Runners are selfish. We have to be in order to carve out a personal training space to compete in an individual sport.

But most runners I know are also generous. In this season of giving, there are plenty of ways runners can give, rather than receive.

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Give back. All of us who compete appreciate a well-run race. But a good race doesn't just happen by accident. It's due to the planning and hard work of many volunteers.Make a promise this year to give back to your sport by volunteering, on race day or behind the scenes, to help at least one of your favorite races.•

Run for someone. We all know the success story of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. The program has helped runners raise millions of dollars for research and care while lifting up those who suffer with blood-related diseases.Based on the success of Team in Training, other charitable organizations have founded similar programs. Arthritis Foundation conducts Joints in Motion. Several charities, such as Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the American Liver Foundation, work with the Boston Athletic Association and the Boston Marathon.Visit one of these organization's websites: www.teamintraining.org/wpa for Team in Training, www.arthritis.org for Joints in Motion, or www.baa.org for Boston Marathon affiliated charities to see what's required. You could run a marathon or half marathon with a greater purpose this year.•

Charity begins at home. There are plenty of Butler County charities that hold road races each year as fundraisers. Add an extra dollar or two to your application fee to boost your charitable donation when benefiting scholarships for local athletes or putting food on someone's table.•

You have plenty — share. Runners accumulate an incredible number of shoes and T-shirts over the years. Nike recycles old shoes into usable material for playgrounds through their Reuse-A-Shoe program. There's no dropoff center in our area, but you can mail them directly to the recycling center in Wilsonville, Ore. For details, call Nike at 206-447-6453.Running shoes are usually ready for retirement after 300 to 600 miles, but there's still a lot of life in them. In our area, Up-N-Running in Valencia accepts usable shoes for a program conducted by military personnel. Shoes are cleaned and presented to service personnel and civilians in Iraq.•

Give of yourself. Encourage someone else by helping them begin a running program or offering to run with them. That's a gift to you as well because it's usually much more fun running with someone than training alone. Or spread your running knowledge by offering your services as a volunteer coach to adults or children.•

Rest day giving. Runners are good at carving out niches of time for exercise, but you can't run all the time. Find at least an hour or two each month to do something good that's not running related.A great place to start is by joining an established program at your church, synagogue or social organization. Spend time visiting in a nursing home or hospital or delivering meals and a happy face to neighbors who aren't as mobile as you.If you just can't sit still even on rest days, contact an animal shelter and volunteer to exercise some canine inmates.Most importantly, don't forget to give back to family members who put up with your running habit year round. Thank them by attending a non-running event or by setting aside some special family time centered on their passion, not yours.

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 7240898-2525 or www.runpa.comDec. 31, 2 p.m.: Harmony Silvester 5K Race, Harmony. Part of First Night celebration with fireworks at 6. 724-538-8940 or jim@scarnati.netDec. 31, 5 p.m.: Twilight Run 5K, Altoona. 814-695-4467 or laurandt@hollidaysburgymca.orgDec. 31, 6:30 p.m.: First Night Resolution Run 5K, State College. Part of First Night celebration. 814-571-1960 or eggler@geo5c.psu.eduJan. 5, noon: Run 2 Read Half Marathon, Prickett's Fort State Park, W.Va. 304-366-6055 or run2read@yahoo.com

<B>Fight for Life 5K, Nov. 17: </B>Cory Steinhagen, 1st Overall M, 17:40; Mike Fugate, 2nd Overall M, 17:45; Brian Forester, 3rd Overall M, 18:13; Jeannie Bujdos, 1st Overall W, 19:35; Sergei Dines, 1st 16-19 M, 18:50; Rich Makin, 2nd 50-54 M, 18:57; Pat O'Brien, 1st 20-24 M, 19:35; Dorothy Moxie, 1st 40-44 W, 23:13; Wendy Recio, 1st 45-49 W, 23:39; Robert Zukas, Jr., 2nd 60-64 M, 29:53; Scott Slaney, 20:10; John Uleski, 28:50; Debbie Smith, 30:55<B>Gobbler's Gallop 10K Nov. 22: </B>Jake Walker, 1st Overall M,32:14; Clint Orloski, 2nd Overall M, 34:53; Cody Ludwig, 3rd Overall M, 36:29; Bethany Walker, 1st Overall W, 41:30; Leslie Kramer, 2nd Overall W, 41:37; Sarah Thompson, 3rd Overall W, 42:03; Mitch Radella, 2nd 40-44 M, 40:09; Jonathan Snowden, 2nd 16-19 M, 40:15Rich Makin, 3rd 50-54 M, 40:24; Mike Covert, 3rd 40-44 M, 40:46; Matt Drohan, 1st 35-39 M, 44:24; Gary Chabala, 1st 55-59 M, 45:38; Lou Alaksin, 1st 65-69 M, 46:43; Nicole Fuchs, 2nd 16-19 W, 46:57; Brittany Lyons, 3rd 16-19 W, 47:02; Callahan Spigler, 3rd 16-19 M, 47:14; Sarah Antal, 2nd 45-49 W, 47:40; Kristen Kelosky, 1st 40-44 W, 49:16; Jeff McCullough, 2nd 55-59 M, 49:54Wendy Recio, 2nd 45-49 W, 49:58; Dez Czsizmadia, 3rd 65-69 M, 53:01; Mary Morgan, 3rd 45-49 W, 54:23; Marcy Rudolph, 2nd 40-44 W, 55:53; Samantha Miller, 3rd 16-19 W, 56:07; David Campos, 3rd 35-39 M, 57:41; Patti Godsen, 1st 50-54 W, 59:24; Sherree May, 2nd 50-54 W, 1:05:44; Margaret Kimple, 1st 70 and over W, 1:10:00Jeff Wiley, 41:55; Warren Smith, 42:11; Tim Weil, 42:36; Jim Gallagher, 42:38; Frank D'Ambrosio, 43:36; Bob Hardman, 44:52; Bob Mars, 45:07; Bill Melfi, 46:45; John Antinossi, 47:29; Chuck Moody, 49:19; Kevin Lukes, 49:30; Carrie Smith, 49:32; William Adams, 50:13; Marriane Menteh, 50:14Madeline Spigler, 50:26; Ed Leymarie, 50:54; Boone Weatherly, 51:04; Abbie Kuhn, 51:23; Len Yensull, 52:24; Jeff Syphrit, 52:27; Jeremiah Friday, 52:31; Gale Mussey, 53:25; Joshua Larry, 54:55; Lee Anderson, 55:14; David Barensfeld, 55:56; Brian Miller, 56:10; Stacie Doughty, 56:35; Jeff Hand, 58:26; Colleen Rodgers, 58:27; Tom Murray, 59:13; Tom Tietjen, 59:51; Dave Ottaviani, 1:00:16; Kylee Koszer, 1:00:32; Alicia Dwyer, 1:00:40; Sherri Stewart, 1:03:50; Dana Hogue, 1:08:58Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net