I'd warned everyone at my house and promised myself that I wouldn't do any manual labor until after the Pittsburgh Marathon. That included yard work, garden work and of course, housework.

Payment on that promise came due last Monday as I mowed the winter rye in my garden and waded through the accumulated neglect in my house. I tackled the piles of envelopes and catalogs that had accumulated in the dining room, filing some and consigning most to recycling until I found the table hidden underneath.

By 2 p.m. I felt my energy sinking like dishwater down the drain. I knew I had to get out of the house while I still had enough strength and daylight for a run on my only day off.

I scrubbed the floor wax from under my fingernails and changed from a ragged t-shirt and jeans to running shirt and shorts. I felt better already. Off with the fuzzy slippers with the holes in the soles and on with my running shoes — the transformation was complete.

I busted out the door like a kid leaving school in May and bounded down the outside stairs as if afraid that someone would catch me and haul me back to my housework.

Halfway down the driveway, I was free. I didn't even look back when my dogs began to howl at the living room window. There would be time for dog walking later.

Once on the road my feet settled into a familiar rhythm, that tap-tap-tap of maintenance pace, not so hard that I had to pant to keep up with my legs nor so slow that I felt weighed down.

Once I'd escaped the housework, I realized I had no plan beyond that of feeling the freedom of the road. My pace was ideal for meandering and I really had no destination in mind. My thoughts wandered as the familiar road ran step by step under my feet.

I smelled honeysuckle, the perfume descending from the tangle of wild bushes along Cherry Valley. Then the tang of skunk cabbage overpowered the sweetness as I ran along rippling Little Bull Creek in the shaded valley.

Then the freshness of newly mowed grass and the dark wormy smell of turned earth in a neighbor's flower bed reminded me of my gardening chores abandoned at home.

My meandering led me to Mom's office, where I stopped for a quick rest. She offered me a snack and I shared my pretzel with Rusty, her canine companion who spends his workday under the desk shredding paper. It wouldn't be a proper visit with Mom without a little motherly advice to go. She told me to take it easy on my run home, reminding me that we were both still recovering from the marathon.

The first up hills made me painfully aware that my body hadn't fully recovered from the marathon effort of a few weeks ago. But with each easy mile, I came closer to refilling my fuel tanks both physically and mentally.

On the way home, I stopped by the local farm market to browse the spring produce and strolled through their greenhouse looking for unusual annuals. I took the long way home to see if another neighbor had her "Fresh Eggs for Sale" sign out by the driveway.

In the distance, I heard the drone of a tractor as it turned furrow after curving furrow. When I finally reached the edge of the field, the farmer waved from the seat of his John Deere. He seemed as satisfied and absorbed by his monotonous activity as I was by mine.

He pulled his hat a little lower as he made the turn, knowing that each circle brought him five feet closer to home. I squinted into the sun and let my feet carry me back to my waiting work.

I'm still amazed that running 10 miles isn't nearly so tiring as scrubbing a floor.

Upcoming events

Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Ogden Newspapers Masters Mile, Wheeling, WV. Run down Wheeling Hill with shuttle to the start. Cash prizes. www.ogden20k.com

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Ogden Newspapers 20K, Wheeling, WV. Challenging course, cash prizes, post race picnic. www.ogden20k.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Dahoga Dash 5K, Wilcox. Out and back, first race in Elk County Triple Crown. 814-965-5482 or randylindberg@hotmail.com

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Invisible Children 5K, Mars. Starts at Adams Park. 724-766-9481

Monday, 9 a.m.: Kevin Gatons Memorial 5K, Greensburg. Starts at Lynch Field. jcienzi@mac.com

May 29, 7 p.m.: Park and Run 5K and 1 Mile Run, Zelienople. Starts at Zelienople Community Park. joella@zoominternet.net or 724-321-4265

May 30, 9 a.m.: Freeport Flash 5K, Sarver. Out and back on Butler-Freeport Rail Trail benefits Freeport Area Cross Country Boosters. www.freeportcrosscountry.com

June 3: National Running Day. Let's go! www.runningday.org

June 6, 7:45 a.m.: Race-A-Palooza Half Marathon, Lower Burrell. Starts at Wolf Pack Park, run along Allegheny River on Clara Treadway River Parkway. 724-335-9191 or alasure@vpfymca.org

June 6, 8:30 a.m.: Race-A-Palooza 5K, Lower Burrell. Wooded, shady and scenic. 724-335-9191 or alasure@vpfymca.org

June 7, 8:30 a.m.: Greenfield Glide 5K, Pittsburgh. Cross country run through Schenley Park. 412-422-8885 or www.active.com

June 12, 7 p.m.: Riverview 5K, Pittsburgh. Run through Riverview Park, first event of Citiparks footraces. www.riverview5k.com

June 13, 8:30 a.m.: Middlesex Mad Dash 5K, Valencia. Starts at Middlesex Community Park. 724-473-1198

June 13, 9 a.m.: Quality Life Cup Series 5K Event #2, Fair Winds Manor, Sarver. Also music, yard sale, crafts and games. 724-431-0770, ext. 2104 or MikeL@QualityLifeServices.com

June 21, 8 a.m.: Father's Day 5K/ 10K Run/ Walk, Pittsburgh. Starts at River Front Park, fights prostate cancer. 412-572-6830 or www.fathersday5k.com

June 26, 9 a.m.: Butler Road Race 5 Mile and 2K, Butler. Benefits scholarships for Butler County kids. 724-282-7977 or butlerhealthsystem.org/brr.htm

Race results

Pittsburgh Half Marathon, May 3: Greg Costello,1st Overall M,1:07:54; Daniel Spaulding,3rd Overall M,1:13:48; Rahab Ndungu,1st Overall W,1:17:16; Joel Shaeffer,3rd 35-39 M,1:23:28; Michael Smocer,3rd 40-44 M,1:25:16; Endre Stogard,3rd 30-34 M,1:26:13; Margretta Lutz,1st 70+ W,2:36:35; Christopher Bloch,1:33:00; Robert Terhune,1:36:28; Matthew Sol,1:36:30; Michael Finikiotis,1:38:56; Chris Tully,1:39:46; Jody Lobert,1:39:55; Michael Druschel,1:41:19; Alicia Thompson,1:41:27; Orryn Sledge,1:42:43; Amanda Johns,1:42:46; John Dannhardt,1:42:58; Emma Christensen,1:43:08; Sean Columbo,1:44:13; Jessica Repp,1:44:30; Joe Schmidt,1:44:40; Christine Lazarra,1:44:54; Christopher Lazzara,1:44:55; Wes Huang,1:45:11; Taina Panichella,1:45:45; David Rishel,1:45:51; Richard Colonello,1:46:27; Todd Fuller,1:46:59; Alex Ussia,1:47:21; Heather Miller,1:47:45; Edward Rawlings,1:47:49; Ed Kush,1:47:52; Jeffrey Bauer,Jr.,1:47:14; Veronica Jeremko,1:48:12; Kelly Coffield,1:48:13; Daniel Johns,1:48:49; Christopher Anderson,1:49:26; Mike Druschel,1:49:35; Kate Bonaquist,1:49:36; Mark Blasinsky,1:49:36; Carleen Burns,1:49:38; Rick Becker,1:49:45; Adam Voll,1:50:11; Emily Utz,1:50:22; Edward Miller,1:50:39; Julia Simonovich-Strejcek,1:51:13; Dan Lynch,1:51:25; June Kimmich,1:51:50; Joelleen Yerace,1:52:05; David Johns,1:52:11; Gary Lotz,1:52:25; Donald Dawson,1:52:28; Joseph Woodhall,1:52:36; Joe Pohl,1:53:08; Grace Saluga,1:53:10; Matt Fernandez,1:53:38; Joel Riley,1:53:49; Pamela Fredericks,1:54:02; Joella Richard Baker,1:54:03; James Druschel,1:54:08; Stephen Smith,1:54:16; John Bergonzi,1:54:17; Don Saluga,1:54:22; Patricia Bellizia,1:54:44; Kim Altsman,1:54:53; Mark Altsman,1:54:52; Michael Helbling,1:55:07; Sarah Sims,1:55:24; Stacy Juchno,1:55:53; Patrick Nipper,1:55:55; Alex Brosky,1:55:57; J.J. Hersley,1:56:01; Cathy Kirsch,1:56:05; Dawn Carlson,1:56:11; Jeffrey Sebastian,1:56:36; Francie Richie,1:57:29; Pamela Kristoff,1:57:40; Kristen Barsic,1:57:41; Lou Peterson,1:57:45; Carleen Latess,1:57:51; Lynn Royhab,1:57:53; Steven Mix,1:58:11; Dianne Brooks,1:58:13; Kristen Losasso,1:58:41; Carl Heinlein,1:58:58; Connie Hoffer,1:59:03; Julia Murray,1:59:07; Tom Robinson,1:59:07; Michelle Ellery,1:59:14; Sarah Hoffman,1:59:25; Jenna Micsky,1:59:26; Lori Scott,1:59:26; Blake Lloyd,1:59:29; Christi Novak,1:59:44; Matthew Clark,2:00:15; Amanda Lyons,2:00:15; Don Accamando,2:00:16; Gabriel Alexander,2:00:46; Linda Etherson,2:00:48; Amanda Fraser,2:01:14; Alexander Cameron,2:01:18; Debbie Gallagher,2:01:19; Kerry Higgs,2:02:09; Darryl Tieken,2:02:10; Lisa Grupp,2:02:38; Rachel Lunn,2:03:16; Renee Gliptis,2:03:19; Clifford Franklin,2:03:27; Charles Smith,2:03:28; Jill Jackson,2:03:31; Tracey Smith,2:03:35; Thomas Murray,2:03:44; Jim Healy,2:04:03; Kristen Helbling,2:04:08; Trish McCarthy,2:04:36; Mickey Flood,Jr.,2:04:42; Jessica Dick,2:04:48; Neil Strosnider, 2:04:48; Kathleen Filiaggi,2:04:50; Peter Hyde,2:05:07; Thomas Puskar,2:05:16; Irene Watts,2:05:23; Neil Gregorio,2:05:26; Emily Ostlund,2:05:31; Alan Vogel,2:05:34

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle

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