It's a wild and crazy race through the trails of Butler and Armstrong counties and 50 wild and crazy runners challenged the Fourth Annual Run for Hunger Half Marathon last Saturday.

Although Run for Hunger will never have the crowd appeal of a flat and fast road race, race director Tom Parenti was pleased with this year's turnout.

"I had six finishers in the first year's race," he reported of the inaugural race of 2007. The 2010 event included 32 finishers in the half marathon and 17, including Parenti's 6-year-old daughter Aleena, on the shorter course.

This year's Run for Hunger included a rugged trail half marathon, a four- mile trail run and a two- mile hike, all beginning and ending at Birdsfoot Golf Course near Freeport. The run is held as a benefit for Freeport Meals on Wheels.

This year's Run for Hunger was relatively mild compared to other years. Parenti had carefully marked the course and ample volunteers staffed three aid stations and several trail intersections.

The event was also a little safer and less hair-raising. Past years had included Band-Aids and stitches from encounters with rocks and roots, bear sightings and stings by angry yellow jackets. One group did encounter an Eastern rat snake coiled along the trail.

Weather cooperated for Run for Hunger, which started at 1 p.m. in steamy summer conditions. After the first half hour, runners ran under cloud cover and cool shade of the woods. Unlike the Buffalo Stampede, held in June on some of the same course, the trails were dry and Buffalo Creek merely knee deep for the stream crossing.

Footing was more secure for this August run, but still difficult, especially on the steep downhill portions.

As I stumbled across the finish line and sprawled exhausted onto the golf course grass, Parenti assured me that I was the dirtiest finisher so far. I had tripped on a rock at about the ten-mile point in the run and landed face first.

I wasn't the only one with bruised knees and dirty elbows. There were plenty of trail stories to share over beers at the post-race spaghetti dinner at the Birdsfoot Clubhouse.

While Run for Hunger addresses the needs of the hungry in our area, LHOT Run for Shelter 5K Run and Walk, this Saturday at 9 a.m. in Butler, raises awareness of another need in our community.

Local Housing Options Team is the umbrella organization for several groups in Butler County who help the homeless or those in danger of becoming homeless.

The LHOT Run for Shelter course is completely contained within the Butler Veterans Medical Center campus. It's gently rolling and somewhat shaded. Expect 100 to 150 participants for this friendly neighborhood event.

For more information about LHOT Run for Shelter 5K, e-mail wturne@ccpgh.org or call Buddy Turner at 724-287-3043.

Pittsburgh Marathon

The Pittsburgh Marathon will be held next year on May 15 due to scheduling conflicts with other events in the city.

Because of the later date and the greater potential for hot weather, the starting time will be moved up to 5:30 a.m. for walkers, 6:30 a.m. for marathon, half marathon and relay runners.

This year the organizers have added a 5K to the schedule to include more runners and walkers in the excitement of marathon weekend.

The 5K will be held on Saturday, starting time to be determined. The courses for all of the distances have yet to be determined, though the marathon start is set for 6th Street and Liberty Avenue downtown.

Marathon organizers expect the race to reach its maximum once again this year with the more popular half marathon field filling first.

Organizers can safely handle up to 22,000 participants and over 18,000 are expected to participate.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 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

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

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Local Housing Options Team Run for Shelter 5K, Butler. Run on Butler VA Medical Center campus. wturne@ccpgh.org

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

Saturday, 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

Saturday, 10:30 a.m.: Hamstring Hustle 5K and 2.5K, Clintonville. Run one or both events starting in Community Park. 814-385-6515 or misandrock@gmail.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. 5, 9 a.m.: Pizza Joe's 5K, New Castle. Also kids' run at 8:40 a.m. 724-658-1716 or comments@pizzajoes.com

Sept. 6, 9 a.m.: Labor Day 5K Classic, Washington. 724-222-0750 or labordayrace@yahoo.com

Sept. 6, 9:15 a.m.: Buhl Day 5K, Hermitage. 724-981-3700

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

Sept. 11, 8:20 a.m.: IKEA Montour Trail Half Marathon and 5K, Robinson Township. Run on level Montour Rail Trail. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.com

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

Sept. 14, 7 p.m.: Quality Life Cup Sugar Creek Rest 5K, Worthington. Final race in series. 724-431-0770, ext. 2104 or www.QualityLifeServices.com

Sept. 19, Noon: Junior Great Race, Pittsburgh. One mile fun run and 50-yard dash with lots of perks, prizes and fun for kids ages 12 and under. 412-255-2493 or www.RunGreatRace.com

Sept. 26, 8:30 a.m.: Great Race 5K, Pittsburgh. Downhill run to downtown. 412-255-2493 or www.RunGreatRace.com

Sept. 16, 9:30 a.m.: Great Race 10K, Pittsburgh. The original distance starting in Frick Park, finishing downtown. 412-255-2493 or www.RunGreatRace.com

Race results

Courtney's Ice Cream Race 5K, Aug. 18: Jed Christiansen, 1st Overall M, 15:06; Jake Walker, 2nd Overall M, 15:17; Jacob Kildoo, 3rd Overall M, 15:36; Jess Zozos, 1st Overall W, 18:40; Leslie Kramer, 3rd Overall W, 19:01; Christine Herzog, 4th Overall W, 19:41; Dorothy Moxie, 1st Masters W, 21:57; Grant Baron, 1st 16-19 M, 16:57; Daniel Jaskowak, 2nd 16-19 M, 17:17; Michael Dreves, 3rd 35-39 M, 18:15; John Ziegler, 2nd 50-54 M, 18:21; Brent Collins, 3rd 45-49 M, 19:06; Holly Bauer, 1st 30- 34 W, 20:19; Susan Dreves, 1st 35-39 W, 20:49; Heather Ziegler, 3rd 16-19 W, 20:56; David Adams, 2nd 60-64 M, 22:32; Patricia Neubert, 1st 55-59 W, 23:44; Cody Hamilton, 1st 6 & Under M, 24:37; Dezso Csizmadia, 1st 70+ M, 24:58; Barb Filutz, 1st 60-64 W, 25:10; Olivia Lowe, 2nd 10-11 W, 25:48; Mary Morgan, 3rd 50-54 W, 26:06; Bryce Lowe, 2nd 8-9 M, 26:19; Becky Desantis, 3rd 60-64 W, 29:14; Susan Tassey, 3rd 55-59 W, 31:47; Margretta Lutz, 70+ W, 32:33; Sandra McConnell, 1st 65-69 W, 34:44

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