My Thanksgiving weekend included a few of the usual traditions — joining friends for a short run followed by donuts and beer, watching giant balloons cruise through New York City and, of course, eating too much turkey and pumpkin pie at family dinner.

But Saturday I joined friends and neighbors for what’s become a new favorite holiday activity. I ran the 3rd Annual Truthantrub 5K in my hometown of Saxonburg. The event is quickly becoming a tradition for residents, family and friends.

Race director Mike Formica was a little concerned chilly weather might impact participation, but he was pleased a record number of more than 300 registered.

“This is a fundraiser for Knoch’s cross country and track teams, so we’re happy that so many pre-registered to support the race,” he said.

Formica was impressed by the number of young kids who ran the fun run/walk and hopes their love of running continues. The 1-kilometer loop from Roebling Park to Main Street nearly doubled in participation this year with 50 runners and walkers, half of them kids ages 10 and under. The exuberant youngsters looked like a flock of colorful birds flying down Isabella Street. Mason Taylor, a 10-year-old Butler girl, finished first with a time of 5:01.

Youth were also well represented in the 5K field with 40 of the 214 finishers ages 19 and younger. That includes first-place male, Nathan Kociela (16:58), and third-place male, Sarver’s David Kristine (17:25). Natalie Zolinas, a 16-year-old Butler girl, won the women’s race in 21:04 while 14-year-old Raegan Ruckus finished third (21:51).

Cold temperatures didn’t dampen the spirits of participants, spectators or volunteers. Hand warmers were included in race packets. Turkey-themed hats, sweatshirts and knee socks were popular among runners. Knoch High School Girls Track and Cross Country Coach Amy Formica dressed as a festive turkey to present competitive awards.

Awards included the usual overall and age group seasonal medals. Truthantrub also includes team competition, with top three teams earning turkey trophies and a chance to win a special prize. The second-place team, the nine-member Thunder Chickens from Sarver, won a large chocolate turkey from sponsor Speckled Hen Chocolates.

Thanksgiving is past, but the season of holiday runs has just begun. At 10 a.m. Saturday, enjoy the raucous, festive crowd on Pittsburgh’s North Shore for the 40th Jingle Bell Run 5K. The event is part of a national fundraising effort for the Arthritis Foundation. For more information or to register, visit events.arthritis.org/jbrpittsburgh.

At the same time but smaller and closer to home, Lutheran Senior Life Abundant Lights 5K and 1-Mile runs multiple loops of paved Passavant Community drives. The course is well marked, and there will be volunteers to guide you. Sign up online at runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/AbundantLightsK or at Abundant Life Center on race day.

At 9 a.m. Dec. 13, join what’s called “Cranberry’s Jolliest Race” as the Run Santa Run 5K and Jolly Mile dashes through Graham Park’s slightly rolling paths and drives. The event also boasts “The Jolliest Swag” with Santa logo pants, Santa hat and more. Kids in the Reindeer Ramble (ages 10 and under) take home a plush reindeer, Santa hat and medal. More information, registration and other race locations can be found at runsignup.com/Race/PA/CranberryTownship/RunSantaRunCranberryTownship.

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Lutheran Senior Life Abundant Lights 5K and 1-Mile, Zelienople. Run at Passavant Community Campus. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/AbundantLightsK

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Jingle Bell Run, Pittsburgh. Dress festive, starts at Great Lawn on North Shore. events.arthritis.org/jbrpittsburgh

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Run Santa Run 5K, Oakdale. Out-and-back from Helicon Brewing on Panhandle Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Oakdale/RunSantaRun5KOakdale

Sunday, 9:30 a.m.: Santa Run 5K/10K, Beaver. Wear your Christmas attire. Also 1-Mile Fun Run. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Beaver/YMCASantaRun5k1MileRun

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Nittany Valley Half Marathon, State College. 814-231-4043 or www.nittanyvalleyhalfmarathon.com

Sunday, 4 p.m.: It’s a Wonderful 5K, Indiana. Run around lake at Blue Spruce Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Indiana/ItsAWonderful5K?_gl=1*77wvtp*_ga*MTU0NDMyNzQ0Mi4xNzYwMzk1NTQx*_ga_QKEVS8BTWC*czE3NjExMzgzNDQkbzIkZzAkdDE3NjExMzgzNDQkajYwJGwwJGgw

Dec. 13, 9 a.m.: Run Santa Run 5K, Cranberry Township. Dress festive for this run through Graham Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/CranberryTownship/RunSantaRunCranberryTownship

Dec. 13, 4:30 p.m.: Ugly Sweater 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run, Ellwood City. runsignup.com/Race/PA/EllwoodCity/ellwoodcityUglySweater5k

Dec. 14, 9 a.m.: Run Santa Run 5K, South Park. Also Jolly Mile and Kids’ Reindeer Ramble. runsignup.com/Race/PA/SouthParkTownship/RunSantaRun5KSouthPark

Dec. 14, 10 a.m.: 5th Annual Festivus for the Rest of Us 5K Run/Walk, New Florence. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NewFlorence/NewFlorenceFestivus5k

Dec. 20, 9 a.m.: Reindeer 5K, 1-Mile and Half-Mile, Zelienople. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/ReindeerRace2023

Dec. 21, 11 a.m.: Ugly Sweater 5K and 1-Mile, Oakdale. Run out and back on Panhandle Trail from Helicon Brewing. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Oakdale/UglySweater5KAnd1MileFUNWalk

Dec. 24, 10 a.m.: The Christmas Eve 5K Run/Walk, Pittsburgh. Free entry for kids ages 4 and under. New course on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/TheChristmasEve5k

Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m.: Harmony Silvester 5K, Harmony. Also 1-Mile Fun Run at 4:15 p.m. and ball drop at 6 p.m. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harmony/HarmonySilvester5K

Dec. 31, 4 p.m.: Twilight 5K Run, 2-Mile Run (4:30 p.m.) and 2-Mile Walk (5 p.m.), Hollidaysburg. Run through the lights at Lakemont Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Altoona/TwilightRace

Jan. 1, 11 a.m.: New Year’s Resolution Run 5K and 1-Mile Fun Walk, Oakdale. Run on Panhandle Trail with new start at Helicon Brewing. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Oakdale/NewYearsResolutionRun5Kand1MileFamilyFunWalk

Jan. 3, 1 p.m.: Resolution Run 5K Run/Fun Walk, New Alexandria. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NewAlexandria/ResolutionRunWPA?_gl=1*nxordp*_ga*MTU0NDMyNzQ0Mi4xNzYwMzk1NTQx*_ga_QKEVS8BTWC*czE3NjQ1NDQ1NDMkbzQkZzEkdDE3NjQ1NDQ1NzAkajMzJGwwJGgw

Jan. 4, 10 a.m.: Set Your Year on Fire 5K Run/Walk, Ligonier. Free registration for ages 10 and under. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Ligonier/SetYourYearOnFire5k2023

Jan. 10, 9 a.m.: North Park Half Marathon, Allison Park. Run around North Park Lake. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/AllisonPark/NorthParkHalfMarathon

Jonathan’s Forever Young 5K, Sept. 14: Alexander Roccia, 1st Overall M, 19:00; Ava Spagnolli, 1st Overall W, 19:10; Stephen McCarthy, 3rd 30-39 M, 26:18; Gina Jacobs, 3rd 50-64 W, 33:17; Mark Nicely, 3rd 65+ M, 52:49; Dolly Nicely, 2nd 65+ W, 52:49; Elliott Ross, 21:16; Matt Dudkowski, 24:46; Brooklyn Adleff, 27:36; Jaiden Adleff, 28:17; Dan Donovan, 28:20; John Karpacs, 28:36; Lydia Turner, 28:52; Chris Crawford, 28:54; Brennan McTighe, 30:10; Mason Celender, 35:11; Patrick Wiskemann, 40:53; Cathy Wiskemann, 41:01; Nathan Kubica, 46:35; Matt Merhaut, 46:47; Dawn Merhaut, 46:49; Cheri Armitage, 48:36; Jamie Andra, 49:52; Layla Stiscale, 50:23; Avery Stieg, 50:25; Judy Adleff, 50:55; Ella Armstrong, 51:28; Camryn Matta, 51:28; Grace Richardson, 51:29; Kate Stieg, 54:07; Heather McCandless, 54:14; Samantha Laychak, 54:53; Becky Ponsandy, 56:13; Brett Parkhill, 58:19; Daniel Schirato, 58:40; Colleen Schirato, 58:42; Dave McTighe, 1:00:53; Theresa McTighe, 1:01:09; Harry Grant, 1:01:58; Tanner Kelminsky, 1:05:05; Takoda Lazor, 1:05:08; Shannon Lazor, 1:05:52; Matthew Lazor, 1:05:56

FAAP Fall Classic Trail 20K, Sept. 20: Dylan Beck, 1st Overall M, 1:45:49; Tarina Usher, 1st Overall W, 2:11:46; Vanessa Johnson, 2nd Overall W, 2:23:35; Adrienne Tolentino Essey, 3rd Overall W, 2:26:54; Kip Sudak, 1st 45-49 M, 1:52:15; Tim Huston, 1st 40-44 M, 1:53:19; Isaac Baylis, 1st 35-39 M, 1:54:33; Steve Schohn, 2nd 40-44 M, 1:55:26; Robert Pudlo, 1st 60-64 M, 1:56:40; Gregory Forsythe, 2nd 35-39 M, 1:58:54; Brian McCallister, 1st 30-34 M, 2:02:54; David O'Connell, 1st 55-59 M, 2:05:39; Tony Deluca, 3rd 45-49 M, 2:11:15; Jeff Meier, 2nd 30-34 M, 2:14:54; Franco Bonacchi, 2nd 55-59 M, 2:20:22; George Maier, 3rd 55-59 M, 2:23:19; Becky Choltco, 1st 40-44 W, 2:31:04; Jackie Welsh, 1st 25-29 W, 2:33:47; Sarah Philbrick, 2nd 45-49 W, 3:50:57; De’Anna Caligiuri, 2nd 40-44 W, 3:50:58; Ryan Pennington, 2:26:55

Applefest 5K Run, Oct. 1: Josh Duffie, 1st Overall, 16:20; Sabrina Smith, 1st Overall W, 20:36; Sue Dreves, 1st 50-59 W, 23:18; Halie Halberg, 3rd 14-19 W, 25:40; Bill Swanik, 3rd 60-69 M, 27:43; Valerie Sands, 2nd 70+ W, 40:04; Jim Gallagher, 23:03; Andrew Swartfager, 24:56; Kyle Helfrich, 25:50; Nathan Davis, 25:51; James Blauser, 25:57; Thomas Foster, 26:18; Ava Anderson, 28:39; Claire Attisano, 29:12; Brinley Raymer, 29:41; Brian Mong, 31:08; Renee Jenkins, 31:42; Anna Rekiel, 36:09; Robert Sands, 36:58; Larry Parson, 38:25; Erin Swartfager, 41:18; Toby Harpur, 41:19; Allison Strawbridge, 42:59; Abagayle Reed, 48:07; Leslie Henderson, 50:26

Applefest 5K Walk, Oct. 1: Conner Jones, 1st Overall M, 19:11; Aimee Sayles, 1st Overall W, 35:19; Johanna McCoy, 3rd Overall W, 40:23; Shane McCoy, 1st 50-59 M, 40:37; Rachel Giampaolo, 2nd 40-49 W, 42:38; Nathan Lloyd, 2nd 40-49 M, 43:55; Jenna Baglio, 1st 20-29 W, 44:24; Michelle Baglio, 44:24

Fort Ligonier Days 5K Run, Oct. 12: Dean Banko, 1st Overall M, 18:07; Grace Brubaker, 1st Overall W, 21:11; Heidi Smith, 2nd 30-39 W, 25:50; Micah DeMar, 24:55; C. Jones, 28:44; Mark Simonds, 28:57; Courtney Jones, 29:08; Isaac DeMar, 32:15; Heather Pate, 35:28; Douglas DeMar, 37:40; Robert Carrig, 39:17

Fort Ligonier Days 5K Walk, Oct. 12: Carl Kondrach, 1st Overall M, 30:11; Donna Stoltz, 1st Overall W, 34:43; Carol Schwaderer, 2nd 50-59 W, 41:36; Nikki Larson, 3rd 40-49 W, 48:04; Vicki Larson, 51:31; Mary Beth Lundell, 51:31

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle. Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-822-1577, email lotzak@consolidated.net