It seems this winter just won’t give up.
As spring flowers open, they sometimes wear a crown of snow and runners still don hats and gloves for spring marathon training.
Caitlyn Reges, co-race director of Butler’s Best Buddies Eggstravaganza, hopes for a spring thaw with warm, sunny conditions for Saturday’s sixth annual 5K run/walk, 1-mile fun run and Easter egg hunt.
“Online registration is open until 5 p.m. on Friday,” she said, “but we expect a lot of day-of-event registrations if the weather is good.”
Reges said day-of-event “cash only” registration opens at 8:45 a.m. at Butler High School’s Art Bernardi Stadium. She called it a “family-friendly event with something everyone can enjoy.”
Runners will enjoy Easter Egg Dash 5K, a timed event starting at 10 a.m. It’s a rolling loop through Butler High School and Intermediate School campuses. The event awards plaques to overall male and female finishers and medals to top three runners in age groups from 14-and-under through 60-plus. Walkers are welcome, but there is a 60-minute cutoff time to finish.
The Bunny Hop, a 1-mile fun run/walk starting at 11 a.m., makes a single loop of the Butler High School campus. The event is timed, but there are no competitive awards.
For the first time, participants may register online as a team for either event. There are no prizes for team competition, but Reges said it adds to the camaraderie of the day.
Although wheelchairs are welcome to participate in either event, strollers and dogs are not permitted on Art Bernardi Stadium track, the start/finish for both run/walks. Parents are welcome to park strollers outside of the stadium for use on the rest of the course once runners and walkers leave the stadium area.
The day’s final event is the Easter Egg Hunt, five separate hunts divided into age groups from 4-and-under through ages 9-10. Kids must register for the event online or in person but receive a $5 discount if they also sign up for one of the run/walks. Kids are encouraged to bring their own bag to collect the colored eggs containing candy, small prizes or papers announcing valuable larger prizes donated by local sponsors.
Although egg hunting is limited to kids, winning is not. There will be nearly 40 prize baskets available in a random drawing, and some lucky run participants will receive special prize-winning eggs in their race bags. Kids can also participate in family activities and have their photo taken with the Easter Bunny.
Eggstravaganza is a good event for a good cause. Funds raised through these activities benefit Butler High School’s Best Buddies chapter. This international organization promotes inclusion among students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, pairing students in one-on-one relationships and conducting a variety of activities throughout the year.
Best Buddies has nearly 3,000 chapters worldwide with programs in 50 states and 46 countries around the world impacting the lives of over 1.3 million people. Butler’s Best Buddies currently includes 150 members with 33 pairs of students. Many club members will be part of the volunteer staff for the Eggstravaganza.
This year Butler’s Best Buddies, with Club Advisors Caitlyn Reges and Michelle Yeager, earned national recognition as a Banner School for its work as a Unified Sports Program for Special Olympics. For more information about Best Buddies, visit www.bestbuddies.org
Upcoming events
Saturday, 9 a.m.: Boston Trail Half Marathon and 5K Run/Walk, Elizabeth Township. Run on Yough River Trail. 412-780-7802 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/ElizabethTownship/BostonTrail12Marathonand5KRunWalk
Saturday, 9 a.m.: Dirty Kiln Trail Races, Hollidaysburg. Challenging half marathon and 10K on Canoe Creek State Park trails. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hollidaysburg/DirtyKiln
Saturday, 10 a.m.: Butler’s Best Buddies Easter Egg Dash 5K, Bunny Hop 1 Mile and Kids Easter Egg Hunt, Butler. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/BestBuddiesEasterEggDash
Saturday, 10 a.m.: Helicon Brewing Food Truck 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk, Oakdale. Flat, out and back on Panhandle Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Oakdale/HeliconBrewingFoodTruck5K
Saturday, 10 A.M.: Indiana County Donut Dash 5K, Indiana. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Indiana/indianadonutdash
April 19, 8 a.m.: Tapped for Sap 25K Trail Race, Beaver Falls. Run on single-track trails in Brady’s Run Park. Post-race breakfast. runsignup.com/Race/PA/BeaverFalls/TappedForSapKTrailRace?fbclid=IwY2xjawGkke9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYk7tch2TSeQt9yvzeD7AQfKN5TGEERZoJSuG9Sbabby_YNuE3gkVFulkQ_aem_9anoHh1yGDsK0N3e08-yNw
April 19, 10 a.m.: MKG Half Marathon, Sandy Lake. Race No. 3 in MCTA 26.2 Series. Paved half marathon around Lake Wilhelm in Maurice K. Goddard State Park. 724-301-6775 or www.mctrails.org/events-1
April 26, 8 a.m.: On the Dam Trail – Quemahoning Relay Races, Hooversville. Choice of 50K 4-Person Relay, 50K or 30K solo runs. ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=119056&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3I4xFiC18rYD6fKb1HLVrTSWc93kU93IDw7S9ygM13F8OeDlDcOMd4UVA_aem_h8j73trbOHB2hAEQ1RmkrQ
April 26, 9 a.m.: Dyngus Day Dash 5K, Allison Park. Starts at North Park Boathouse. Prizes, pierogies and polka. 412-327-6074 or www.dyngusdash.com
April 27, 9 a.m.: Earth Day 5K, Wexford. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Wexford/FriendSEarthDayK
May 2-4: Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, Pittsburgh. Variety of options from 40-yard Toddler Trot and 1-Mile Pet Walk to Marathon. p3r.org/races/dick-s-sporting-goods-pittsburgh-marathon
May 3, 9 a.m.: Where the River Runs, Greenville. Point-to-point 15K on Shenango Trail. 724-977-2958 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Greenville/WhereTheRiverRunsTrailRace
May 10, 6 a.m.: Glacier Ridge 20 Mile, 50K and 50 Mile, Portersville. Challenging trail runs starting at Moraine State Park’s North Shore. Volunteers also needed. www.glacierridgetrailultra.com
May 10, 9 a.m.: Thrifty 5K, Allison Park. Starts at North Park Pool area, garage sale with vintage GCXC shirts and medals. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/Thrifty5KPittsburgh
May 10, 9 a.m.: Art & Sole 5K Run & Walk, Erie. Also 1K kids fun run at 9:45 a.m. 814-455-5508 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=140351
May 10, 9:30 a.m.: Paws & Feet 5K, Ford City. 724-859-3559 or calliesbartender@gmail.com
May 10, 11 a.m.: Run for a Purpose Color Run 5K and 1 Mile, DuBois. 814-503-0865 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=140819
May 11, 9 a.m.: Butler’s Back the Blue 5k, Butler. Also 2-Mile Walk starting at Alameda Park’s carousel pavilion. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/ButlersBacktheBlue5k
May 17, 10 a.m.: Hope in the Vineyard 5K Run/Walk, Hunker. Run through grounds of Bella Terra Vineyards, post-race glass of wine. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hunker/HopeintheVineyard
Race results
Frigid 5 Mile, Jan. 12: Ethan Wymer, 1st Overall M, 27:45; Jimmie Couch, 2nd Overall M, 30:12; Stephanie Torres, 1st Overall W, 38:38; Jeremy Jarrell, 37:17; Josh Gretz, 37:23; Gerard Danosos, 40:49; Mark Casteel, 41:00; Brett Nesbitt, 43:02; Emily Keir, 44:33; Skyllar Spears, 44:49; Jessica Niemeier, 44:52; Krista Geagan, 45:07; Jen Beachem, 45:42; Mitch Radella, 45:59; Jeff Smith, 46:15; Brian Apel, 47:08; Oscar Montanez, 47:53; Sara Young, 48:15; Alana Jensen, 48:39; Gypsy Dreveniak, 48:39; Nellie Zuba, 48:51; Jarret Rinkunas, 49:00; Chris Robinson, 49:00; Jamie Kemper, 49:35; Kristin Kelly, 50:06; Cael Waltemire, 50:51; Mandy James, 52:04; Erin Kohlmeyer, 53:10; Andrea Platt, 53:56; Suzette Cappola, 54:05; Kathy Hensler, 54:18; Jessica Irwin, 55:13; Robert Beahm, 57:39; Tasha Werner, 59:02; Renee Lichty-Bodnar, 59:06; Laura Potoski, 59:15; Alfred Schnabel, 59:51; Greschen Powell, 1:00:02; Heather Moser, 1:00:54; Cindy Waltemire, 1:02:09; Dan Powell, 1:02:52; Brandon Durica, 1:03:35; Nicole Yurkovic, 1:04:25; Steph Reese, 1:04:49; Peggy Sibenac, 1:04:50; Tanner Bartholow, 1:04:55; Robyn Gross, 1:06:43; Maritza Cable, 1:11:01; Beth Ann Skinner, 1:12:38; Derek Stevens, 1:19:48; Nathan Platt, 1:20:32; Kim Kenetz, 1:37:25; Shawna Hardy-Emerson, 1:48:51
Butler Cupid’s Chase 5K, Feb. 8: Seth Jenny, 1st Overall M, 18:47; Jake Szul, 2nd Overall M, 19:38; Ethan Spirk, 3rd Overall M, 20:45; Birtukan Hartman, 1st Overall W, 21:56; Jessica Greco, 2nd Overall W, 24:14; Corinne Petrus, 3rd Overall W, 24:50; Paul Rohler, 1st 55-59 M, 23:10; Waddleton Mack, 1st 30-34 M, 25:56; Mitch Radella, 2nd 55-59 M, 26:49; Liam Breski, 1st 13-15 M, 26:56; Andrew Wasko, 1st 25-29 M, 26:59; Tim Piper, 1st 60-64 M, 27:04; Margo Cronin, 1st 30-34 W, 27:20; Sara Young, 1st 25-29 W, 28:05; Rod Brest, 1st 70+ M, 28:25; Megan Winters, 1st 35-39 W, 28:29; Christopher Hawes, 1st 50-54 M, 28:37; Jason George, 2nd 50-54 M, 29:09; Jennifer Rottman, 1st 45-49 W, 29:50; Kennedi Bowser, 1st 13 & Under W, 29:58; Renee Spirk, 2nd 45-49 W, 30:18; Garth Kohlmeyer, 1st 35-39 M, 30:39; Joshua Cranmer, 2nd 25-29 M, 31:08; Amanda Zavidny, 1st 40-44 W, 31:18; Holly Markel, 2nd 25-29 W, 32:14; Hope Barnhart, 2nd 30-34 W, 32:14; Adam Sparks, 2nd 35-39 M, 32:28; Steve Knoll, 3rd 55-59 M, 32:28; Sean Stanish, 3rd 25-29 M, 32:48; Dianna Craig, 2nd 40-44 W, 33:10; Frank Walowen, 1st 40-44 M, 35:00; Chad Filges, 2nd 40-44 M, 35:01; Anthony Sunseri, 2nd 70+ M, 35:07; Brittany Pope, 2nd 35-39 W, 36:08; Paul Johnson, 3rd 70+ M, 36:21; Jasper Schnelle, 2nd 13-15 M, 38:33; Erin Kohlmeyer, 3rd 35-39 W, 38:34; John Grenci, 2nd 60-64 M, 39:36; Colleen Gearhart, 1st 50-54 W, 39:38; Gina DeSantis, 3rd 40-44 W, 41:02; Steven Barnes, 1st 45-49 M, 43:10; Lacey Tologo, 3rd 25-29 W, 43:13; Jennifer McCurdy, 1st 55-59 W, 43:58; Isabella Pruger, 1st 12 & Under W, 44:32; Rebeccah Rodgers, 1st 20-24 W, 45:48; Brielle Karns, 2nd 20-24 W, 45:48; Karen Hull, 2nd 55-59 W, 48:21; Valerie Lager, 1st 60-64 W, 48:51; Ronald Lalonde, 3rd 60-64 M, 52:34; Catherine Lalonde, 2nd 60-64 W, 52:38; Adalinn McQueen, 2nd 12 & Under W, 57:08; Thomas Hawk, 1st 12 & Under M, 59:36; Jeremy Zavidny, 2nd 12 & Under M, 1:00:58; Christine Nagowski, 3rd 60-64 W, 1:01:49; Ashley Teuteberg, 40:40; Chelsea Kendrew, 43:57; Ashley Pruger, 44:32; Seth Sipes, 46:30; Jordan Blum, 46:30; Heather Bright, 52:11; Alva Scisciani, 52:12; Alex Lalonde, 52:34Bill Van Wormer, 57:44; Alec Van Wormer, 57:47; Brandon Schilling, 59:12; Jonalyn Schilling, 59:16; Michaela Roenigk, 1:01:22
Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle. Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-352-4395, email lotzak@consolidated.net
