After months of sticking fairly religiously to my training plan and meeting with the same group Saturday after Saturday, I'd expected to finish with a victorious celebration at the Pittsburgh Marathon.

Instead, my marathon and its celebration unraveled in a tragically quiet denouement as I hurried from the finish line to the funeral home following my sister's unexpected death.

My lack of a punctuating finish to the winter's training lingered into May. I ran a surprisingly strong Race for the Cure 5K after a complete week of detraining, but I drifted through the remainder of the month not caring whether I even made it out the door.

Still fighting post-marathon fatigue and with no plan to follow, I was easily distracted by other activities. End-of-school commitments like track-and-field day, cross country run, testing and awards offered convenient excuses for not running.

My evenings were split between pre-vacation packing and watching the Stanley Cup playoffs — no wonder I didn't have time to run.

It seemed my running was suffering the triple whammy of no energy, no motivation and no plan. But I'd been there before. I recognized the signs of post-marathon blues, this time compounded by life's unfortunate circumstances.

The only way to tackle the triple whammy is from three sides. I'd have to muster my energy resources, find something enticing to motivate me, then make a new plan to run myself out of the doldrums.

The energy part was the easiest. The end of school gave me a few extra mornings to sleep late. And I finished the spring housecleaning I'd postponed, so I could rest blissfully in my now uncluttered living room.

Finally, I took a week's vacation at the beach. Sleep late, nap under the beach canopy, eat seafood. My biggest responsibility and energy expenditure was in cheering for the Penguins.

I found my motivation in several sources. I saved a stack of running magazines for the 10-hour car trip, and, in case I ran out of inspiring stories, I brought an inch-thick account of the first 100 years of the Boston Marathon by Tom Derderian.

It's hard not to get motivated in one of my favorite running locations. As soon as I smelled the salt air and heard the faint and constant rush of surf beyond the Hatteras dunes, I wanted to lace up my shoes for a beach run.

The planning took — well, a little planning. I'd begun to read "Run Faster from the 5K to the Marathon," by Brad Hudson, a manual on "how to be your own best coach."

With Hudson's suggestions, I reviewed my last training plan with an eye to what worked — long runs with a group and hill workouts at least every two weeks. And what didn't work — not enough timed runs to reinforce pacing.

By Thursday of vacation week, I not only had my next training schedule roughed out but one for Mom, too. We'd both be running toward a peak Buffalo Creek Half Marathon in October.

On Friday, my last vacation day at the beach, I took one final run on the packed sand under the blue sky and beside the bluer Atlantic. It felt like my first run away from those post-marathon blues and into a new chapter in my running book.

I strode down the beach, strong and full of energy, motivated to get back to my running routine and to try the new tricks I'm planning to add to make this my best training plan yet.

Yeah, I'm back.

Saturday, 7:30 a.m.: Run 2 Read 15K, Fairmont, W.Va. 5K starts at 9:15. 304-366-6055 or run2read@yahoo.comSaturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: Kalajainen Classic 5K, New Castle. Benefits American Cancer Society. 724-652-5105 or dreedo55@aol.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: Chardonnay 5K, Mercer. 724-662-1910 or www.coolspringsfitness.comSunday, 8 a.m.: Father's Day 5K and 10K Run-Walk, Pittsburgh. Helps fight prostate cancer. 412-572-6830 or www.fathersday5k.comSunday, 9 a.m.: Panther Hollow Challenge 10K and 5K, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh. Part of Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners Club series. 412-496-2204 or cgarber_us@comcast.netJune 24, 7 p.m.: Sharpsville 5K, Sharpsville. Kids half-mile run at 7:45. Part of weeklong festival. 724-456-3828 or petevila@hotmail.comJune 26, 9 a.m.: Butler Road Race 5-Mile and 2K, Butler. 724-282-7977 or butlerhealthsystem.org/brr.htmJuly 4, 8:30 a.m.: Race for Virginia and Friends 5K, Cranberry Community Park, Cranberry Township. 724-772-7429 or www.raceforvirginia.orgJuly 4, 8:30 a.m.: Freedom 5K Run, Walk and Fitness Walk, Greensburg. 724-837-5468 or freedom5k@comcast.netJuly 4, 9 a.m.: Hampton Rotary 5K, Allison Park. 412-486-0400 or clochner@consolidated.netJuly 4, 9 a.m.: Brentwood Firecracker 5K Run, Brentwood. Discount for family of three. 412-882-5694 or morgan.mcw@verizon.netJuly 5, 8:30 a.m.: Corry Fest 5k, Corry. Also half-mile kids run at 8:45. 814-664-7757 or clintaltman@yahoo.comJuly 11, 9 a.m.: Quality Life Cup Series 5K, Chicora. Starts at Chicora Medical Center. 724-431-0770, Ext. 2104 or mikel@qualitylifeservices.comJuly 11, 7:30 a.m.: Butler Adult Triathlon, Moraine State Park. quarter-mile swim, 7-mile bike ride, 5K run. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.org

<B>Mars Band on the Run 5K, May 16:</B> Nick Edinger, 1st Overall M, 17:39; Justin Lubecki, 2nd Overall M, 18:11; Jake Montag, 3rd Overall M, 18:13; Paulina Hanczewski, 1st Overall W, 21:14; Emilee Hertweck, 2nd Overall W, 21:20; Dorothy Moxie, 3rd Overall W, 22:49; Joe Farrell, 1st Masters M, 21:18; Debbie Deddo, 1st Masters W, 22:59; Chris Alikhani, 1st 15-19 M, 18:40; Chris Grooms, 2nd 15-19 M, 18:42; Sean Gannon, 1st 14 and Under M, 19:27; Scott Slaney, 2nd 14 and under M, 19:42; Michael Baumgartner, 2nd 25-29 M, 20:05; Bob Cunningham, 3rd 25-29 M, 20:14; Ryan McMahon, 3rd 14 and under M, 20:43; Jake McMahon, 3rd 15-19 M, 20:49Jeff Smith, 1st 40-44 M, 21:21; Jacek Hanczewski, 1st 50-54 M, 21:41; Ken Zellars, 1st 60-64 M, 22:09; Jim Burns, 2nd 50-54 M, 22:32; Roger Murray, 3rd 50-54 M, 22:46; Holly Bauer, 1st 30-34 W, 23:18; Laura Hoover, 1st 25-29 W, 23:23; T.J. Pynos, 3rd 40-44 M, 23:39; Carly Clark, 1st 15-19 W, 23:44; Jennifer Zangardi, 2nd 25-29 W, 23:45; Bev Weston, 2nd 55-59 W, 24:21; Scott Wood, 3rd 35-39 M, 24:37; Carl Hill, 2nd 45-49 M, 24:46; Jesse Rack, 3rd 25-29 W, 24:49; Erin Catalina, 2nd 30-34 W, 25:10; Elizabeth Meyer, 1st 14 & Under W, 25:19; Caitlin Farrell, 2nd 14 and under W, 25:23; Mark Litton, 3rd 45-49 M, 25:31; Denise Ejzak, 1st 40-44 W, 25:39; Craig Stauffer, 2nd 55-59 M, 25:42Marilyn LaRocca, 2nd 45-49 W, 26:08; Ed Doyle, 3rd 55-59 M, 25:42; Tracey Weaver, 1st 35-39 W, 26:30; Ginny Hertweck, 2nd 35-39 W, 27:13; Corinne Gressang, 2nd 15-19 W, 27:39; Suzanne Leonberg, 2nd 50-54 W, 27:53; Alyssa Hodkouski, 3rd 15-19 W, 28:03; Jake Seamon, 2nd 20-24 M, 28:05; Lauren Chodkowski, 1st 20-24 W, 28:13; Kristina LaRocca, 3rd 14 & Under W, 28:31; Kristi Hayes, 3rd 35-39 W, 28:45; Pamela Romeo, 3rd 50-54 W, 28:59; Melanie Miller, 2nd 20-24 W, 29:00; Lori Colella, 3rd 45-49 W, 29:16; Ashleigh Smith, 3rd 20-24 W, 29:57; George Knaell, 3rd 65-69 M, 29:59Kim Zappi, 2nd 40-44 W, 30:21; Marcia Semple, 1st 65-69 W, 31:27; Margretta Lutz, 1st 70 and over W, 31:52; Sarah Bordick, 3rd 40-44 W, 32:18; Janice Porter, 1st 60-64 W, 49:25; Kenneth Dishart, 3rd 70 and over M, 1:02:30Sean Farrell, 23:16; Bruce Barnes, 23:26; Cory Myers, 23:28; Justin Stirling, 23:36; John Pristas, 23:47; T. Lyle Ferdeber, 23:50; Quentin Torgerson, 23:53; Jim Heltzell, 23:59; Bill Tracy, 24:31; Evan Pappert, 24:40; Brian Zima, 24:51; Kyle Deddo, 25:27; Jacob Porter, 25:28; Daniel Christo, 25:36; Jonathan Bost, 25:40; Bob Drozynski, 25:41; Eric Huff, 26:25; Jeff Catalina, 26:32; David Molitor, 26:34; Ryan Popko, 26:35; Ian Steward, 26:47; Cortney Kush, 26:53; Angela Marchiori, 27:17; Brandon Richards, 27:42; Robb Miller, 28:35; Gary Golebiewski, 28:38; Shannon McChesney, 28:50; Daniel Morgan, 28:55; Heather Slater, 29:10; Thomas Esterline, 29:25; Amanda Sommers, 29:29; Samantha Demarco, 29:32; Denise Richards, 29:33; Lisa Myers, 29:44Lee Ann Stamm, 30:05; Jessica Hunter, 30:07; Larissa Dover, 30:09; David Thaman, 30:13; Erin Linden, 30:15; Kurt Stridinger, 30:19; Dennis Clark, 30:35; Lisa Moss, 30:39; Melanie West, 30:47; Jansen Douglass, 31:02; Jessica Long, 31:21; Krista Poloyac, 31:39; Marty Erich, 31:40; Rebecca Beck, 31:50; Elyse Dover, 32:08; Linda Ryan, 32:23; Karen Munsy, 32:27; Christian Ola, 32:29; Nicole Neuschwander, 32:35; Krista Anderson, 32:36Rebecca Lindenberger, 32:47; Mark Lawless, 32:51; Lily Murray, 32:59; Julia Murray, 33:01; Eric Duchess, 33:43; Laura Augustine, 33:51; Nicole Sommers, 34:10; Ben Houston, 34:11; Jamie Reddinger, 34:47; Mary Johnson, 34:49; Anne Semmler, 35:16; Tyler Latch, 35:17; Jim Latch, 35:18; Tara Dover, 35:27; Beth Ann Skinner, 35:43; Balendra Sutharshan, 35:50; Jamie Munsy, 36:55; Kylie Concelman, 37:40; Libby Himmelstein, 37:47Gina Richards, 38:10; Denise Sommers, 38:39; Casey Boggs, 39:24; Cassandra Krul, 39:28; Kelly Porter, 42:52; Eve Powell, 43:01; Julie Mutmansky, 43:24; Ashley Moss, 46:11; Craig Moss, 46:12; Carol Stefura, 46:57; Patty Stefura, 46:59; Steve Blair, 48:27; Willis Haas, 48:28; Diana Toy, 49:15; Dave Hay, 52:04; Jeannine Strohmyer, 52:07; Lisa Chodkowski, 52:07; Kerri Hay, 58:00; Gina Ellenberger, 1:02:26; Susan Zivkovich, 1:02:26; Mary Jane Zivkovich, 1:02:27; Thomas Coleman, 1:02:28Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail: lotzak@consolidated.net<B><I>Pat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.</I></B>