After New York's Central Park, Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, Ohio, is the second largest city park in the country. That makes it a perfect location for a traffic-free half marathon and 5K.

The Mill Creek Classic Half Marathon celebrates its 18th running Sunday with an 8:45 a.m. start. The 5K event begins at the same location, the former ice skating rink's clubhouse, at 9. Runners should look for the entrance to James L. Wick Recreation Area.

Race director Chuck Miller expects a field of nearly 600 participants for the two distances, depending on the weather. Although the half marathon is a great training race leading to spring marathons, Miller says that the 5K is the more popular race.

Miller, who replaced longtime race director Jim Henderson, describes the Mill Creek course as challenging. The certified course loops through park roads to finish with a final uphill mile. The event will be chip timed for accuracy.

There will be plenty of aid during the half marathon in the form of water and Gatorade. Post-race refreshments include fruit and cookies in the warmth of the clubhouse.

The first 625 registered for either event receive commemorative wind shirts. Registrations will be accepted on Saturday at Second Sole on Route 224 in nearby Boardman, Ohio, or in the park on race day from 7 to 8:40 a.m.

Proceeds from Mill Creek Classic benefit Youngstown Road Runners Club charities. Those charities include funding to buy shoes for area high school cross country teams and an endowment for Youngstown State University cross country runners.

Mill Creek Classic is a major event for Youngstown Road Runners Club, an active and growing club. Members include everyone from casual joggers and walkers to Olympic qualifiers.

Youngstown Road Runners Club holds informal group runs in Mill Creek Park every Sunday morning throughout the year and each Monday evening during the summer.

"Anyone is welcome to run or walk with us," Miller said.

Miller said he thinks the best thing about belonging to the club is the motivation that other runners offer.

"There's always someone to run with and it forces you out the door," he said.

For information about the Mill Creek Classic Half Marathon and 5K or Youngstown Road Runners Club, call 330-720-8074 or visit members.aol.com/ytownrrc/

Provided we have more winter, a reader offered two good suggestions on where to ski:• Laurel Ridge State Park in Normalville, Pa., near Ohiopyle, has groomed trails for both classic and skating and offers warming lodges.Rental concessions are open Fridays through Sundays. Call 724-455-7303 for snow conditions.• Pennsylvania's Wilderness Lodge, near Peak'n Peek ski resort in New York, rents skis, has overnight accommodations in a rustic lodge and offers groomed trails. Call 814-739-2946 before going as the lodge often is booked a year in advance on weekends.

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Your choice of distance. 724-898-2525Sunday, 7:30 a.m.: B&A Trail Marathon and Half Marathon, Severna Park, Md. 410-263-0863 or annapolisstriders.orgSunday, 10 a.m.: Athletic Trainer River Run, UPMC Sports Medicine Center Complex, Pittsburgh. Choice of 5-mile race or 1-mile fun run. 412-432-3770 or tmcma61@yahoo. comMarch 10: St. Malachi 5-Mile Run, Cleveland. Also 2-mile fun run. 216-623-9933March 11: Shamrock Run 15K, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Also 5K. 330-633-5667March 17, 10 a.m.: Shamrock Shuffle 5K Race-Walk, Hopewell Township. St. Patrick's Day costumes optional. 724-375-9351 or shamrock5k@yahoo.comMarch 18, 7 a.m.: Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon and Half Marathon, Virginia Beach, Va. www.shamrockmarathon.comOct. 20, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Winfield Township. Note the date and time change from original schedule. benronsax@zoominternet.netRace results<B>Frigid Five, Feb. 11:</B> Steve Garand, 1st Overall M, 30:19; Herb Cratty, 2nd Overall M, 30:22; Veronica Kirish, 1st Overall W, 38:30; Mark Courtney, 1st 50-54 M, 32:57; Jeff Wiley, 1st 45-49 M, 36:09; Matthew Getsay, 3rd 35-39 M, 38:52; Dana Longwell, 2nd 35-39 W, 41:45; Michelle Minjock, 3rd 40-44 W, 49:54 Carl Hill, 42:31; Ron Hartle, 43:16; Michael Helbling, 47:58<B>Myrtle Beach 5K, Feb. 16: </B>Troy Harrison, 1st Overall M, 16:13; Judy Walls, 1st Overall W, 20:29; Lisa Stevick, 34:08<B>Myrtle Beach Marathon, Feb. 17: </B>Scot Mullins, 1st Overall M, 2:30:09; Tracy Stewart, 1st Overall W, 2:55:50; Jim Pitts, 3:31:47; Harry Peterson, 3:42:43; Chris Noel, 3:44:37; Nancy Stoltfus, 3:58:30; Jill Horvatic, 4:08:55; Tammy Brown, 4:13:44; Jeff Noel, 4:18:48; Victoria Neeley, 5:46:44<B>Myrtle Beach Half Marathon, Feb. 17:</B> Eric Ashton, 1st Overall M, 1:08:21; Jenny Deweese, 1st Overall W, 1:17:39; Herb Cratty, 3rd Masters M, 1:17:31; Jolene Peterson, 2:22:09Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road., Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. Email: bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.