I believe that facing and overcoming challenges and adversity in training makes for stronger racing.

That’s why I show up each Saturday for group long runs, braving the elements and the frozen terrain in pursuit of spring PRs.

But while I may be dedicated and consistent, I’m not crazy. When offered the chance to spend a weekend in southern Florida, I abandoned my training group and packed my shorts, running shoes and sunscreen.

Wellington, Fla., wouldn’t normally be my choice of vacations destinations, but the upscale inland town that calls itself “The Winter Equestrian Capital of the World” has become my son and daughter in-law’s new home. I couldn’t turn down their invitation to visit, even though I’d miss my weekly long training run in Pennsylvania.

On Saturday at 8 a.m., I checked in with my Pennsylvania group runners ready to venture into the 18 degree weather. I pictured them stomping into the gray morning, hopping over slush and gingerly tiptoeing across black ice patches on Browns Hill Road.

Although I missed the company of my running friends, I didn’t miss the bundled layers, fleece hats and oversized mittens I knew they’d be wearing. I felt light and (relatively) fast in my short sleeves, shorts and sunglasses.

I had a ten-mile easy run penciled into my schedule for the day. Being in an unfamiliar area, I didn’t want to complicate my run with twists, turns and getting lost. I simply pushed “Record” on my GPS and began to run straight down the wide sidewalk along the four-lane street.

Although I enjoyed running with the warm sun on my back and blue skies overhead, I missed the diversity of my Pennsylvania hilly, winding back roads. In this flat, open country, the scenery stays the same for miles. And I knew my legs would regret running ten miles on concrete sidewalks — I hoped Zack stocks ibuprofen in his medicine cabinet.

Then, at about two miles into my run, I saw a horse and rider ahead waiting for a traffic light. They crossed from a side street and began to trot down a grassy trail. I followed. Like Alice following the White Rabbit to Wonderland, I followed this unknown horse and rider into a wonderland made for runners.

The town of Wellington boasts nearly 5,000 acres of equestrian property within its borders. While most of this acreage is dedicated to the comfort and athletic training of horses with stables, pastures and polo grounds, one feature appeals to runners of the two-legged variety, too.

The Wellington Equestrian Trail system is 57 miles of flat and straight grass-over-packed-sand trail giving horses, runners and cyclists a soft and traffic free lane on which to travel. The approximately ten-foot wide trail is bordered by hedges, walls and tropical greenery of the well-maintained equestrian venues on one side and rail fence which separates it from the main roadway on the other.

Like seams between patchwork quilt squares, the trail system stitches together the pastures, stables and residential areas of the community of Wellington.

When I reached the trail, my legs immediately felt relief in the soft, sandy surface. I stepped lighter, skimming the ground instead of pounding the unforgiving pavement. And my mind, too, relaxed. I breathed deeper, the scent of crushed green grass rising from under my feet.

I followed the trail for miles beside paddocks, parks and pastures. A solitary horse and rider practiced jumps on an adjacent course while a blue heron fished a waterway paralleling the trail.

Lulled by the beat of my own footsteps, I didn’t realize how far I’d gone. I reached the trail’s end and a dead end in the road, caught my breath and peered into the green, watery horizon of the Loxahatchee Wilderness Area, part of the remaining primitive Everglades wildness.

I longed to go farther, to investigate the Florida beyond the trimmed palm trees, manicured lawns and air conditioned polo clubs. But my GPS was an invisible tether to the civilized world, reading 4.92 miles covered so far.

I turned back — first to concrete sidewalks and cars on the four-lane, then to Zack and Melissa in their new home, and finally to the plane and crisp Pennsylvania snow. Next Saturday, it’s back to training.

Upcoming events

Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Post run coffee and snacks. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Big Beaver Big Dawgs Winter Training Runs, Beaver. Group of all ages and abilities running various distances. Starts at Second Avenue near Fire Station. http://bbbigdawgs.weebly.com

Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.: Elite Runners Group Run, Robinson Township. Weekly three mile fun run for all abilities. www.eliterunners.com

Wednesdays, 6 p.m.: Elite Runners Group Run, Monroeville. Weekly four to five mile group run for all abilities. www.eliterunners.com

Wednesdays, 7 p.m.: MoJo Sports Group Run, Seven Fields. Run three to seven miles with friends. 724-772-2808

Saturday, 9 a.m.: RSG1 Valentine’s Day Race, North Park. Choice of 5K, 10K or 15K. 724-272-8797 or info@remisglut1foundation.com

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Cold Hands Warm Heart 5K, Indiana. Starts at UpTown Fitness. 724-549-8436 or www.active.com

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Community Options Cupids Chase 5K, Pittsburgh. Run on Northshore Trail. 412-431-7079 or bridget.haney@comop.org

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Rotary Club 5K, Kittanning. Run starts at new YMCA. 724-545-9622 or jbeeker@armstrongymca.org

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Erie Runners Club Valentine Prediction Run, Erie. Run starts at Presque Isle Rotary Pavilion. Those finishing the four to six mile course in the closest predicted time win chocolate awards. 814-774-3209 or dana@erie-runnersclub.org

Feb. 16, 9 a.m.: Freeze Your Lymphs Off 5K for Lymphoma, Sewickley. Starts at Edgeworth Elementary School. Jb.lymphoma5k@gmail.com

Feb. 16, 10 a.m.: Trout Island Tromp 4.6 miles, Sharpsville. Run on rail-trail has 200 participant limit. 724-301-6775 or info@mctrails.org

Feb. 23, 10 a.m.: 37th Annual Spring Thaw, North Park. Your choice of 10, 15 or 20 miles around North Park Lake. 412-490-0881 or www.race360.com/14354

March 3, 8:30 a.m.: Mill Creek Distance Classic, Youngstown, OH. Choice of half marathon or 5k. 330-727-6070 or ytownrunners.org.

March 9, 9 a.m.: March Mad Dash, North Park. Choice of 5K, 5 Mile or 10 Mile distances beginning at North Park Boat House. 412-585-2361 or sandy_mcknight@hotmail.com

March 9, 9:30 a.m.: NBARC St. Patrick’s Day 5K, New Brighton. Starts at Big Rock Park. 724-495-9417 or hilfinger@newbrightonborough.org

March 9, 10 a.m.: NEADS Canines for Combat Veterans 5K Run/ Walk, Rochester. Run through Brady’s Run Park. darrionclouse@comcast.net

March 9, 11 a.m.: Ellport Boro Commuity Winter Wonderland 5K, Ellwood City. Scenic 5K with lots of post race refreshments, indoor awards ceremony. 724-758-2506 or bonnherb@yahoo.com

March 10, 9 a.m.: Athletic Trainer Run 5K and 1 Mile, Pittsburgh. Starts at UPMC Sports Medicine Center. 412-432-3770 or sanchioligi@upmc.edu

March 16, 7:30 a.m.: Shamrock Shuffle Half Marathon, Harmony. Challenging course. joella@zoominternet.net

March 16, 9 a.m.: Chippewa Township St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run, Beaver Falls. Also two mile walk on rolling course. 724-843-8177 or wissnerc@comcast.net

March 16, 10 a.m.: Shamrock Shuffle 5K, Harmony. Also 1 Mile event at 11:15 A.M. with rolling hills. joella@zoominternet.net

March 16, 10 a.m.: Lucky Leprechaun 5K, Knox. Starts at Keystone High School. 814-229-6112 or coachenator@windstream.net

Sept. 29: City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5K and 10K, Pittsburgh. Registration is now open with discounts for the first 6000 registered. www.rungreatrace.com

Race results

Frigid Five Mile, Jan. 13: Matthew Haupt, 1st Overall M, 27:50; Kim Schwabenbauer, 1st Overall W, 31:15; Holly Thomas, 2nd Overall W, 31:42; Jay Larimore, 1st 35-39 M, 29:09; Chris Rotelli, 2nd 35-39 M, 29:14; Mark Courtney, 2nd 55-59 M, 33:55; Erin Nicotra, 1st 35-39 W, 34:14; Lee Ferguson, 2nd 45-49 M, 37:35; Kate Kelly, 1st 20-24 W, 39:39; Edna Spang, 2nd 40-44 W, 40:03; Kristan Casteel, 3rd 35-39 W, 41:01; Cindy Waltemire, 1st 55-59 W, 45:13; Tom Murray, 2nd 70+ M, 50:21; Lois Adams, 2nd 60-64 W, 58:51; Matt Manna, 32:32; Noah Bowser, 33:40; David Rod Vest, 33:44; Mark Casteel, 34:26; Jennifer Bole, 35:33; Bill Schessler, 36:14; John Evankovich, 36:47; Kenneth Elias, 36:58; Steve Schupp, 37:10; Donny Wallace, 37:20; Aaron Depew, 37:23; Kurt Fowler, 38:01; Anthony Wuenschell, 38:32; Steve DeAntonio, 38:46; Gary Chabala, 39:09; Andrew Murray, 39:11; Tim Spang, 39:52; Doug Cygan, 40:32; Peter Ekstam, 40:41; Shay Houser, 41:27; David Steigerwald, 41:45; Heather Slater, 42:51; Kate Hrach, 43:14; Roger Hyde, 44:07; Tony Chan, 44:20; Anne Zimmerman, 44:37; Kelley Morrone, 44:46; Edward Elinski, 45:13; Kim Bell, 46:28; Jessica Irwin, 46:32; Nanette Paracca, 46:46; Alice Wiesner, 46:47; Kathie Blinn, 46:51; Nicole Long, 47:07; Jeffrey Kopinski, 47:13; Ned Bartley, 47:47; Kirk Mitchell, 48:27; Heathr Oros, 49:02; Summer Fowler, 49:02; Monica Thompson, 49:27; Michelle Met-Foley, 49:34; Maria Mager, 49:43; Carol English, 49:52; Melissa Jungling, 50:08; Kurt Beitler, 50:15; Brian Shuttleworth, 50:17; Sherrie Mazurek, 50:41; Peggy Sibenac, 51:14; Alfred Schnabel, 51:35; Laura Augustine, 53:22; Sarah Boyles, 53:54; Susie Landry, 53:57; Joe Spehar, 54:18; Jennifer Cygan, 57:59; Amber Cable, 58:27; David Singh, 58:29; Angela Singh, 58:30; Craig Lavender, 1:05:34; Orla Powderly, 1:05:34

Autism Frostbite 5K, Jan. 26: Douglas Basinski, 1st Overall M, 18:44; Michelle Corkum, 1st Overall W, 18:55; Mitch Radella, 1st 40-49 M, 21:54; Kiersten Smay, 3rd 19 & Under W, 26:08; John Gottron, 2nd 19 & Under M, 26:49; Kate Hrach, 3rd 40-49 W, 27:23; Lisa Myers, 3rd 50+ W, 28:30; Roger Hyde, 24:32; Karl Hart, 24:59; Michael Corcoran, 25:08; Alex Lauer, 25:10; Jennifer Gottron, 26:49; Brett Carly, 29:38; Daniel McLaughlin, 29:48; Maria Mager, 30:06; Jessica Davis, 31:17; Patti McCloud, 32:45; Ruth Elm, 36:04; Jeff Elm, 36:05; Mike Brestensky, 37:51; Brenda Murray, 38:59; Thomas Lappe, 47:57; Cynthia Lappe, 47:58

Foxburg Winter Fest 5K, Feb. 2: Jimmy Holl, 1st Overall M, 32:02; Eleanor Ter Horst, 1st Overall W, 38:15; Brittni Geibel, 2nd Overall W, 39:02; Mark Courtney, 1st 50-59 M, 34:38; Noah Bowser, 1st 19 & Under M, 34:59; John Armstrong, 2nd 40-49 M, 36:03; Mitch Radella, 3rd 40-49 M, 37:32; Nicole Boyles, 3rd 20-29 W, 42:06; Luanne Wee, 2nd 50-59 W, 47:54; Dezso Csizmadia, 1st 70+ M, 51:34; Quinton Weaver, 3rd 19 & Under M, 52:47; Gary Thompson, 46:41; Tracy Hartle, 47:33; Sarah Huth, 47:39; John Wee, 47:54; Karen Carmichael, 48:02; Leah Rapp, 49:05; Carla Funfer, 49:05; Carrie Dever, 49:12; Sherrie Mazurek, 51:17; Becky Johnston, 51:20; Pamela Carden, 51:37; Cheryl Rutkowski, 52:11; Fred Weaver, 52:49; Carol English, 53:13; Chrissey Shirey, 55:25; Emily Crawford, 56:41; Michelle Brochetti, 58:13; Aimee Miller, 58:20; Amanda Coradi, 59:50; Jaime Armstrong, 59:55; Laura Augustine, 1:04:40; Susan Tassey, 1:04:48; Bridget Casteel, 1:15:48; Mary Ann Augustine, 1:17:13; Jeanette Campbell, 1:18:50; Kathy Smith, 1:18:50; Debbe Smith, 1:26:21; Linda Mahood, 1:27:43; Stacey Glenn, 1:34:34; Mike Tiche, 1:34:37; Barbara Tiche, 1:34:39; Christine Kerr, 1:35:39; Jennifer Bullman, 1:36:58

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