfMarathon

Oct. 19, 9 a.m.: Preston Park Prance 5K, 10K and 15K Challenge, Butler. Choice of 5K, 10K or both on scenic Preston Park trails. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/PrestonPark5k

Oct. 25, 10 a.m.: Run for Your Life 5K, Kittanning. Starts at Kittanning YMCA, runs onto scenic Armstrong Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Kittanning/KittanningRunforyourlife5k

Oct. 26, 3 p.m.: 15th Annual Great Pumpkin 5K and 1-Mile, Zelienople. Benefits St. Gregory School Parent-Teacher Organization and Athletic Programs. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/8thAnnualGreatPumpkinRace

John Cossy Costantino Memorial 5K, July 26: Patrick Moravek 1st Overall M, 22:03; Libby Wesolosky, 1st Overall W, 24:20; Travis Domhoff, 22:34; Waylon Rettinger, 24:52; Phoebe Van Gehuchten, 24:53; Luke Shemanski, 26:14; Julia Hixon, 26:42; James Kramer, 27:23; Juliet Geist, 29:16; Clayten Rettinger, 31:30; Adam Salinas, 34:33; Rick Domhoff, 36:08; Julie Eckman, 39:10; Jennifer McCurdy, 39:19; Alma Rettinger, 44:39; Owen Avon, 47:23; Alexandra Toy, 57:38; Wayne Toy, 57:39; Tina Palaggo-Toy, 58:20; Roger Chilton, 58:21

John Cossy Costantino Memorial 10K, July 26: Herman Weihrauch, 1st Overall M, 43:35; John VanGehurchton, 47:42; Chuck Sarver, 52:41; Stephen Hepler, 53:28; Andrew Wasko, 57:22

Rube’s Run 5K, July 26: Chase Bowen, 1st Overall M, 15:52; Riley McGee, 3rd Overall M, 17:22; Tessa Szymanski, 1st Overall W, 21:43; Olivia Drohan, 2nd Overall W, 22:40; Maya Keffalas, 3rd Overall W, 22:58; Garret Daugherty, 1st 18-29 M, 20:44; Carter McGee, 1st 13-17 M, 21:36; Tyler Crummy, 1st 40-49 M, 21:39; Vern Morrow, 1st 60-69 M, 22:33; Josh Tustin, 2nd 18-29 M, 23:27; Brad Kopp, 3rd 18-29 M, 23:52; Matthew Nichols, 2nd 40-49 M, 23:57; Jim Gallagher, 1st 50-59 M, 24:08; Matt Drohan, 2nd 50-59 M, 24:32; Tim Sloan, 3rd 50-59 M, 24:38; Keaton Olshesk1, 3rd 13-17 M, 24:42; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 2nd 40-49 W, 25:24; Addison Portman, 1st 12 & Under W, 25:35; Avery Clanton, 1st 18-29 W, 25:37; Emma Hays, 2nd 18-29 W, 25:37; Kayla Daugherty, 3rd 18-29 W, 25:42; Adam Bosiljevac, 3rd 40-49 M, 25:51; Val McGee, 3rd 40-49 W, 26:04; Emilie Keith, 1st 30-39 W, 26:56; Robin Portman, 2nd 30-39 W, 27:26; Myla McGee, 2nd 12 & Under W, 27:34; Abigail Benninger, 3rd 30-39 W, 28:14; Crosby Nichols, 1st 12 & Under M, 28:16; Callie Baker, 1st 13-17 W, 28:23; Emily Frazier, 2nd 13-17 W, 28:33; Tracy Farone, 2nd 50-59 W, 30:07; Samantha Drohan, 3rd 50-59 W, 32:54; Anthony Sunseri 1st 70+ M, 33:53; Robin Trinko, 1st 60-69 W, 34:16; Emelia Olsheski, 3rd 12 & Under W, 35:55; John Grenci, 3rd 60-69 M, 39:09; Kathy Shoaf, 1st 70+ W, 42:00; Conrad Claycomb, 2nd 70+ M, 47:31; Greg Ochaba, 3rd 70+ M, 57:48; Alex Keffalas, 24:40; Caleb Nichols, 25:41; Hannah Plunkard, 28:12; Amanda Zavidny, 28:16; Bruce Soule, 28:49; Sam Plunkard, 29:01; Tom Tustin, 29:02; Sarah Miller, 29:15; Eric Miller, 29:23; Joe Greaves, 29:46; Megan Plunkard, 29:50; Rylan Zupko, 31:16; Gabrielle Schwartz, 31:16; Kate Zajac, 32:34; Alex Tustin, 34:26; Matthew Greenawalt, 35:54; Christopher Olsheski, 35:55; Pamela Beck, 37:27; Susie Beardsley, 38:12; Stephanie Soloski, 39:26; Laura Benninger, 40:21; Heidi Tustin, 43:55; Richard Beardsley, 47:51; Katricia Vouga, 48:57; Kim Kenetz, 53:21; Cathy Maser Terry Dillman, 57:52; Robert Craig, 58:09; Madelyn Olsheski, 1:13:00

Rube’s Run Kids Race, July 26: Jack Bosiljevac, 1st Overall M, 1:37; Shae Crummy, 1st Overall W, 1:38; Brody Smith, 1:42; Clara Plunkard, 1:48; Tyler Bosiljevac, 1:55; August Nichols, 1:57; Annabelle Miller, 1:59; Jeremy Zavidny, 2:05; Cameron Bosiljevac, 2:09; Shiloh Miller, 2:56; Evelyn Burtner, 2:57; Adina Nichols, 2:58; Vera Crummy, 4:32; Elias Burtner, 5:03

Mind Over Miles 5K, July 27: Ethan Spirk, 1st Overall M, 21:06; Giulia Pologruto, 1st Overall W, 23:58; Phillip Silvis, 2nd 19 & Under M, 21:32; Alexandre Pollet, 3rd 19 & Under M, 22:11; Colin Staudt, 1st 20-49 M, 22:58; Ben Grewar, 2nd 20-49 M, 24:32; Kevin Lupo, 3rd 20-49 M, 24:45; John Hackworth, 1st 50+ M, 25:31; Chloe Spotts, 1st 20-49 W, 26:05; Corinne Petrus, 2nd 20-49 W, 27:25; Brooke Wilson, 3rd 20-49 W, 32:29; Elle Alexander, 3rd 19 & Under W, 39:24; Caiden Schill; 25:58; Jake Manson, 26:09; Adam Seger, 32:33; Alissa Wilson, 41:07; Halo Wurst, 46:45; Joe Wurst, 46:49; Keith Colussy, 58:59

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle. Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-352-4395, email lotzak@consolidated.net