Race director Kevin Smith expected a record turnout for his Spring Thaw 10-, 15-, 20-mile event Feb. 28 in North Park. He didn't anticipate a crowd of 700 finishers, more than double the largest Spring Thaw finishing crowd of 370 in 2008.

Based on those numbers Smith is prepared for record participation at his Just a Short Run at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in North Park. Smith is anticipating close to double the 1,200 participants of last year's event.

Smith advises those who haven't preregistered to visit www.justashortrun.net or www.eliterunners.com to ensure the event hasn't maxed out at 2,000 registrations before making the trip to Elite Runners and Walkers to register Friday or to North Park on race day.

"We're only permitted for 2,000 runners by park officials. And that's the maximum we can safely accommodate and keep it the quality event runners have come to expect," Smith says.

Just a Short Run began in 2001 as a half marathon with optional 5K distance and attracted 750 participants. Since then, it has expanded to include a 30K distance and a three-person relay. That makes it a perfect training run for the upcoming Pittsburgh Marathon.

Just a Short Run is chip timed and all distances are USATF certified. No pets, strollers or inline skates are allowed. The use of iPods is discouraged but not banned.

Just a Short Run takes its name from the imprinted Coolmax-lined running shorts earned by all registrants.

Proceeds benefit Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and youth charities. The event is an official Team in Training event and more than 100 TNT runners preparing for Pittsburgh are expected.

Any successful race runs on its volunteers. Because of the additional runner participation, Smith is scrambling to recruit an additional 20 to 50 volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, send an email to volunteer@justashortrun.net.

Runners can register or pick up packets at Elite Runners and Walkers in Robinson Township tonight until 8 and Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Race-day registration begins at 7 a.m. at North Park Boathouse.

Please plan to arrive early and runners should carpool when possible because there is a total of only 600 parking spots available at the ice rink, spillway and swimming pool areas. Shuttle buses will take runners to the boathouse starting area beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Since my last column, the Pittsburgh Marathon and Half Marathon, scheduled for May 3, has seen registrations close then open again — maybe.Citing safety and quality concerns, race director Patricia Matamoros capped marathon registrations at 7,000, a number that would mark the largest field in the event's history.Matamoros is trying to gather additional funding and volunteers to provide services for a larger group of runners. As of this writing, the marathon will accept an additional 1,000 registrations, drawing first from the marathon's waiting list.Runners should visit www.pittsburghmarathon.com for the latest information.

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. No group run on March 28. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: Race for Grace 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk, North Huntingdon. www.reflectionsofgrace.orgSaturday, 11 a.m.: Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5K, Cooksburg. 814-393-2081 or www.cookforest.comSunday, 7:30 a.m.: Running Wild and North Park Road Runners Group Run, North Park. Starts at Boy Scout Cabin. 724-444-5311 or www.runningwildpa.comApril 4, 9 a.m.: Presidents Challenge 5K Run-Walk-Wheel, Pittsburgh. Benefits Pittsburgh Steelwheelers. 412-487-7644 or www.wptla.orgApril 4, 9 a.m.: SLIM 5K-10K to Combat HIV-AIDS in Kenya and Malawi, South Park. www.slimpitt.org/raceregistration.htmApril 4, 10 a.m.: Prep for Pittsburgh Half Marathon and 5k, Goddard State Park, Mercer. 724-301-6775 or outdoors@neo.rr.comApril 4, 10 a.m.: Fool's Run 10K and 3-Mile Walk, Indiana. First event in Indiana Road Runners Triple Crown. 724-349-0501 or www.indianarunners.comApril 5, 9 a.m.: Athens Marathon and Half Marathon, Athens, Ohio. alagraff@yahoo.com or athensmarathon.orgApril 11, 9 a.m.: Great Shamokin Path 5K Run-Walk, Numine. 724-783-7040 or shas@asd.k12.pa.usApril 11, 9 a.m.: Yough Trail 10-Mile Run and 5K Run and Walk, Connellsville. 724-628-5506 or www.greaterconnellsville.orgApril 18, 9 a.m.: Big Foot Half Marathon and 5K Walk-Run, Kittanning. Rate of $25 for family of four. 724-545-9622 or kknepshield@armstrongymca.orgApril 25, 9 a.m.: UPMC Health Plan Genesis Riverside Run, Pittsburgh. 412-766-2693 or www.genesispgh.org

<B>Ellport Winter Wonderland 5K, Feb. 28:</B> Tim Snyder, 1st Overall M, 16:30; Owen Venesky, 2nd Overall M, 16:37; Brian Tackett, 3rd Overall M, 17:10; Christine Keck-Strelick, 1st Overall W, 18:44; Bethany Walker, 1st Overall W, 19:44; Kathy Dambrosio, 1st Walker W, 41:03; Bob Crawford, 1st Walker M, 47:43Mark Knapp, 3rd 45-49 M, 19:49; Russ Oschenhirt, 2nd 30-34 M, 20:04; Curt Grimm, 1st 60-64 M, 21:07; Cindy Grimm, 1st 55-59 W, 23:03; Bruce Hall, 3rd 35-39 M, 23:08; David Suber, 3rd 50-54 M, 23:18; Dick Boettner, 2nd 60-64 M, 23:20; Angela Scott, 1st 30-34 W, 24:56; Lou Lodovico, 1st 70 and over M, 27:48; Dez Csizmadia, 2nd 70 and over M, 27:57; Anne Dawson, 1st 50-54 W, 30:42Sherree May, 2nd 50-54 W, 30:44; Sally Toth, 3rd 40-44 W, 31:11; Sondra Hall, 3rd 60-64 W, 31:42; Eric Duchess, 3rd 40-44 M, 33:48; David Steffler, 3rd 30-34 M, 42:13; Michelle Steffler, 2nd 30-34 W, 42:20; Scott Brown, 21:55; Phil Barner, 22:10; John Antinossi, 23:43; Gale Mussey, 25:39; Len Yensull, 25:44; Ed Leymarie, 26:15; Debra Kuminkoski, 30:40; Bob Dawson, 30:43; Sue Boettner, 31:52; Ada Rumberg, 40:20<B>Shamrock Challenge 5K, March 14:</B> Cameron Stauffer, 1st Overall M, 18:57; Andrew Razanauskas, 2nd Overall M, 18:57; Christina Keck, 1st Overall W, 20:12; Mitch Radella, 1st 40-49 M, 21:11; Tim Weil, 1st 50-59 M, 24:39; Erin Nicotra, 1st 30-39 W, 25:05; Dez Csizmadia, 1st 70+ M, 25:30; Barb McCandless, 3rd 40-49 W, 26:26; Ann Cheman, 1st 50-59 W, 28:14; Gayle Shubert, 3rd 50-59 W, 35:32; Gene Szaronos, 1st 70 and over M, 42:43Stephen Mick, 22:28; Bruce Hall, 24:04; Wally Kukla, 25:07; Lori Piedimonte, 27:13; Sarah Antal, 28:37; Collin Ludmer, 28:39; Kristen Kelosky, 29:37; Ryan Kaufman, 30:35; Alice Wiesner, 30:51; Stacie Brethauer, 31:29; Jody Geyer, 31:42; Lisa Moss, 32:05; Debra Kuminkoski, 32:41; Jessica Kavanaugh, 33:49; Eric Duchess, 35:07; Whitney Corrigan, 35:16; Alicia Flood, 35:36; Al Shubert, 36:49; Roger Hyde, 37:21; Karen Munsey, 39:36; Jamie Munsey, 39:37; Lauren Schultz, 41:59; Sara Subert, 43:53; Craig Moss, 44:40; John Fleishman, 48:42; Julie Kaufman, 59:22<B>Shamrock Challenge 10-Mile, March 14:</B> Matthew Bright, 1st Overall M, 57:22; Cameron Stauffer, 2nd Overall M, 1:00:04; Brian Caskey, 3rd Overall M, 1:00:53; Hilary McConnell, 1st Overall W, 1:13:42; Herb Cratty, 1st 40-49 M, 1:01:56; John Caskey, 3rd 30-39 M, 1:07:17; Stephen Mick, 2nd 19-29 M, 1:11:31; Tim Weil, 3rd 50-59 M, 1:16:09; Wally Kukla, 1st 18 and under M, 1:18:22; Erin Nicotra, 1st 30-39 W, 1:23:51; Lori Piedimonte, 3rd 40-49 W, 1:24:39; Heather Healy, 2nd 30-39 W, 1:24:46; Jillian Lavelle, 2nd 19-29 W, 1:28:10; Andria Jones, 3rd 19-29 W, 1:30:12; Dianne Brooks, 2nd 50-59 W, 1:31:31; Lou Lodovico, 1st 70 and over M, 1:42:19; Nancy Miller, 2nd 60-69 W, 1:50:53Mitch Radella, 1:09:33; Richard Colonello, 1:19:21; Sarah Antal, 1:24:53; Jason Gallagher, 1:26:19; Bob Stanionis, 1:27:29; Ryan Kaufman, 1:29:16; Nicole Khoury, 1:29:46; Kristen Kelosky, 1:29:58; Pam Kristoff, 1:35:04; Michelle Pekich, 1:36:59; Greg Pekich, 1:37:00; Mary Pekich, 1:37:22; Jessie Rack, 1:37:35; Alice Wiesner, 1:37:59; Debbie Gallagher, 1:38:18; Beth LaGamba, 1:39:51; Valerie Jordan, 1:41:14; Darryl Tieken, 1:42:18; Kathie Blin, 1:42:35; Laura Thomas, 1:44:53; Dana Hogue, 1:47:30; Erica Leslie, 1:50:13; Amanda Cagno, 1:52:45; Bethany Higginbotham, 1:52:45<B>Shamrock Challenge 1-Mile, March 14:</B> Cameron Stauffer, 1st Overall M, 6:09; Andrea Moore, 1st Overall W, 8:06; Mitch Radella, 1st 40-49 M, 6:39; Stephen Mick, 2nd 19-29 M, 6:50; Aaron Depew, 1st 30-39 M, 7:27; Tim Weil, 1st 50-59 M, 8:00; Christine Patton, 1st 30-39 W, 8:43; Wally Kukla, 1st 16-18 M, 8:46; Holly Depew, 2nd 30-39 W, 9:06Michelle Pekich, 1st 40-49 W, 9:23; Daniel Patton, 2nd 12-13 M, 9:25; Erin Nicotra, 3rd 30-39 W, 9:36; Lori Piedimonte, 2nd 40-49 W, 9:45; Sarah Antal, 3rd 40-49 W, 9:50; Ethan Depew, 1st 8-9 M, 9:58; Carson Brethauer, 1st 6-7 M, 10:37; Sophie Slight, 1st 6-7 W, 11:11; Mitchell Brethauer, 2nd 8-9 M, 11:26; Hayden Schultz, 2nd 6-7 M, 12:10; Scott Schultz, 2nd 6-7 M, 12:10; Colton Ludmer, 2nd 4-5 M, 13:20; Zachary Baker, 3rd 4-5 M, 13:54; Shannon Schultz, 1st 4-5 W, 14:25; Henry Ludmer, 1st 1-3 M, 14:31Kristen Kelosky, 10:14; Stacy Brethauer, 10:30; Jim Brethauer, 10:37; Bob Slight, 11:11; Scott Schultz, 12:11; Collin Ludmer, 13:21; Joella Baker, 13:56; Sarah Ludmer, 14:44; Alice Wiesner, 15:37Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail lotzak@consolidated.net