After a full season of racing, especially following the peak effort of a half or full marathon or intense cross country season, it’s customary to take at least a few weeks off to regroup and recover.

But while you’re resting your legs and head, you don’t have to rest your heart.

Winter’s offseason is a great time to put others in front of personal goals and to run or walk for a cause. Two area runs on the next two weekends benefit others while offering runners a reason to gather together and keep moving.

This Sunday at 9 a.m., Trot for Tots 5K and 10K in Oakdale celebrates its 11th year of providing toys for needy children. Trot for Tots benefits Amachi, an organization which provides mentors to children with parents who are in prison or under supervision.

“Amachi” is a Nigerian Ibo word that means “Who knows but what God has brought us through this child.” The organization is a partnership of secular and religious groups with the same goal in mind —- to mentor at-risk children.

Amachi provides mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters and Christmas toys through Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree. Last year, Trot for Tots donated more than 250 toys to the program and all participants are urged to bring a new toy to donate.

Trot for Tots offers both a 5K and 10K distance. Both events start and finish at Oakdale Community Center on a gentle out and back course on the crushed limestone of the Panhandle Trail.

With the 10K event starting 45 minutes later than the 5K, there should be plenty of running room for all participants on the rail trail.

Runners are rewarded for their efforts and generosity with a post race soup buffet complete with hot chocolate, musical entertainment and numerous door prizes. Participants in both 5K and 10K may earn competitive awards for overall and age groups. Anyone who signs up for both the 5K and 10K earns a bonus gift.

Register for Trot for Tots online at www.race360.com, at Elite Runners and Walkers on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2 and 3, 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. prior to the event or at the Oakdale Community Center on race day beginning at 7:30–8:45 a.m. Call 412-490-0881 or visit www.eliterunners.com for more information.

Arthritis Foundation commemorates the holiday season with runs throughout the country in November and December. Pittsburgh’s Jingle Bell Run/ Walk 5K on Dec. 10, now in its 27th year, is an annual Christmas tradition for runners and walkers. More than 1,100 participants completed the USATF certified 5K on Pittsburgh’s Northshore last year.

The Jingle Bell Run is truly a holiday festival with a wellness festival, live music and sleigh rides beginning at 7:30 a.m. on the Northshore. Well behaved dogs are welcome to attend the run and the costume contest for canines and people at 9:30 a.m.

The 5k Run/ Walk begins at 11 a.m. on a nearly level loop course. The awards ceremony for top finishers and fundraisers takes place at noon followed by a Holly Jolly Happy Hour at McFadden’s from noon to 2 p.m.

The annual Jingle Bell Run may be fun, but it’s a party with a purpose. The event raises funds and awareness for the Arthritis Foundation, an organization dedicated to battling a disease which affects millions of Americans.

Although runners may be more familiar with the degenerative joint disease of osteoarthritis (OA), an estimated 1.3 million Americans, three-quarters of them women, suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This chronic inflammation of the lining in the joints leads to long term joint damage, chronic pain and disability.

Although RA usually appears in people between the ages of 30 and 60, juvenile arthritis (JA) occurs in approximately 294,000 children. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but treatments are available to lesson the pain and joint deformity.

The Arthritis Foundation provides health and exercise programs, advocates for arthritis issues and funds research into causes and treatments for the many forms of arthritis.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Your choice of mileage, post run coffee and snacks. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Oil City’s Christmas Past Cold Man’s 5K, Oil City. Run on Samuel Justis Bike Trail. shinds@oilcity.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Taking Steps Against Cancer 5K Walk & Run, Somerset. 814-233-6695 or ellenos6@gmail.com

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Trot for Tots 5K, Oakdale. Out and back on Panhandle Trail, post race soup buffet with hot chocolate. www.race360.com/14352 or 412-490-0881

Sunday, 9:45 a.m.: Trot for Tots 10K, Oakdale. See above listing. www.race360.com/14352 or 412-490-0881

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Deerslayer Trail Run, South Park. Choice of 4 or 8 miles on trails, part of Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners series. 724-348-6012 or bmcglothlin@hotmail.com

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Nittany Valley Half Marathon, State College. Begins and ends on Penn State campus. 814-571-1960 or dhel@psu.edu

Dec. 10, 10 a.m.: Snowflake 5K, Erie. Starts at Presque Isle State Park’s Rotary Pavilion. 814-774-3209 or dana@erie-runnersclub.org

Dec. 10, 10 a.m.: Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run/ Walk, Pittsburgh. Run or walk on Pittsburgh’s Northshore, pet and person costume contest, wellness expo. 412-250-3342 or www.jbrpgh.kintera.org

Dec. 17, 11 a.m.: Old Fashioned Christmas in Volant 5K, Volant. Starts at Scooter’s Ice Cream Shop. bonnherb@yahoo.com

Dec. 31, 3 p.m.: Harmony Silvester 5K Race & 1 Mile Fun Run, Harmony. Part of New Year’s Eve Celebration. 724-452-3149 or saltemus@zoominternet.net

Dec. 31, 6:30 p.m.: First Night 5K Resolution Run, State College. 814-571-1960 or dhel@psu.edu

Jan. 7, 9:30 a.m.: James V. Snyder Resolution Run, North Park. 412-607-3060 or info@jvresolutionrun.com

Jan. 8, 9 a.m.: Frigid 5 Mile, North Park. www.race360.com/14353 or 412-490-0881

Race results

Armstrong County YMCA 5K, Nov. 12: David Devivo, 1st Overall M, 18:32; Kody Flanders, 2nd Overall M, 19:10; Kara Shirley, 1st Overall W, 22:06; Robert Smith, 1st 10-14 M, 22:23; Jinny Hertweck, 1st 30-39 W, 24:08; Kevin Burke, 3rd 30-39 M, 25:23; Janet Stewart, 1st 40-49 W, 27:49; Alexandra Soule, 1st 9 & Under W, 33:19; Ada Rumberg, 1st 50-59 W, 39:12; Mindy Knappenberger, 3rd 50-59 W, 43:45; Jeffrey Dockum, 25:42; Lou Lodovico, 30:18; Brian Kepple, 32:37; Bruce Soule, 33:19; Don Cescon, 39:11; Bruce Stright, 44:03; Leigh Ann Thompson, 45:34; Robert D. Smith, 46:37; Traci Morris, 48:25; Morgan McFadden, 49:37; Heather Clark, 59:34

Armstrong YMCA 10K, Nov. 12: Brian Forester, 1st Overall M, 36:51; Dean Rippee, 2nd Overall M, 37:50; Kristy Brown, 1st Overall W, 44:54; Greg Walters, 1st 20-29 M, 46:32; Lou Alaksin, 1st 60+ M, 46:50; Jordan Babcock, 2nd 20-29 M, 47:21; Scott Brown, 2nd 40-49 M, 48:32; John Antinossi, 2nd 60+ M, 49:23; Karl Hart, 3rd 40-49 M, 52:06; Sherree May, 3rd 50-59 W, 55:39; Ken Tack, 3rd 60+ M, 59:11; Wendy Collins, 3rd 40-49 W, 1:04:37; Robyn Stewart, 58:54; Dez Csizmadia, 59:55; Leslie Babcock, 1:01:13; Vickie Turner, 1:08:01

Treesdale 5K, Nov. 26: Heath Piper, 1st Overall M, 18:42; Brian Forester, 2nd Overall M, 19:20; Kim Noble, 1st Overall W, 20:42; Kristen Cheman, 2nd Overall W, 21:09; Katie Lutz, 3rd Overall W, 21:24; Joseph Wuenschell, 2nd 35-39 M, 20:50; Mark Courtney, 2nd 55-59 M, 20:54; Sean Girdwood, 3rd 35-39 M, 21:38; Mark Casteel, 1st 40-44 M, 21:53; Camden Seybert, 1st 11 & Under M, 22:30; Dorothy Moxie, 1st 45-49 W, 23:18; Laura Hardesty, 1st 20-24 W, 23:35; Josh Funyak, 1st 16-19 M, 24:22; Bruce Hall, 2nd 40-4 M, 24:26; Ron Hartle, 2nd 55-59 M, 25:09; Mike Neuman, 3rd 55-59 M, 25:24; Buddy Turner, 1st 60-64 M, 28:03; Bethany Catanzaro, 3rd 12-15 W, 28:09; Suzanne Leonberg, 1st 55-59 W, 28:29; Amy Martin, 2nd 45-49 W, 29:25; Ann Cheman, 1st 60-64 W, 30:10; Amanda Fernandez, 3rd 20-24 W, 31:25; Jesica Wuenschell, 2nd 35-39 W, 31:29; Vickie Turner, 2nd 55-59 W, 34:35; Marcia Semple, 1st 65-69 W, 36:25;7; Anthony Wuenschell, 22:02; Jacob Zimmer, 25:29; Bob Elwell, 27:14; Sarah Weigand, 28:10; Christopher Wuenshell, 28:29; Kurt Beitler, 29:09; Maggie Elwell, 29:22; Colleen McClskey, 30:04; Janet Stewart, 30:45; Vincenzia Vargo, 31:35; Anthony Vargo, 31:36; Emily Householder, 31:41; Robyn Stewart, 32:00; Mary Ehmann, 33:24; Kelly Butler, 37:42; Raymie Bell, 42:03; Ed Hardesty, 46:17; Ruby Clark, 1:19:18

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle