Some runners eat to run to eat, others run to eat. There’s an event for each runner’s appetite on the next two Saturdays.

Trail running burns a lot of calories. That’s why trail runners, especially ultra runners, consume food on the run. For summer running, it’s important to replace electrolytes along with the calories.

Run with the Deer Flies 25K and 15K Trail Run, Saturday at 8 a.m. in Indiana’s Yellow Creek State Park, serves a selection of sweet and salty snacks along with water and sports drinks at its aid stations. Runners are urged to bring their own water bottles, too.

Although neither distance qualifies as an ultra run, Run with the Deer Flies serves as good practice for those interested in an off-road challenge.

“It’s a good entry into trail running,” says co-race director Wendy Fetterman.

Wendy is not a runner, but she has hiked the challenging course. Husband Tom and son Jed, also race directors for Run with the Deer Flies, are experienced trail runners.

Wendy admits that the course will be challenging, especially for inexperienced trail runners. There are a few steep hills and a boulder field on the 15K loop. Those brave enough to add the additional 10K loop will be treated to even steeper hills and a potentially major stream crossing. If it happens to rain on Friday night, Wendy promises a rope to help runners cross Yellow Creek.

Run with the Deer Flies is a run, not a race. Organizers acknowledge first overall male and female finishers. Everyone else receives a medal for completing the course, no matter how fast or slow. There will be several checkpoints along the course and a sweeper to make sure no one is lost or left behind.

Now in its fifth year, Run with the Deer Flies is sponsored by Indiana Road Runners and is the fourth event in the Indiana Runners Club Series. More than 100 runners are expected for this year’s event, which benefits Seph Mack Boy Scout Camp and Yellow Creek State Park.

Runners are welcome to tent camp overnight at Seph Creek Camp prior to the event. You may register for Run for the Deer Flies 25K and 15K Trail Run on Saturday beginning at 6:30 a.m. at the camp on Yellow Creek Park’s North Shore. For more information about the event, call the Fettermans at 724-349-8797 or email deerfly25k@yahoo.com.

Runners who run to eat won’t want to miss St. Barnabas Medical Center 5K, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. in Gibsonia. Now in its 20th year, the St. Barnabas race is as much a social event as a competitive race.

St. Barnabas 5K’s post race picnic is renowned. Where else can you enjoy beer, pizza, ice cream and chicken wings along with your breakfast donuts, bagels and fruit? And this grand buffet is set on the lush green lawn of St. Barnabas Medical Center, where friends can relax and refuel following a morning’s effort.

All women receive a carnation when they cross the finish line and everyone stays for the music and the more than $2,000 in door prizes, including gift certificates, tickets to concerts and sporting events and gifts from various sponsors.

Although many runners and walkers attend for the post race party, St. Barnabas offers a good event for competitive runners. The out-and-back rolling course is USATF certified and chip timed.

Walkers, slower runners and beginners will want to line up near the back of the pack on Meridian Road for safety, as nearly 1,000 participants will crowd the narrow road at the race start.

St. Barnabas rewards competitive runners with overall, masters and grand masters awards and age group awards in groups from ages nine and under through 80-plus in five-year increments.

Participants may preregister online at www.stbarnabas5k.com. Day of event registration opens at 7 a.m Aug. 4. Allow plenty of time for registration and packet pick-up on race day.

I suggest taking advantage of packet pick-up from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 4 at St. Barnabas Medical Center to avoid congestion and stress on race day.

Proceeds from the St. Barnabas Medical Center 5K Run/Walk benefit the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, which supports poor and low-income patients of St. Barnabas. In 2010 St. Barnabas provided more than $4.7 million in free care.

For more information about St. Barnabas 5K, set for 9 a.m. Aug. 6, call 724-443-0800, extension 5310 or visit www.stbarnabas5k.com.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Walker’s Run 5K and 2-mile fun walk, Ellwood City. Fast finish on Ellwood City Track. 724-622-9705 or jwalkerjohn33@gmail.com

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.: Junkyard Jaunt 5K and One Mile Fun Run, Natrona Heights. Benefits Highlands Cross Country teams and scholarships. 724-991-3003

Aug. 6, 8 a.m.: Building Hope through Habitat 5K, Kittanning. Run with Armstrong Folk Festival. Klukan3974@hotmail.com

Aug. 6, 7 p.m.: Debbie Green Memorial 5K Run/ Walk for Leukemia, Wheeling, WV. Also 100-yard dash for kids 9 and under, cash prizes, door prizes. 740-859-0704 or www.debbiegreen5k.com

Aug. 13, 8 a.m.: Roebling’s 5K Run, Saxonburg. Benefits Knoch track and cross country teams. 724-898-2525 or mlkletzli@embarqmail.com

Aug. 13, 9 a.m.: Rimersburg Cookie Daze 5K, Rimersburg. 814-473-6427

Aug. 13, 9 a.m.: Baptist Bash 5K, Ford City. 724-859-6316

Aug. 13, 9 a.m.: Lee Foster Memorial 5K Run, St. Marys. 814-776-1528 or w_feman@hotmail.com

Aug. 14, 6 p.m.: Run for the Trail 7K, Dilltown. First half rolling, second half on level Ghost Town Trail. 724-479-0769 or tpajak@ffic.com

Aug. 17, 7 p.m.: Courtney’s Ice Cream Race 5K, Grove City. Also half mile kids’ run and post race ice cream buffet. 724- or smc@runhigh.com

Aug. 20, 8 a.m.: Parkersburg New and Sentinel Half Marathon and 2-Mile Race, Parkersburg, WV. Cash prizes, No day of event registration. www.Newsandsentinelhalfmarathon.com

Aug. 20, 8:30 a.m.: Cranberry Township 5K, Cranberry Township. Run two gravel loops in North Boundary Park. 724-774-5746 or jkercovich@yahoo.com

Aug. 20, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Township 10K Race and 2-Mile Fun Run, Sarver. Out and back course on Butler-Freeport Rail Trail. tjt@salsgiver.com

Aug. 20, 1 p.m.: Run for Hunger Trail Challenge, Sarver. Choice of half marathon, 4-mile trail race or 2-mile scenic hike. All kids ages 14 and under run for free. Register online at www.runrace.net or more information at runforhunger@gmail.com

Aug. 21, 7 a.m.: Drake Well Marathon and Half Marathon, Titusville. 814-827-3741 or jbeechey@zoominternet.net

Aug. 23, 7 p.m.: Quality Life Series 5K #4, Mercer. Run starts at Countryside of Mercer. www.qualitylifeservices.com

Aug. 27, 6:30 a.m.: Baker Trail UltraChallenge, Cook Forest. Choice of 50 mile ultramarathon or relay of up to 5 members. 412-512-4544 or ultrachallenge@rachelcarsontrails.org

Aug. 27, 8 a.m.: Mosquito Run to Fight Malaria, North Park. Choice of 5 miles, 10 miles or 5K around North Park Lake. 724-776-2300, ext. 249 or Sandra.matoushaya@wpaumc.org

Race results

Raider Maze 5K, July 16: Madison Goodman, 1st Overall M, 18:10; Dan Sowa, 2nd Overall M, 18:13; Brian Forester, 3rd Overall M, 18:14; Karen Szczefenski, 1st Overall W, 20:26; Lauren McKinney, 2nd Overall W, 20:34; Katie Lutz, 3rd Overall W, 21:29; Todd Roberts, 1st 40-49 M, 18:26; Brett Foster, 1st 13-15 M, 18:26; Jake Ferri, 1st 16-19 M, 18:28; Doug Holscher, 3rd 40-49 M, 18:59; Ryan Kerr, 2nd 16-19 M, 19:26; Brendon Lemmex, 3rd 16-19 M, 19:58; Ben Gardner, 2nd 13-15 M, 19:59; Alex Taylor, 3rd 13-15 M, 20:33; Chuck Flach, 1st 30-39 M, 20:45; Matt Cochran, 2nd 20-29 M, 20:52; Jackson Nickel, 1st 12 & Under M, 21:08; Emily Siebert, 1st 16-19 W, 22:04; Kristen McKinney, 2nd 16-19 W, 22:04; Karen Lyle, 2nd 30-39 W, 22:08; Michelle Botyrius, 3rd 16-19 W, 22:57; Dave Adams, 2nd 60-69 M, 23:04; Taryn Latsko, 1st 13-15 W, 23:04; Emily Clark, 2nd 13-15 W, 23:05; Cindy Grimm, 1st 50-59 W, 23:22; Cheryl Fox, 1st 40-49 W, 23:34; Emily Helbling, 2nd 20-29 W, 23:41; Caleb Cekella, 2nd 12 & under M, 23:55; Annette Schiever, 3rd 40-49 W, 25:30; Mary Ann Patrick, 2nd 50-59 W, 24:55; Carole Hall, 3rd 30-39 W, 26:22; Kathie Blinn, 3rd 50-59 W, 26:23; Shane Conklin, 3rd 12 & Under M, 26:41; Richard Buechele, 3rd 50-59 M, 27:21; Ann Cheman, 2nd 60-69 W, 29:16; Elizabeth Green, 3rd 60-69 W, 31:09; Ashlyn Flach, 1st 12 & Under W, 31:16; Stephen Mick, 3rd 30-39 M, 36:55; Brent Collins, 19:15; Ryan Patrick, 20:20; Todd Kowalski, 20:44; Colter Cekella, 20:54; Ben Nickel, 21:05; Mitchell Conklin, 21:34; Wesley Roberts, 21:40; Brent Kendrick, 21:42; Eli Brinker, 21:54; Dan Bolena, 22:14; Nathan Inman, 22:53; Andrew Lingenfelter, 23:01; Rich Siebert, 23:14; Emily Cekella, 24:12; Corey McCoy, 24:22; Jason Wisniewski, 24:23; Sarah Foster, 24:23; Jim Nickel, 24:42; Erik Weigel, 24:55; Alexander Davison, 25:29; Mikayla Psenick, 25:39; Ryan Conklin, 26:42; Cathy King, 26:48; Stefany Baron, 26:52; Trey Razanauskas, 26:54; Amanda Cagno, 26:59; Sherree May, 27:01; Liz Buechele, 27:19; Peggy Siberac, 27:21; Dan Hodgson, 27:50; Brian Conklin, 27:52; Maura Razanauskas, 28:05; Jim Hodgson, 28:07; Linda Bolena, 29:53; Marlene Wise, 30:47; Ryan Mincey, 31:12; Sarah Flach, 31:19; Taylor Askey, 31:31; Olivia Myers, 31:53; Katie Gasper, 32:24; Weston Shiever, 33:42; Brenda Psenick, 33:46; Sadie Schiever, 33:52; Heidi Wolanin, 33:59; Judy Lyle, 35:00; Kassondra Rush, 35:49; Shannon Stickles, 36:53; Nicole Popp, 37:58; Emily Hess, 38:04; David Byers, 39:28; Renee Kerr, 46:49; Katie Kerr, 46:54

Presque Isle Half Marathon, July 17: Nate Orndorf, 1st Overall M, 1:13:19; Kacey Gibson, 1st Overall W, 1:27:21; Leslie Kramer, 4th Overall W, 1:31:27; Benjamin English, 3rd 25-29 M, 1:23:10; Thomas Cavicchi, 2nd 50-54 M, 1:25:38; Joel Shaeffer, 1st 35-39 M, 1:27:01; Jim Carr, 2nd 35-39 M, 1:32:45; Mellissa Shaeffer, 1st 35-39 W, 1:36:50; Chuck Fjaskowski, 1:26:34; Dan Monhemius, 1:29:07; Jeff Lynn, 1:31:46; John Armstrong, 1:39:30; Bob Mars, 1:42:13; Lindsey Knaby, 1:43:21; Robert Lindsay, 1:47:55; Rebecca Consbruck, 1:58:26; Bill Swanik, 1:58:30; Kevin Persch, 1:58:44; Wendi Lincoln, 2:01:47; Lea Roth, Lauren Smith, 2:06:42; Stephanie Madison, 2:06:54; Joan Schilling, 2:09:07; David Guo, 2:12:13; Penney Sferra, 2:19:19; Alison Carey, 2:22:05; Wendy Shaw, 2:33:31; Natalie Shaffer, 2:28:02; Andrew Ryan, 2:33:18; Gail Mrozinski, 2:39:25; Beth Roitz, 2:49:07; Miranda Boring, 2:52:14

Quality Life Series 5K #3, July 19: Paul Thistle, 1st Overall M, 16:10; Tina Zins, 1st Overall W, 20:29; Tracy Newman, 2nd Overall W, 23:52; Cindy Grimm, 3rd Overall W, 25:03; Eric McCall, 1st 19 & Under M, 18:15; Dan Dygert, 1st 30-39 M, 18:39; Jeff Lynn, 1st 40-44 M, 19:42; Dean Rippee, 1st 50-54 M, 20:01; Curt Grimm, 1st 60-64 M, 22:34; David Suber, 3rd 50-54 M, 24:30; Emily Jones, 1st 19 & Under W, 25:33; Cindy Suber, 1st 50-54 W, 27:59; Sherree May, 2nd 50-54 W, 27:59; Erin Hartle, 2nd 30-34 W, 30:53; Lou Lodovico, 2nd 70+ M, 35:05; Jean Dobay, 2nd 60-64 W, 39:33; Mike Shaffer, 22:16; Ron Hartle, 24:47; Clint Hartle, 26:11; John Antinossi, 26:25; Ken Tack, 28:48; Tony Sunseri, 29:58; Buddy Turner, 30:06; Robyn Stewart, 32:53; Vickie Turner, 35:05

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