Mike Franko believes the Butler Road Race is a special race.

Apparently, so do the participants.

The 37th annual Butler Road Race, presented by Butler Health System, will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Butler County Courthouse.

“Our preliminary numbers are up from last year, which is good to hear,” said Franko, who serves as president of the BRR board of directors. “I’m surprised with as many races as there are in the area. They’re predominantly 5K races and we’re unique because we’re a 5-mile race and a 2K race and walk.”

The race is in its 37th year, still making it the longest consecutively held race in western Pennsylvania and a part of runners’ and walkers’ annual late June calendar.

“I get a lot of feedback,” Franko said, “and people say they plan the race around a couple of races they run each year because of the way the race is conducted.”

Franko points to the committee members, several of which have been involved for decades.

“We just try to run a first-class race,” Franko noted. “We do all we can as well as we can. You hope it all comes together.”

This year, the race will receive a visit from an old friend as the Butler County Family YMCA returns to the fold as an organizing body. The YMCA will offer use of its showers and locker rooms to any runner following the race, just by showing your race number.

And speaking of returns, Monroeville’s Tammy Slusser will be aiming for her 11th women’s title, whether from the classic 10K race (1984-86) or the recent 5-mile distance.

“Tammy’s the current Masters record holder and Lou Lodovico (of Ellwood City), he’s currently a five-time national record holder,” Franko said. “Last year, he set the record for 87-year-olds (47:20).”

Perhaps the greatest joy Franko and the committee receive is the money raised for academic scholarships for graduating high school senior cross-country runners in the eight schools in Butler County.

“I’m real proud of the event and that we’ve exceeded 600 scholarships and nearly $320,000,” Franko said. “As we always do, we invite all the previous scholarship recipients to the podium before the start of the awards. Annually, we have about 20-to-25 kids who return.”

The race will still acknowledge finishers ages 11 and under with a certificate of participation, plus the more than 130 competitive awards that are distributed.

As usual, there will be post-race refreshments, door prizes and vendors on site, while the Texas Roadhouse will offer “Family of 4 or More” with a free entree dining certificate. Irene Stacy Community Mental Health Center will be the ChampionChip sponsor.

Early packet pickup, as well as late registration, will take place Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Butler Cubs Hall, 113 S. McKean St. On Saturday, late registration and packet pickup will run from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m.

Fortunately, the predicted mid-week heat wave should be gone and temperatures will be more seasonable.

“You can do all the planning,” Franko said, “but basically it’s in the hands of God on Saturday morning.”