St. Patrick’s Day has passed, but the spirit lives on in Harmony’s 13th Annual Shamrock Shuffle Half Marathon, 5k and 1-Mile Run/Walk this coming Saturday. Race director Joella Baker of Get Fit Families expects a lively costume-clad celebration for this seasonal run/party.

Shamrock Shuffle begins with the half marathon start at 7:30 a.m. in Wood Street Park. Joella calls this out-and-back course “one of the toughest in Western PA” with a steep climb up Texter Hill on the out and an equally difficult descent on the return.

Runners are encouraged to keep climbing toward sounds of the raucous party of volunteers and spectators stationed at the top of the hill. Those ages 21+ are rewarded with green beer or Jello shots at the crest the hill. If that’s not your idea of refreshment, there will also be water, Gatorade and Coke at aid stations on the course.

The gently rolling 5k and 1-mile courses are more family-friendly than the challenging half marathon. Walkers, strollers and friendly dogs on leashes are welcome. And there’s a discount registration for a family of four in any of the distances.

The 5k starts at 10:15 a.m. and 1-mile at 11 a.m., spaced so that runners may take part in two or all three events. Joella says that this year, eight people have registered for all three races, but in past years, as many as 20 have completed the challenge.

First three male and female finishers in each event earn beer glass awards. Age group awards begin at age 16-19 in the half marathon, 8 & Under in the 5k and 6 & Under in the 1-mile event and continue in 5-year increments through 70+ in all distances. Additionally, all finishers earn medals and a loaf of Jenny Lee cinnamon swirl bread.

The official awards ceremony will take place at the conclusion of the 1-Mile event, but those who choose not to stay may pick up their awards at the finish area in the park at the conclusion of each race. All participants are welcome to join the after-party at nearby Harmony Inn for hot soup, pizza, cookies, cupcakes, and possibly, green beer in keeping with the St. Patty’s Day theme.

There should be plenty of parking in one of the borough lots or at nearby Robinson Fan Company. Registered participants may pick up their race packets at Grace Church in Harmony on Friday, 4-6 p.m. or on race day beginning at 6:30 a.m. Due to social distancing cautions, there will be NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION! But you may sign up online until Friday, noon at www.active.com/harmony-pa/running/distance-running-races/shamrock-shuffle-2022.

Shamrock Shuffle is the largest fundraising event of the year for Zelienople Rotary Club. The club awards six scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors, supports area health and human services including the local food bank, supports Zelienople Community Park and coordinates the annual Zelienople 4th of July Parade. In 2020, the club also supported renovations at Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School.

Another area race coming back after a 2-year absence is Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5k starting in Cooksburg, Clarion County on April 2. The past two years’ events were cancelled due to COVID safety restrictions. Several of this year’s participants had deferred their registrations from 2020 and 2021 until this year.

The scenic, gently rolling half marathon runs out-and-back along the Clarion River. The 5k, which starts with the half marathon in front of Pale Whale Canoe Livery, is an almost flat course.

Correction: My sincere apologies to Semper Gratus Director Ian Coyle for misspelling his name throughout my column on March 10.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 7:30 a.m.: Shamrock Shuffle Half Marathon, 5k & 1 Mile, Harmony. Challenging, hilly course. No race day registration but sign up online until Friday, noon at www.active.com/harmony-pa/running/distance-running-races/shamrock-shuffle-2022

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Just a Short Run, Allison Park. Choice of 30k, Half Marathon, 8.1 miles or 5k starting at North Park Boathouse. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/JASR?remMeAttempt=

Saturday, 11 a.m.: Shamrock Shuffle 5k, Harmony. www.active.com/harmony-pa/running/distance-running-races/shamrock-shuffle-2022

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.: Mill Creek Classic Half Marathon and 5-Mile, Younstown, OH. Run through scenic Mill Creek Park. runsignup.com/Race/OH/Youngstown/MillCreekDistanceClassicHalfMarathon?aflt_token=HrZcYWJT57TH3GH4vWg7QL584fEmdOnK&r=Y

April 2, 10 a.m.: Butler’s Beat Buddies Eggstravaganza with Easter Egg Dash 5k, Bunny Hop 1 Mile and Easter Egg Hunt, Butler. All events at Butler High School’s Art Bernardi Stadium. No strollers allowed on stadium tracks. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/BestBuddiesEasterEggDash

April 2, 10 a.m.: Fool’s Run 5k and 10k, Black Lick. Run on Ghost Town Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Indiana/FoolsRun10K5K?remMeAttempt=

April 2, 11 a.m.: Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5k, Cooksburg. Level out and back along Clarion River. 724-554-9511 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=136057

April 9, 9 a.m.: Dirty Kiln Trail Races at Canoe Creek State Park, Hollidaysburg. Choice of half marathon starting at 9 a.m. or 10k at 9:30 a.m. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hollidaysburg/DirtyKiln?remMeAttempt=

April 9, 9 a.m.: Run Across Guatemala 5k and 1 Mile, Allison Park. Starts at North Park’s Harmar Pavilion. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/RunAcrossGuatemala5k

April 9, 10 a.m.: MKG Half Marathon, Sandy Lake. Run on paved bike path around Lake Wilhelm in Maurice K. Goddard State Park. MCTA Marathon Series Race #3. 724-301-6775 or races@mctrails.net

April 9, 10 a.m.: Helicon Brewing Food Truck 5k and 1 Mile, Oakdale. Flat and fast out-and-back course on Panhandle Trail. Post-race beer and food truck voucher. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Oakdale/HeliconBrewingFoodTruck5K?aflt_token=HrZcYWJT57TH3GH4vWg7QL584fEmdOnK&r=Y

April 9, 11:30 a.m.: Heineken 0.0 Pittsburgh Earth Day 5k Run, Pittsburgh. Race shirts for all, bottle opener finisher medals for all ages 21+. p3r.org/races/pittsburgh-earth-day-run

April 10, 10 a.m.: Lady Warrior Ghost Town Tune Up 5k, Ebensburg. smileymiles.com/2022/APP041022%20Lady%20Warriors%205k.pdf

April 10, 3 p.m.: Run or Walk for Someone Special 5 Mile Race and 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk, Sykesville. Benefit for ARC of Jefferson and Clearfield counties with prizes, food and fun. 814-952-0490 or creativegardencc@gmail.com

April 16, 8:30 a.m.: Run to Breathe Half Marathon and 5k, Portersville. Starts at McDanel’s Boat Launch in Moraine State Park. Sign up by March 25 to guarantee t-shirt. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Portersville/RunToBreatheHalfMarathon5K

May 1, 7 a.m.: Pittsburgh Marathon, Pittsburgh. An entire weekend of running events from pet walk and toddler trot to half, full and relay marathons. Also new walkers’ half marathon. www.thepittsburghmarathon.com or 412-586-7785

Race results

Ellport 5k Run, March 5: Bob Teagarden, 1st Overall M, 18:39; Stella Balzi, 1st Overall W, 21:07; Joseph Molinaro, 3rd 50-59 M, 21:54; Dave Suber, 2nd 60-69 M, 23:49; Corinne Savena, 1st 20-29 W, 25:29; Cindy Suber, 2nd 60-69 W, 28:15; Cara Pertile, 3rd 30-39 W, 28:17; Robert Sands, 2nd 75-79 M, 34:23; Valerie Sands, 2nd 75-79 W, 37:38; Dezso Csizmadia, 2nd 80+ M, 45:53; Jim Gallagher, 22:18; John Armstrong, 23:19; Matthew Reagle, 23:44; Owen Glover, 24:04; Mitch Radella, 24:10; Reese Anderson, 27:34; Brian Spielvogel, 27:47; Kathleen Baraniak, 28:51; Robert Kinney, 28:53; Shanna Glover, 30:33; Renea Cassidy, 31:23; Shawna Hardy-Emerson, 31:27; Sarah Hackenberg, 32:36; Kimberly Matz, 33:05; Rick Orlowski, 34:02; John Grenci, 34:16; Casey Anderson, 34:58; Megan Anderson, 35:04; Heidi Fleming, 35:45; Debra Kuminkoski, 45:18

Ellport 5k Walk March 5: Dave Byers, 1st Overall M, 42:25; Debbie Fork, 1st Overall W, 45:56; Carole Zwigart, 2nd Overall W, 48:25; Elvira Grenci, 1:00:38

Spring Break 8.5, March 5: Scott Shannon, 1st Overall M, 57:00; Pamela Wassell, 1st Overall W, 1:06:09; 3rd Overall W, Vanessa Snyder, 1:12:15; Quinn Adams, 1st 20-29 M, 1:20:11; Bo McCleary, 3rd 30-39 M, 1:21:15; James Lakin, 1:29:17; Tony Sunseri, 1:30:38; Kathy Schnarre, 2:22:10

Shamrock N Run 5k, March 12: Joshua DeChant, 1st Overall M, 21:27; Valerie Sweeney, 1st Overall W, 28:36; Mitch Radella, 1st 55-59 M, 31:18; Ali Elliott, 2nd 10-14 W, 32:20; Paul Johnson, 1st 75+ M, 33:25; Jimmy Ross, 3rd 35-39 M, 36:56; Nancy Ritchie, 2nd 50-54 W, 39:04; Laurie Flowers, 1st 60-64 W, 42:15; Tim McGonigle, 3rd 55-59 M, 42:48; Naden Williams, 3rd 10-14 W, 44:18; Debbie Jamison, 2nd 55-59 W, 47:17; Travis Mullen, 1st 40-44 M, 49:59; Nancy Holsopple, 45:36; Corinna Patak, 52:02

Shamrock Run 5k, March 5: Casey Hancock, 1st Overall M, 17:09; Jessica Horvath, 1st Overall W, 19:36; Amanda Temple, 1st Masters W, 22:15; Matthew Montellanico, 1st 30-39 M, 18:46; Riley Mcgee, 1st 11-14 M, 19:09; Jack Steineman, 2nd 11-14 M, 20:58; Mark Likoudis, 1st 60-69 M, 21:16; Akira Nakanishi, 1st 20-29 M, 22:10; Anna Roddy, 2nd 20-29 W, 23:59; Halie Halberg, 3rd 11-14 W, 24:38; James Ziesche, 3rd 60-69 M, 25:32; John Barkus, 3rd 20-29 M, 25:41; Luke Lariviere, 1st 10 & Under M, 26:33; Jim Hodgson, 1st 70+ M, 29:06; Judy Shaffer, 3rd 50-59 W, 30:13; Myla Mcgee, 1st 10 & Under W, 30:15; Kayli Wheeler, 3rd 10 & Under W, 33:15; Nancy Luttrell, 3rd 60-69 W, 34:00; Josh Gretz, 20:01; Nick Barker, 25:12; Shannon Wishart, 25:40; Jamie Meyers, 26:08; Adriana Alatorre, 26:11; Andrew Barkus, 26:19; Krista Geagan, 26:23; Kelly Ramsey, 26:58; Shayne Cameron, 27:36; Andrew Lariviere, 28:18; Brent Steineman, 28:49; Joshua Weigold, 29:07; Valerie Mcgee, 30:15; Damien Wissolik, 31:00; Leslie Henderson, 31:20; Steffanie Lariviers, 31:42; Christine Black, 31:51; Lilie McElhinney, 31:59; Curtis Corson, 32:09; Jeremy Fusaro, 32:22; Nathan Waldenville, 32:41; Tom Shaffer, 33:15; Stephen Wheeler, 33:16; Caleb Gretz, 33:23; Justine Keene, 33:25; Meagan Summerville, 33:28; Traci Bartos, 33:52; Denise Redmond, 34:02; Robyn Holz, 34:09; Elijah Gretz, 34:44; Isaiah Gretz, 35:14; Katie Gretz, 35:17; Alex Langley, 36:39; Katie Matthews, 36:40; Heather Mason, 37:49; Tracie Keene, 38:05; Shannon Tharnish, 38:45; Nathan Tharnish, 38:45; Jenna McLay, 38:50; Traci Slease, 39:17; Tasha Hall, 42:00; K. Gabriel, 43:05; Sheila Burk, 43:45; Rachael Murphy, 43:46; Rochelle Bowen, 45:18; Kim Kenetz, 49:29; Sean Gabriel, 54:33; Christopher Gabriel, 54:33; Tammy McLay, 55:11

Shamrock N Run 10k, March 12: Jake Winter, 1st Overall M, 43:55; Elaine Reedy, 1st Overall W, 46:40; David Suber, 1st 60-64 M, 57:12; Cindy Suber, 1st 60-64 W, 1:04:20; Anthony Sunseri, 1st 70-74 M, 1:08:57

March Mad Dash 5k, March 12: Rob Campman, 1st Overall M, 24:17; Nena Moskwa, 1st Overall W, 26:20; Kristen McKnight, 1st 20-29 W, 31:29; Caleigh Scherrah, 1st 19 & Under W, 32:46; Elliette Smith, 2nd 19 & Under W, 36:32; Sean Nolan, 1st 50-59 M, 37:05; Jeremy Fusaro, 2nd 30-39 M, 37:13; Dusty Nolan, 1st 50-59 W, 40:56; Madelyn Walzer, 3rd 19 & Under W, 41:58; Carrie Birkbichler-Smith, 3rd 40-49 W, 41:58

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle