With rain and cold surely in the November forecast, this weekend may be the last opportunity for runners to romp through the fall foliage.

Head south to nearby North Park this Saturday for a choice of trail races within park boundaries.

Early risers can check out the fifth Annual Marshall Mangler, beginning at 7 a.m. at North Park Ice Rink. Marshall Mangler offers a distance for runners (and hikers) of any skill or experience level with a separate start for each — 50 kilometer run starting at 7 a.m., 25K run or hike starting at 8 a.m., and an entry level 5 mile run/ hike at 8:30 a.m.

Although the course has not changed, this year’s event is being held earlier than in past seasons. Race director and trail racer Michelle Wojnar-Frere says that the date was chosen so as not to conflict with other important trail races in the region and large road running events such as EQT 10-Mile in Pittsburgh Nov. 9.

“We’ll schedule future races on a year-to-year basis,” Wojnar says.

Michelle expects 400 to 500 participants for the trail run which attracts runners from as far as Canada. Approximately 75 to 100 runners typically enter the 50K race which has an 8-hour time limit while remaining entries are split between the more popular, shorter distances.

Because ultra runners and hikers will be on the course for up to eight hours, Marshall Mangler’s aid stations offer more than water, sports drink and gels. The two manned and one unmanned station will be stocked with soda, pretzels and chips, candy and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

There will also be plenty of food and drink following the race. Finishers will enjoy pizza, cookies and beer. Top three overall and masters men and women in the 50K race earn special glasses and gift certificates. In the 25K and 5 mile distances, top three men and women in 10-year age brackets also earn awards.

Marshall Mangler raises money for Pittsburgh-based Operation Troop Appreciation, an organization which supports both troops deployed around the world and their families and returning veterans. In the past four years, Marshall Mangler has raised more than $15,000.

Marshall Mangler accepts day-of-event registrations beginning at 6 a.m. at North Park Ice Rink. The event also accepts day-of-event volunteers. For more information, call 412-490-0881 or visit elitetrailrunners.com

On the other side of North Park, Dirt Monster 5 Mile Trail Race and 1 Mile Trail Walk starts at 9:30 a.m. at Grant Pavilion on Wildwood Road. This marks the eighth year for this trail race on the first Saturday in November in support of Obsessive Compulsive Foundation of Western PA.

Elaine Davis, PhD., race director and president of OCFWPA has spent weeks laying out the challenging course and marking the trail with signs so that no one gets lost. “We’ll also have lots of volunteers, especially at critical points on the course,” she says.

Davis expects participation numbers to be down slightly from the usual 100+ due to the scheduling conflict with Marshall Mangler. Davis has also noticed a dip in entries during years when the event is held the morning after Halloween.

Dirt Monster offers cash prizes to the top three overall male and female finishers and merchandise awards to top three masters men and women. Age groups Under 18 through 60-plus earn competitive awards and there’s a team competition for mixed gender teams of between three and five members. All participants will enjoy post race refreshments of soup, snacks and craft beer along with water and sports drinks.

Race day registrations are welcome beginning at 7:30 a.m. at North Park’s Grant Pavilion. For more information, visit www.ocfwpa.org.

Upcoming events

Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Halloween Bash 5K and Kids Costume Run, Hermitage.

Run through Buhl Farms Park, post race over-21 Bash at Corinthian Banquet Hall, Sharon. TJ@positiveMovementz.com

Saturday, 8 a.m.: ZooZilla 5K Run/Walk, Pittsburgh. 412-365-2536 or gboldizar@pittsburghzoo.org

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Marathon on the Mountain, Seven Springs. Full or half marathon on trails and bike paths. 304-488-6424 or asmith@ogdennews.com

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Butler YMCA Turkey Trot 5K, Butler. Also kids 1 mile race. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.org

Nov. 8, 8:45 a.m.: Fastest & Furriest Dog Dash, Salem, OH. Run 500 meters with your dog or an adoptable dog. 330-332-2600

Nov. 8, 9:15 a.m.: Fastest & Furriest 5k, Salem, Ohio. Cross country trails and residential streets. 330-332-2600

Nov. 8, 9:30 a.m.: Fall Feast 5K Challenge, Upper St. Clair. Four-person relay with each person running .75 miles and eating a designated food item. Part of C & RC Fall Fest and Bounty. 412-221-1099 or reutzel@twpusc.org

Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m.: Moving for Justice 5K Run/ Walk, Sandy Lake. dmhollenbaugh@gcc.edu

Nov. 9, 8 a.m.: EQT 10 Miler, Pittsburgh. Run through Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Pittsburgh10miler.org

Nov. 9, 9 a.m.: Indiana First Bank Veteran’s Marathon and Half Marathon, Black Lick. Out and back on Ghost Town Trail. 724-349-3200 or dhscanlon@hotmail.com

Nov. 9, 9 a.m.: Operation Troop Appreciation Veteran’s Day 5K, Allison Park. Run through Hampton Community Park, All-American post race buffet. Gerardmac977@aol.com

Nov. 15, 9 a.m.: Fight For Life 5K, Apollo. Benefits American Cancer Society. 724-568-2517 or dzukas@cancer.org

Nov. 15, 9:15 a.m.: Run for the Wounded Warrior 5 Mile and 5K, North Park. 412-490-0881 or eliterunners.com

Nov. 16, 2 p.m.: Miles of Smiles Half Marathon and 5K, Monongah, WV. 724-758-2506 or bonnherb@yahoo.com

Nov. 22, 9 a.m.: Big Brothers and Sisters of Beaver County Turkey Trot 5 Miler, Beaver. Starts in Irvine Park. 724-630-4287 or jsprice4@yahoo.com

Nov. 22, 10 a.m.: Foxburg Turkey Trot 5K, Foxburg. Participants encouraged to dress in Thanksgiving theme. 724-659-3116 or shile@foxburginn.com

Nov. 27, 8:30 a.m.: ERC Turkey Trot, Erie. Run 10K or 5K starting at Presque Isle State Park Beach 1. 814-881-0060 or uropa40@aol.com

Nov. 27, 9 a.m.: Ebensburg Turkey Trot 5K, Ebensburg. 814-330-3817 or ebensburgrunners.org

Nov. 27, 9 a.m.: Cranberry Turkey Chase 5K and 1 Mile Run/ Walk, Cranberry Township. Flat and fat. 724-452-1325 or jpnickel@zoominternet.net

Nov. 27, 9:30 a.m.: Gobble Wobble, Hermitage. Run at Buhl Farms Park. glackey@eglolaw.com

Race results

Pearson Park Crisis Center Shelter 10K, Oct. 11: Doug Petrick, 1st Overall M, 36:55; Ashley Futato, 1st Overall W, 39:31; Curt Grimm, 1st 60+ M, 50:15; Joan Allen, 2nd 50-59 W, 53:22; Cindy Grimm, 1st 60+ W, 54:22; Kristi Allen, 1st 20-29 W, 56:54; Tara Kennedy, 56:50

Pearson Park Crisis Center Shelter 5K, Oct. 11: Leslie Perry, 1st Overall M, 19:38; Alyssa Salem, 1st Overall W, 22:56; David Suber, 1st 55-59 M, 21:46; Cindy Suber, 1st 50-54 W. 26:07; Autumn Heinz, 1st 35-39 W, 26:13; Sara Sutter, 1st 15-19 W, 26:58; Tammy Suther, 2nd 45-49 W, 27:57; Ada Rumburg, 2nd 60-64 W, 39:55; Donald Cescon, 1st 75-79 M, 39:56; Diane Clements, 57:00

Oil Creek 100 Miles, Oct. 11: Daven Oskvig, 1st Overall M, 18:18:58; Mary Beth Strickler, 1st Overall W, 22:49:33; Jimmy Myers, 26:19:09; Michal Kawecki, 28:27:16

Zombie 5K, Oct. 26: Benjamin Gardner, 1st Overall M, 17:55; Alaina Hicks, 1st Overall W, 21:08; Cindy Waltenmire, 1st Masters W, 24:51; Michael Romano, 1st 10-12 M, 20:49; Bill Schessler, 1st 40-49 M, 21:21; Owen Schessler, 1st 9 & Under M, 21:25; Ben Hess, 2nd 13-15 M, 22:20; Ben Cramer, 1st 30-39 M, 22:50; Michael Waltenmire, 2nd 30-39 M, 25:07; Erica Trimble, 1st 30-39 W, 25:11; Evan Smith, 3rd 13-15 M, 25:50; Dave Voland, 1st 16-19 M, 26:02; Elaina Smiley, 2nd 40-49 W, 26:04; Zachary Baker, 3rd 10-12 M, 26:09; Rebecca Finch, 3rd 40-49 W, 26:29; Barbara Lane, 1st 60-69 W, 27:24; Robin Salisbury, 3rd 30-39 W, 27:52; Rachel Smith, 1st 10-12 W, 27:54; Brandon Madison, 2nd 16-19 M, 27:59; Alyssa Nicklas, 1st 16-19 W, 28:05; Megan Piotrowski, 2nd 16-19 W, 28:05; Keith Kaiser, 3rd 50-59 M, 28:27; Emma Bartos, 2nd 10-12 W, 28:43; Dinakar Chandrasekaran, 2nd 20-29 M, 30:48; Alyssa Voland, 1st 13-15 W, 30:57; Leila Channaj, 3rd 10-12 M, 31:05; Justine Jedry, 3rd 16-19 W, 31:48; Allison Sevin, 1st 9 & Under W, 32:15; Alyssa Jedry, 2nd 13-15 W, 36:33; Joe Cramer, 3rd 9 & Under M, 38:53; Jeannie Mentzer, 2nd 60-69 W, 38:58; David Voland, 27:45; Scott Smith, 27:56; Scott Baker, 30:20; Brooke Jedry, 31:49; Michael Brooks, 32:06; Abby McCormick, 32:08; Christine Sevin, 32:16; Navya Thum, 33:17; Michael Mentzer, 38:58; Nathan McCormick, 39:25; Ashley Cramer, 42:17

Zombie 1 Mile Fun Run, Oct. 26: Patrick Inman, 1st Overall M, 6:09; Alaina Hicks, 1st Overall W, 6:27; Riley Orr, 7:31; Stefan Vogt, 8:33; Sofia Vogt, 8:41; Doug Wolf, 9:27; Logan Wolf, 9:28; Kendal Kingsley, 9:58; Hannah Kenyon, 10:03; Billy Brooks, 10:11; Graeme Wolf, 10:22; Margie Wolf, 10:23; Marcus Anney, 10:27; Joseph Shebek, 10:30; Jamie Shebek, 10:31; Natalia Vogt, 11:23; Hannah Novak, 11:24; Christi Novak, 11:24; Tanya Vogt, 11:26; Tessa Markham, 11:38; Brian Markham, 11:39; Jenna Markham, 11:40; Will Kenyon, 11:57; Victoria Peuler, 12:01; Avery Orr, 12:06; Blake Novak, 13:12; Chris Novak, 13:14; Malina Cameron, 15:46; Jeffrey Cameron, 15:47; Quinn Orr, 23:11

Columbus Marathon, Oct. 19: Meshack Kirwa, 1st Overall M, 2:18:17; Lauren Woodring, 1st Overall W, 2:41:24; Wayne McCracken, Jr., 3:14:41; Brian Thomas, 3:18:40; Melissa Schaeffer, 3:18:59; Darryn Zawitz, 3:19:50; Don Polito, 3:24:19; Todd Allman, 3:26:13; Robert Waltrip, 3:41:29; Joseph Wuenschell, 3:53:50; Gillian Scott, 4:03:00; Brittany Minett, 4:28:19; Heidi Underwood, 4:50:30; Bipin Salunkhe, 4:50:45; Nancy Thenthongkham, 4:52:33; Abhijit Dixit, 4:55:44; Ajay Belambe, 4:58:27; Andy Drexler, 5:26:31; John Ropelewski, 5:33:42; Stephanie D’Abarno, 6:16:26; Nicholas Minto, 6:58:20

Columbus Half Marathon, Oct. 19: Nelson Oyugi, 1st Overall M, 1:03:24; Lilian Mariita, 1st Overall W, 1:14:02; Alex Koksal, 1:09:24; Sarah Miller, 1:35:59; Holly Palmer, 1:46:44; Steve Diantonio, 1:49:07; Jonathan Ibinson, 1:50:34; Michael Bruno, 1:55:37; Meghan Morris, 1:56:15; Jamie Shebeck, 1:58:34; Brenna Burry, 2:00:37; Kirstian Jacobs, 2:00:45; Michael Jacobs, 2:00:46; Matthew Jones, 2:04:19; Thomas Durkin, 2:06:55; Amy Leonard, 2:10:14; Rachel Alexander, 2:12:29; Philip Jones, 2:13:55; Heather Thomas, 2:14:03; Rachel Rutkowski, 2:18:08; Amanda Geist, 2:26:44; Mollie Gallagher, 2:28:02; Stephen Gallagher, 2:28:02; Erin Patterson, 2:30:59; Gabriel Alejandro, 2:37:12; Dave Byers, 3:10:51

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone or fax 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle