Tammy Slusser loves running the Butler Road Race, then adding on a few extra miles.

There’s a lot of tradition for Slusser, 49, on the old 10K route up Alameda Hill.

Slusser, who will run in the 39th annual Butler Road Race 5-mile race at 9 a.m. Saturday, ends up running around 13 miles.

“I really like the old 10K course,” Slusser said. “So much so that when I finish the race, I do the old 10K course.”

Slusser is one of many who have returned for many years for the popular race. The Butler Road Race will also have a 2K (1.24 mile) health walk and run that will start at 9:05 a.m.

This year, the award for the top overall finisher will be dedicated to Enrico S. ‘Rick’ Davanzati, one of the co-founders of the race who passed away in March.

Butler Road Race President Mike Franko said he expects around 550 people to compete this year.

“I think people come back overall because we’re such a well-organized race,” Franko said. “Ours is unique because it’s a race within a race. I’ve been seeing lately that a lot of people are competing in the shorter distance because it takes less training.”

The Butler Road Race has raised $357,350 for 672 Butler County cross-country student athletes in a 21-year period.

Franko enjoys seeing some of the recipients who have received the awards come back and run.

“It’s an academic award,” Franko said. “Among all those kids that have received the scholarships, the average GPA for those kids is a 3.8.”

Nick Edinger of Mars won the 5-mile race last year in 26:12. Danica Snyder of Butler won the women’s 5-mile race in 31:28, finishing one second in front of Slusser.

Slusser, who is a Monroeville resident, holds the record for the fastest time in the Master’s Division (40 and up) and has won the race 10 times.

Slusser, who first ran the race on her wedding day on June 27, 1987, last won in 2011.

She won three consecutive titles from 1984-86 and also won from 2002-06.

“It’s special to us,” Tammy said. “A lot of people in the wedding party and our families ran in that race.”

Winning the race isn’t on her mind anymore. Now, it’s about setting attainable goals.

After setting the record in the Master’s Division a few years ago, she just wants to continue to run good times.

“It’s getting harder and harder to win every year,” Slusser said. “I’m 49 now, I just try to be competitive. I was close to the winner of the race last year.”