Runners usually have to choose between two popular longer races traditionally held on the same spring weekend.

But there’s no conflict with this year’s Just a Short Run and Cook Forest Half Marathon, so runners can fit both into their training plans.

The 10-year-old Just a Short Run, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and takes place in North Park, has grown into one of the region’s largest distance running events. It began in 2001 with a half marathon and 5K. A 30K distance was added the following year as a training event for those running spring marathons.

In 2010, Just a Short Run added an 8.1-mile option, a great choice for those training for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in May.

Last year, more than 400 runners participated at each of the distances and this year might see the event’s largest field, possibly reaching the 2,500 participant limit.

Organizers suggest registering and picking up your race packet at Elite Runners and Walkers in McKees Rocks from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday to minimize congestion at the Boathouse starting area Saturday.

Online registration will be open until 9 p.m. today. Day-of-event registration opens at 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the Boathouse.

Although Just a Short Run’s consecutive laps around North Park Lake might seem to some as exciting as running on a treadmill, the course is familiar and gently rolling —- great for a long run or a gauge of fitness. Runners in the longer distances will appreciate the support of aid stations located every 1Z\v miles along the route.

Just a Short Run is an official Team in Training event. In the past three years, the race has raised more than $280,000 to help the fight against leukemia, lymphoma and blood cancers.

For information or to register for Saturday’s event, call 412-490-0881 or visit www.justashortrun.net

The Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5K at 11 a.m. April 2 offers participants a different distance running experience.

Although the weather can be unpredictable, the course is always scenic, the air clear and fresh. The out-and-back route along the Clarion River is the perfect fix for runners tired of circling North Park Lake.

The Cook Forest course is mostly level, but a sizable hill in the last mile of the run adds a challenge to both the half marathon and the 5K. Some half marathon runners also might experience postrace soreness as the road is unusually canted in places.

In addition to being one of the most scenic, Cook Forest Half Marathon is one of the region’s oldest distance runs. The event celebrates its 27th edition this year.

The race benefits Clarion University’s track and field team and Clarion athletic scholarships. Many team members serve as volunteers at the starting area and at aid stations every 2Z\x miles along the course.

Runners can register at www.runhigh.com until Monday. Day-of-event registration opens at 8:30 a.m. April 2.

All participants should arrive early as the starting area can be congested.

For information about Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5K, call 814-393-2081 or visit www.cookforest.com/marathon.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Martinsville Half Marathon and 5K, Martinsville, W.Va. www.martinsvillehalfmarathon.com

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Pure Thirst 5K and Fun Run, Brockway. 814-591-9531 or www.purethirst.org

April 2, 9 a.m.: Hustle for Muscle 5K, Sharon. Nlr5086@psu.edu

April 9, 9 a.m.: Martha’s Run, Mount Lebanon. Also 2-mile run and 1-mile walk. 412-454-0204 or themarthafund@gmail.com

April 9, 10 a.m.: Fools Run 10K and 1-Mile Fun Walk, Indiana, Pa. First leg of Indiana Triple Crown. 724-349-0501 or www.indianaroadrunners.com

April 16, 8:45 a.m.: Race for the Future 5K Run-Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run, Cranberry Township. 724-766-0906 or blemmexus@yahoo.com

April 16, 9 a.m.: Big Foot Half Marathon and 5K Run-Walk, Kittanning. 724-545-9622

April 23, 9 a.m.: Race for Joe 5K, Franklin Park. www.raceforjoe.org

April 30, 10 a.m.: Prep for Pittsburgh Half Marathon and 5K, Sandy Lake. Run at Lake Wilhelm in Goddard State Park. 724-301-6775 or info@mctrails.org

Race results

Shamrock Shuffle 10 Mile, March 19: Steven Strelick, 1st Overall M, 1:01:17; Marriann Tullius, 1st Overall W, 1:15:48; Dianne Zalenski, 2nd Overall W, 1:18:51; Erin Nicotra, 3rd Overall W, 1:19:02; Jason Jacobs, 1st 25-29 M, 1:03:44; Jim Carr, 1st 35-39 M, 1:08:02; Jeff Lynn, 1st 40-44 M, 1:10:22; Jeffrey Platt, 1st 30-34 M, 1:10:24; Rick Colonello, 2nd 30-34 M, 1:12:02; Bob Gracie, 1st 60-64 M, 1:15: 21; Chris Romito, 2nd 35-39 M, 1:16:51; Heather Healy, 1st 40-44 W, 1:20:01; Richard Marcotte, 3rd 35-39 M, 1:20:02; Mark Pekich, 1st 45-49 M, 1:21:01; Jillian Lavelle, 1st 30-34 W, 1:22:24John Alexander, 3rd 50-54 M, 1:24:01; Nancy Bilger, 3rd 30-34 W, 1:26:38; David Adams, 2nd 60-64 M, 1:27:08; Regis Russo, 2nd 45-49 M, 1:27:32; Milagros LaBeau, 3rd 40-44 W, 1:27:53; Beth Lehman, 1st 35-39 W, 1:30:19; Cindy Waltemire, 1st 50-54 W, 1:30:22; Bruce Faller, 3rd 45-49 M, 1:31:26; Michelle Pekich, 1st 45-49 W, 1:32:35; Kathie Blinn, 2nd 50-54 W, 1:33:41; Margaret Emrick, 2nd 35-39 W, 1:34:00; Tom Murray, 1st 65-69 M, 1:36:31; Susie Altemus, 3rd 50-54 W, 1:38:53; Philip Lope, 3rd 60-64 M, 1:49:59Robert Lozowski, 1:20:26; Sean Martin, 1:23:08; Ron Scmoll, 1:23:33; Mike Yankel, 1:25:32; Greg Gaghan, 1:27:22; Chris LaBeau, 1:28:29; Amy Condrick, 1:28:54; Ron Hartle, 1:30:08; Tami Kennedy, 1:30:10; Bradley Kehm, 1:31:21; Nicole Khoury, 1:32:28; James Gascoine, 1:3:00; Nanette Paracca, 1:33:17; Alice Weisner, 1:35:45Toni Wright, 1:35:47; Traci McKenn, 1:36:08; Staci McCandless, 1:37:14; Kelley Morrone, 1:39:31; Shay Houser, 1:39:54; Tonya Goepfert, 1:39:57; Beth LaGamba, 1:40:08; Dana LaGamba Clark, 1:40:18; Karey VandeWater, 1:42:43; Monica Thompson, 1:44:13; Bobbi Betush, 1:46:27; Scott Baker, 1:47:32; Carol English, 1:51:57; Buddy Turner, 2:01:07

Shamrock Shuffle 5K, March 19: Sten Strelick, 1st Overall M, 20:12; Jillian Lavelle, 1st Overall W, 26:20; Diane Zalenski, 2nd Overall W, 26:44; Kevin Reno, 2nd Overall M, 20:50; Jason Jacobs, 3rd Overall M, 21:22; Jim Carr, 1st 35-39 M, 23:49; Jeffrey Platt, 1st 30-34 M, 23:59; Jeff Lynn, 1st 40-44 M, 24:23; Rick Colonello, 2nd 30-34 M, 25:38; Graig Stanionis, 3rd 30-34 M, 26:52; Erin Nicotra, 1st 35-39 W, 27:42Mark Pekich, 2nd 45-49 M, 27:47; Heather Healy, 1st 40-44 W, 28:17; Christi Hoffman, 2nd 35-39 W, 28:29; David Adams, 1st 60-64 M, 28:59; Chrystal Zinkham, 3rd 35-39 W, 29:46; Amy Condrick, 3rd 40-44 W, 29:52; Cindy Watemire, 1st 50-54 W, 30:15Michelle Pekich, 1st 45-49 W, 30:42; Rick Myers, 3rd 45-49 M, 30:59; Stacy Martin, 1st 30-34 W, 31:17; Lisa Myers, 2nd 45-49 W, 31:22; Chris LaBeau, 40-44 M, 31:40; Bradley Kehm, 3rd 35-39 M, 31:52; Debbie Gallagher, 2nd 50-54 W, 32:08; Sherrie Mazurek, 3rd 50-54 W, 32:11; Janet Dick, 1st 18 and under W, 33:03; Tom Murray, 1st 65-69 M, 33:08; Joni Dick, 2nd 18 and under W, 33:40; Dawn Dixon, 3rd 45-49 W, 33:40; Dawn Dixon, 3rd 45-49 W, 33:40Gayle Shubert, 1st 55-59 W, 36:04; Nancy Miller, 1st 60-64 W, 36:40; Susan Tassey, 2nd 55-59 W, 36:42; Lois Adams, 2nd 60-64 W, 37:05; Jenny Listwak, 3rd 18 and under W, 37:32; Dez Csizmadia, 1st 70 and M, 38:09; Al Shubert, 3rd 60-64 M, 39:05Milagros LaBeau, 30:01; Jesse Dick, 30:17; Krista Novak, 30:57; Lisa George, 31:21; Dana Nicklas, 31:53; Mary Morgan, 32:28; Nicole Khoury, 32:55; Daniel Heckert, 33:20; Elizabeth Heckert, 33:41; Kelley Morrone, 33:55; Heidi Wolanin, 35:52; Nicole Lodovico, 36:06; Stacie Stonebreaker, 36:48; Greg Gaghan, 36:52; Amy Beth Murray, 36:59; Sara Beneigh, 37:1Andrew Beneigh, 37:20; Amanda Booker, 37:28; Megan Weber, 37:55; Joanna Listwak, 38:02; Carol English, 38:17; Cole Hoffman, 38:33; Emily Kavanaugh, 39:00; Kathie Blinn, 39:04; Tia Thompson, 41:06; Tyla Thompson, 41:08; Smitty Bovos, 43:52; Becky Stanionis, 45:21; Debbie Stanionis, 45:21; Gary Paracca, 53:38; Jennifer Do, 56:30; Stacy McCandlee, 56:31

Shamrock Shuffle 1 Mile, March 19: Steven Strelick, 1st Overall M, 6:29; Maddie Seibel, 1st Overall W, 9:32; Megan Ellery, 2nd Overall W, 8:37; Jillian Lavelle, 3rd Overall W, 8:54; Jeffrey Platt, 1st 30-39 M, 8:03; Jason Jacobs, 1st 19-20 M, 9:04; Jim Carr, 2nd 30-39 M, 9:05; Greg Gaghan, 1st 40-49 M, 9:10; Christine Patton, 1st 40-49 W, 9:14Diane Zalenski, 1st 30-39 W, 9:40; Mary Ford, 2nd 30-39 W, 9:42; David Adams, 1st 60-69 M, 9:43; Katie Elery, 2nd 10-11 W, 9:45; Norah Seibel, 1st 8-9 W, 9:59; Chris LaBeau, 2nd 40-49 M, 10:04; Amy Condrick, 2nd 40-49 W, 10:08; Miagros LaBeau, 3rd 40-49 W, 10:09; Keely Looper, 1st 6-7 W, 10:42; Erin Nicotra, 3rd 30-39 W, 10:47; Tom Murray, 2nd 60-69 M, 10:52; Taylor Healy, 2nd 8-9 W, 11:05; Adam Hoffman, 1st 6-7 M, 12:05Kevin George, 1st 6-7 M, 12:05; Ken George, 3rd 40-49 M, 12:30; Jack Beneigh, 3rd 6-7 M, 13:01; Andrew VanOrder, 3rd 8-9 M, 13:11; Julia Listwak, 3rd 8-9 W, 13:13; Carol English, 1st 50-59 W, 13:45; Katie Listwak, 2nd 6-7 W, 14:31; Sophia Colonello, 3rd 6-7 W, 15:19; Vinny Colonello, 1st 4-5 M, 15:21; Kathie Blinn, 2nd 50-59 W, 15:51 Lauren Beneigh, 3rd 1-3 W, 17:43; Meegan Looper, 2nd 1-3 W, 18:28; Jefferson Ford, 1st 10-11 M, 19:17; Rosemarie Young, 1st 60-69 W, 20:35Nicole Khoury, 10:59; Heather Healy, 11:09; Bradley Kehm, 11:32; Kelley Morrone, 12:13; Lauren George, 12:24; Joanna Listwak, 12:44; Paula VanOrder, 12:53; Jill Ford, 13:07; Zachary Baker, 13:09; Ted Young, 14:11; Jenny Listwak, 14:31; Rick Colonello, 15:23; Jenifer Do, 16:04; Stacy McCandless, 16:25; Douglas Ford, 17:48; Sara Beneigh, 19:18Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail lotzak@consolidated.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.