Can you ever have too much ice cream? Race director Mark Courtney doesn't think so.

Wednesday marks the 17th running of Courtney's Ice Cream Race in Grove City. Last year's event saw a record 893 finishers in both the 5K run and walk and kids' half-mile run with a record 128 gallons of ice cream consumed at the post run ice cream buffet.

But Courtney reports that registrations are on pace to equal or top last year's numbers.

This year's race may attract runners from farther than our region since Runner's World magazine gave the race mention in its August Races and Places column. Running legend Bill Rodgers will definitely be among the participants.

Rodgers won both the Boston and New York marathons four times between 1975 and 1980, twice breaking the American marathon record at Boston. He also was a member of two Olympic teams.

Rodgers ran the 2008 Ice Cream Race. He won the 60-64 age group with a time of 21:07, his fastest 5K finish for that year. And the always gracious Rodgers stayed long after the awards ceremony to talk to fans and sign autographs.

No matter how big the race gets, there will always be room for more runners on the level, out and back course and more ice cream scooped out at Courtney's farm following the run.

"Whatever it is," Courtney says, "I can handle it."

Courtney has experience handling runners and races. He not only directs several races in the Mercer County area, but his Runner's High timing service has timed local and international races large and small. The Ice Cream Race will be chip timed with each mile split timed also.

Courtney never anticipated the success of this summer evening event. The run was originally intended to celebrate his 5,000th day in a row of running, but the idea of pairing running with ice cream stuck. This year the race helps celebrate Courtney's 11,000th running day.

The original Ice Cream Race was held in a different location, finishing in the parking lot of Steese's Ice Cream. After Steese's closed, Courtney took the ice cream buffet to his front yard.

Held one year to commemorate the opening of the new Grove City Hospital, the Ice Cream Race eventually merged with the less popular Grove City Hospital 5K and took its place as the last event in the Mercer County Twilight QUAD.

The Mercer County Twilight QUAD is the oldest continuously held running series in the region with more than 40,000 finishers recorded in the event's 26-plus years. Although runners are welcome to attend any of the events singly, each year approximately 150 runners and walkers earn a special QUAD award for completing the series.

Courtney's Ice Cream Race is by far the largest of the QUAD events. The gently rolling USATF certified course with downhill finish, unique T-shirt designs and ice cream themed awards combined with the post race ice cream feast make this attractive for runners of all ages and abilities.

Since the event is held at the beginning of high school and college fall sports training, the Ice Cream Race also attracts a number of teams. It's a great way for coaches to gauge their team's fitness level with a preseason time trial, introduce speedwork or simply to offer an evening of fun and team building.

It's not too late to register for this year's Ice Cream Run though online registrations are now closed. Download a paper application from www.runhigh.com. You may register on the day of the event but be aware, the registration table will be crowded and T-shirts are available on race day in limited quantities.

The 5K event starts at 7 p.m. while the kids' half- mile run for ages 11 and under starts at 7:45 p.m.

For more information about Courtney's Ice Cream Race e-mail Mark Courtney at smc@runhigh.com or call 724-866-1374.

Upcoming events

Friday, 6 p.m.: Titusville YMCA 5K, Titusville. 814-827-3931 or klkrepps@worldconnx.net

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Your choice of distance and pace. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Roebling's Run 5K, Saxonburg. Out and back, rolling course starts at Knoch High School. 724-898-2525

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Brookline Breeze 5K, Brookline. 412-571-3222 or www.brooklinebreeze.com

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

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Lee Foster Memorial 5K Run, St. Marys. 814-776-1528

Aug. 18, 7 p.m.: Courtney's Ice Cream Race 5K, Grove City. Over 100 gallons of ice cream for post race party. 724-866-1374 or smc@runhigh.com

Aug. 21, 8 a.m.: Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon & 2 Mile Race, Parkersburg, WV. Cash prizes, no race day registration. www.NewsandSentinelHalfMarathon.com

Aug. 21, 8:30 a.m.: Cranberry Township 5K Run and Aquathlon, North Boundary Park, Cranberry Township. Choice of 5K run or 3.3 mile run plus 400 meter swim plus 2.2 mile run. 724-774-5746 or jkerkovich@yahoo.com

Aug. 21, 9 a.m.: Running on Mars 5K, Mars. Starts at Syd Softball Field, loops through Mars Borough. 724-898-2184 or runningonmars5k@zoominternet.net

Aug. 21, 9 a.m.: Specialty Orthopaedics 5K Run & Walk, Hermitage. Benefits Disabled American Veterans of Mercer County. 724-347-3422

Aug. 21, 1 p.m.: Run for Hunger Trail Challenge, Freeport. Choice of half marathon, 4 mile trail run or 2 mile scenic hike starting at Birdsfoot Golf Club. Post race spaghetti dinner. Online registration only at RunRace.net. More information, 724-295-3656 or tomparenti@yahoo.com

Aug. 22, 7 a.m.: Drake Well Marathon and Half Marathon, Titusville. 814-827-3741 or www.drakewellmarathon.com

Aug. 22, 8:30 a.m.: Safe Harbor 5K Race, Mill Creek Park, OH. Run on the 5k Distance Classic course benefits youth of Uganda. 330-533-6027 or www.heartsforasafeharbor.com

Aug. 24, 7 p.m.: Quality Life Cup Series 5K, Mercer. Fourth in series. 724-431-0770, ext.2104 or MikeL@QualityLifeServices.com

Aug. 28, 6:30 a.m.: Baker Trail UltraChallenge 50 Mile Ultramarathon & Relay, Schenley. Individual or relay teams of up to 5 members. 412-512-4544 or ultrachallenge@rachelcarsontrails.org

Aug. 28, 9 a.m.: Baptist Bash 5K Race/ Walk, Ford City. Starts near Lenape Schools. 724-859-4466 or hondo262@windstream.net

Aug. 28, 9 a.m.: Footsteps in Faith 5K Race and 1 Mile Fun Walk, Irwin. Benefits kids with cancer. Footstepsinfaith@gmail.com or www.genreskidswithcancerfund.com

Sept. 4, 9 a.m.: Gatorade/Steelers 5K, Pittsburgh. Starts at Heinz Field, lots of great prizes. 412-697-7713 or www.steelers.com

Sept. 11, 8 a.m: Festival of the Arts 5K, Saxonburg. Third race in Saxonburg Distance Series. 724-898-2525

Sept. 11, 9 a.m.: Adams Area Fire District Herb Kaufman Memorial 5K Run/ Walk, Adams Township. Scenic country roads. http://aafd5k.webs.com

Race results

St. Barnabas 5K, Aug. 7: Jed Christiansen,1st Overall M,14:51; Kristen Leslie,1st Overall W,18:23; Leslie Kramer,2nd Overall W,19:02; Tim Monfre,1st Grand Masters M,18:08; Brent Collins,1st Masters M,18:55; Randy Black,2nd Masters M,19:04; Cheryl Relic,1st Grand Masters W,22:31; Patricia Neubert,3rd Grand Masters W,23:32; Grant Baron,1st 15-19 M,16:27; Chris Short,2nd 15-19 M,16:31; Joel Shaeffer,3rd 35-39 M,17:50; Bill Schmidt,1st 50-54 M,20:03; Holly Bauer,1st 30-34 W,20:09; Danica Snyder,2nd 15-19 W,20:15; Missy Shaeffer,1st 35-39 W,20:24; Diane Zalenski,2nd 35-39 W,21:16; Kimberley Ebbert,3rd 35-39 W,21:27; Ray English,1st 75-79 M,23:43; Michele Bamburek,2nd 45-49 W,24:19; Kaden Ebbert,2nd 9 & Under M,24:46; Dezso Csizmadia,1st 70-74 M,25:00; Joanne Castello,3rd 40-44 W,25:25; Ann Cheman,3rd 55-59 W,27:43; Barbara Lane,1st 60-64 W,28:02; Becky Desantis,2nd 60-64 W,29:02; Lou Lodovico,1st 80+ M,29:44; Sandra Wargo,3rd 60-64 W,31:05; Margretta Lutz,1st 80+ W,32:52; Valerie Sands,1st 65-69 W,33:28; Annette Hardt,2nd 80+ W,51:36

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