CABOT— What better way to raise money for the Butler-Freeport Community Trail than to use the trail itself?

That's the concept behind the second annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, slated to begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 20 at the Winfield Township Building.

The race will end at Riverside Park in Freeport with most of the 13.1-mile course being run on the Butler-Freeport Community Trail.

"Running from Cabot to Freeport on the trail, it's a gradual slope of varying degrees," race director Ron Bennett said. "Not many races are run primarily downhill, so this is attractive to a lot of runners."

The inaugural Buffalo Creek Half Marathon took place Oct. 1 last year and had 198 runners. It raised about $6,000 for maintenance and further construction of the trail.

Now 16 miles long, the trail needs another four miles to link it with Butler and complete the 20-mile project.

"Our goal is to raise $10,000 this year,"Bennett said. "We've got some nicer awards this time and we hope to expand this event each year."

While only 50 runners have signed up thus far, Bennett anticipates 300 to 500 runners for this year's race.

Entrants are coming in from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan and Massachusetts to compete in the event, which is believed to be the only half marathon race in Butler County.

The race has been advertised in Runner's World, along with other national and regional publications.

"One of our sponsors also sponsors the IKEAHalf Marathon in Pittsburgh, so we were able to give all of those runners applications, too,"Bennett said. "Distance runners always wait to see how they feel physically before committing to a race.

"I know we're going to have a huge turnout for this."

Registration fee is $22 before Oct. 1, $25 afterward. Registration is available online at www.active.com.

The trail has a surface of crushed limestone that is easy on runners' legs and feet.

"There's a little more give,"Bennett said. "It's not like you're running on pavement."

The race also requires more than 80 volunteers who assist with registration, water stations, medical support, traffic control and awards.

"We get medical volunteers from local hospitals, and a number of church groups and other community organizations help out,"Bennett said. "It takes a lot of people to make this happen."

Awards are presented to the top three male and female finishers overall, the top three runners age 40 and over, and top finishers in age groups ranging from 19 and under to 75 and older.

Last year's overall winners were Jeff Nelson of Titusville and Meghan McDanel of Pittsburgh.