Although I missed last Saturday’s Butler Road Race, sometimes you just have to get away.

Instead of pounding pavement at home, I challenged the wilds of West Virginia trails with nine other local runners at New River Gorge Trail Festival.

New River Gorge is the nation’s newest national park with 7,000 acres of scenic beauty along the oldest, deepest and longest river gorge in the Appalachians and views of longest single-span arch bridge in the western hemisphere.

As Andrew Mascio, co-owner of Wolf Creek Race Management says, “We’re always looking for scenic destinations. As soon as it became a national park, we knew we wanted to hold an event there.”

Evidently, runners also want to go to an event there as participation has more than tripled from fewer than 100 finishers in 2021 in the 5k and half marathon to more than 300 this year. In 2022, the event added a 50k to the distance choices.

With all the available options, there was a distance to satisfy all of the runners in my group. Most chose to run the 5k on Friday evening. While a few ran only the half marathon on Saturday, most of the 5k runners also ran the half marathon, a Bridge Double. And one chose to double by running 5k and 30k. Among this year’s 307 total finishers, 60 chose to double.

As interest grows, Andrew says Wolf Creek must be creative in planning to keep the event safe and enjoyable. For example, this year’s 5k changed from an out-and-back to a point-to-point course. This lessened crowding and introduced a challenging technical climb to the single-track course with 500 feet of elevation gain and more than 700 feet of loss.

Changes to the half marathon and 50k courses this year made them more run-able and scenic. The half marathon includes rhododendron tunnels, views of the New River Gorge Bridge and several waterfalls and long, easy miles on the packed gravel Craig Branch Road. The 50k includes two loops of the half marathon course with an extra out-and-back along the rim of the gorge.

New River Gorge is a beautiful place to run, but it’s not all about the scenery. Competitive awards in all distances include custom medals for top three male and female overall and masters finishers and top three in age groups from 18-29 through 60+.

All finishers earn a custom designed medal. In addition, all finishers in the Bridge Double (5k on Friday, half marathon or 50k on Saturday) receive a special medal. Andrew says that all their medals are designed in-house and feature themes of their locations.

Our group sported a lot of New River Gorge bling at our post-race celebration. The host town of Fayetteville is a hub for outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking on world class whitewater. And when friends are finished expending energy outdoors, they want to relive it over food and beers.

Andrew recommends looking over their website, wolfcreektrackclub.com, for ideas to make the most of destination runs. He says they like to include information about the area including history, other activities, food and lodging along with race information.

Wolf Creek Race Management conducts destination events as far away as Hot Springs, Arkansas and are investigating an event in Utah for the future. But they also stage several events in PA including Beaver County’s Rabid Racoon Trail Races, Old Turnpike Half Marathon in Waterfall which runs on an abandoned section of PA Turnpike and through two tunnels and Lake Wilhelm Marathon and Half Marathon on the shores of Maurice K. Goddard State Park near Sandy Lake.

Their next event is Kinzua Half Marathon and 5k, July 29 and 30 in Mt. Jewett. The events start and finish at Kinzua Bridge State Park Skywalk, one of the world’s top viewpoints, and run out and back on scenic Knox Kane Rail Trail. For more information, visit wolfcreektrackclub.com/kinzua-half-marathon-5k/.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 6 a.m.: Hell Hath No Hurry, Carnegie. Run 10k, 30k, 50k or 50k relay on Settler’s Cabin Park trails. Runsignup.com/Race/PA/Carnegie/HellHathNoHurry2021

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Ford City 5k, Ford City. Flat loop course. Secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=138313 or 724-763-3761

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Ellwood City Ledger 10k, Elwood City. Starts at Veteran’s Memorial Pool in Ewing Park. Runsignup.com/Race/Pa/Ellwood-CityLedgerArtsCraftsFoodFestival10k

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Canadohta Lake Firecracker 5k/10k, Union City. Starts at Canadohta Lake Roller Rink. runsignup.com/Race/PA/UnionCity/CanadohtaLakeFirecracker5k10k

July 4, 7:30 a.m.: 39th Annual Whiskey Rebellion 5k, Canonsburg. Starts at Cano-McMillan Stadium. Awards for runners and walkers. Runsignup.com/Race/PA/Canonsburg/WhiskeyRebellion5kRunWalk

July 4, 8 a.m.: Get Fit Families Firecracker 5k and 1 Mile, Zelienople. Also 1-mile kids’ run. Runsignup.com/Race/Pa/Zelienople/Getfitfamiliesfirecracker

July 4, 8:30 a.m.: Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5k, Allison Park. Runsignup.com/Race/Pa/AllisonPark/2022HamptonRotaryClubFirecracker5k or email chris.lochner@hampton-pa.org

July 8, 9 a.m.: O’Neal Memorial Cherry Festival 5k Run/Walk, North East. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NorthEast/NorthEastCherryFestivalONealMemorial5kRunWalk

July 9, 7:30 a.m.: Trail Blazer 15k, 5k Run and Walk, Meadville. Flat, fast, scenic run on Ernst Trail. http://ernsttrail.org/events/

July 12, 7 p.m.: Dam Race 5k, Sharpsville. Race #2 in Twilight Quad Series. Also kids’ race. Secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=138530724-866-1374

July 15, 9 a.m.: Cranberry Community Chase 5k Run/Walk, Cranberry Township. www.eventbrite.com/e/cranberry-community-chase-5k-runwalk-registration-546329164237

July 15, 9 p.m.: Roaring Run Race to the Moon Night 5k Run/Walk, Apollo. Flat out-and-back. All participants must have a light. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Apollo/RoaringRunRaceToThemoon

July 19, 7 p.m.: 23rd Annual Kalajainen Klassic 5k/1 Mile Race, New Castle. Also virtual option. runsignup.com/Race/PA/NewCastle/KalajainenKlassic5KRunWalk

July 22, 8 a.m.: 8th Annual Hot-to-Trot 5k, 1 Mile Family Fun Run and 100-meter Tot Trot, Zelienople. Held at Glade Run and Passavant Senior Cummunity campuses. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/ZelienopleHorseTradingDaysHottoTrot5k1Mile

July 22, 8:30 a.m.: Rube’s Run, Prospect. Also kids’ race and post-race hot dogs. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Prospect/RUBESRUN

July 26, 7 p.m.: Fredonia 5k, Fredonia. Race 3 in QUAD Series. 724-866-1374 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=138531

July 29, 7 p.m. & July 30, 8 a.m.: Kinzua Half Marathon and 5k, Mt. Jewett. Run either event or both at scenic Kinzua Gorge. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/MountJewett/KinzuaHalfMarathon

July 29, 9 a.m.: John Cossy Costantino Memorial 5k & 10k, Freeport. Held in conjunction with Freeport International Baseball Invitational. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Freeport/JohnCossyConstantinoMemorial5K

July 30, 8 a.m.: Run with the Deer Flies 15k & 25k, Penn Run. Challenging trail run starts at Seph Mack Scout Camp. 412-289-6299 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/PennRun/RunWithTheDeerFlies25K15K

Aug. 5, 9 a.m.: St. Barnabas Free Care 5k, Gibsonia. Also post-race party. 724-625-3770 or http://stbarnabashealthsystem.com/charities/annual-events/stbarnabas5k/

Race results

New River Gorge 5k, June 23: Josh Duffie, 1st Overall M, 23:52; Josh McGinley, 3rd Overall M, 26:51; Karlie Gash, 1st Overall W, 29:06; Eric Slagle, 2nd Masters M, 31:46; Jinny Hertweck, 2nd Masters W, 37:48; Rachelle Kelley, 1st 30-39 W, 38:09; Crystal Wonderling, 1st 40-49 W, 38:11; Patricia Neubert, 1st 60+ W, 41:34; Margie Lynch, 2nd 60+ W, 44:31; David Lockerman, 3rd 60+ M, 55:04; Zach Porter, 32:39; Christen Dummer, 1:01:23; Robert Dummer, 1:01:24

New River Gorge Half Marathon, June 24: Charlie Magee, 1st Overall M, 1:39:40; Eva George, 1st Overall W, 1:54:24; Carolyn Crider, 2nd Masters W, 2:43:02; Eric Slagle, 3rd 50-59 M, 2:25:20; Jinny Hertweck, 1st 50-59 W, 2:45:04; Patricia Neubert, 1st 60+ W, 2:53:07; Rbert Dummer, 2:05:56; Zach Porter, 2:30:09; Jill Terwilliger, 3:30:54; Rachelle Kelley, 3:30:54

New River Gorge 50k, June 24: Chad Albright, 1st Overall M, 4:43:19; Josh McGinley, 2nd Overall M, 5:19:29; Hannah Wexner, 1st Overall W, 5:40:19; Margie Lynch, 2nd Masters W, 7:39:02; Jessica Moslander, 3rd Masters W, 7:54:54

Butler Road Race 5 Mile, June 24: Zachary Slear, 1st Overall M, 28:55; Brendan Eicher, 3rd Overall M, 30:30; Ava Brewster, 1st Overall W, 31:17; Adrienne Harmon, 2nd Overall W, 33:53; Lauren Wentz, 3rd Overall W, 36:41; Andrew Harmon, 2nd 30-39 M, 31:49; Mike Stimac, 3rd 30-39 M, 32:15; Dominic Pusateri, 2nd 19-29 M, 32:22; Shae Sintz, 1st 13-18 M, 33:23; James Haughey, 2nd 50-59 M, 33:27; Xavier Krause, 3rd 19-29 M, 33:55; Jacob Szul, 2nd 13-18 M, 35:31; Isaac Boring, 3rd 13-18 M, 36:26; Anthony Adams, 2nd 40-49 M, 38:21; Jim Gallagher, 3rd 50-59 M, 38:37; Brittni Troyan, 1st 30-39 W, 38:52; Richard McKain, 3rd 60-69 M, 40:54; Richard Elliott, 3rd 40-49 M, 40:59; Michelle Dlugas, 2nd 30-39 W, 41:26; Avery Sintz, 1st 13-18 W, 41:58; Meghan Pohl, 2nd 13-18 W, 42:52; Kennedy Evans, 1st 19-29 W, 44:31; Deborah Deddo, 1st 60-69 W, 44:58; Amanda Zavidny, 3rd 30-39 W, 47:33; Carrie Ohorodnyk, 1st 40-49 W, 49:54; Sue Kushnereit, 2nd 60-69 W, 50:57; David Adams, 3rd 70+ M, 51:30; Lori Haughey, 2nd 50-59 W, 52:19; Bobbi Krause, 3rd 19-29 W, 53:16; Susan Landgraf, 3rd 50-59 W, 53:19; Anny Novareyes, 2nd 40-49 W, 54:03; Sherelle Hulbert, 3rd 40-49 W, 54:34; Ashlea Eaton, 3rd 13-18 W, 1:02:44; Isaac Helsel, 1st 12 & Under M, 1:04:17; Matt Sydlik, 33:36; Ryan Hughes, 34:06; William Wolfe, 34:12; Jaxon Llewellyn, 36:39; Mark Dupont, 39:01; A.J. May, 39:08; Steve Knoll, 39:51; Justin D’Antonio, 40:01; Roger Lutz, 41:06; Mike Zucatti, 41:15; Nathanael Wilson, 41:29; Dustin Eaton, 41:59; Kevin Fazio, 42:38; John Evankovich, 42:39; Andrew Menchyk, 43:24; John Olszak, 43:58; James Gascoine, 44:50; Donald Saluga, 45:40; Doug Hall, 45:41; Brad Regis, 46:08; Brian Llewellyn, 46:10; Joe Genco, 46:17; Brady Helsel, 47:22; Ryan Helsel, 47:54; Jim Hixon, 48:13; Wyatt Wolfe, 49:07; Courtney Frederick, 49:19; Megan Dirlam, 49:19; Krista Geagan, 49:36; Jenn Fesler, 52:09; Jessica Wilson, 53:08; Tony Sunseri, 53:16; Daniel Kennedy, 53:29; Amy Lutz, 53:40; David Murray, 53:42; Julia Murray, 55:01; Beth Nichter, 55:21; Megan Flannery-Manuel, 55:58; Robin Trinko, 56:45; Heidi Fleming, 59:39; Tyler Markiliuski, 1:00:12; Sydnee Markle, 1:00:16; Malissa Bradford, 1:00:36; Nicole Homich, 1:00:57; Nicole Eaton, 1:01:42; Blaise Meanor, 1:02:44; Howard Kossover, 1:02:46; Dhyana Keefer, 1:05:08; Abigail Haughey, 1:08:11; Tiffany Eaton, 1:13:56

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist of the Butler Eagle