Running shoes – I don’t leave home without ‘em, which is why this week’s column is a travelogue of running the Big Island of Hawaii.

Everyone’s somewhat familiar with Hawaii’s Ironman Triathlon in Kona, that 140.6-mile challenge of open water swim with bike and runs through sunbaked lava fields. In addition to the Ironman in October, there’s an Ironman70.3, a half Ironman, which was held at the end of May this year. Unique as the Ironman is, there are plenty of scenic running spots, both on and off-road, that offer more variety and adventure than a marathon of hot highway.

Hilo is the largest town and the capital of Hawaii County which encompasses the entire island. The historic downtown area sits at beautiful Hilo Bay with Bayfront Paved Path, an easy paved route, running for 1.8 level miles. Other downtown paths wind through Wailoa River Recreation Area and the shaded and flowery Queen Liliukalani Garden Loop.

Hilo is home to Big Island International Marathon held annually in March. In addition to a full marathon, the event includes marathon relay, half marathon, 10K, 5K and 2-Mile Walk staged from downtown and running loop courses of between 400 and 800 feet of elevation gain. Be aware that Hilo can be steamy in March.

It’s time to get the trail shoes on. About an hour’s drive up the coast from Hilo is a 600-acre wooded park on the mauka (mountain) side of the road. Kalopa Forest Reserve and State Park showcases the native and introduced plants of the tropical wildness.

Kalopa Reserve has approximately 6 miles of singletrack trail under Ohia, Koa and Ironwood trees and through sections of waist-high ferns and fragrant orchids taller than your head. My personal favorite is the Perimeter Trail which ascends above a deep gulch and passes under, over and through downed trees of massive size.

Sometimes the Kalopa trails remind me of running on our local Cook Forest’s challenging roots and rocks. Slow down or risk hooking a toe or twisting a knee.

Although the trails are marked, it’s easy to get disoriented in the jungle of foliage and tangle of roots. Stop at the information kiosk for a free trail map, take water and, if you run or hike alone, let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.

If you’re interested in education rather than exploration, Kalopa State Park has a .7-mile Nature Trail complete with named trees and an informational guide to what you and the whole family will see.

Northwest of Kalopa Park and Reserve is the ranching and paniolo (cowboy) town of Waimea. You can run on the windy backroads past fields of cows and the occasional goat or head into town for a shaded, level and kid-friendly stream side trail, Ke Ala Kahawai o Waimea. End your run or hike on this midtown trail with a picnic in the park pavilion or head a mile down the road for lunch and a beer at Big Island Brewhaus.

The Hawaiian Islands are born of fire, a fire that’s still alive and burning. Kiluaea volcano has been erupting intermittently like a beating heart, most recently since December, 2024.

While the eruptions of lava, rocks and gases are dramatic, it’s possible to hike or run around the caldera and view the site of the awesome power of nature, or as native Hawaiian legend tells, the product of Pele, goddess of fire, lightning wind and volcanoes.

Trails within Volcanoes National Park vary in difficulty from paved and level caldera rim trails to steep, rocky descents to the floor of the caldera and back. Don’t underestimate the challenge or overestimate your capabilities. Prepare, take plenty of water and apply sunscreen liberally for this run/hike of a lifetime.

Saturday, 7 a.m.: God’s Country Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay, Galeton. Point-to-point from Galeton to Coudersport, named one of the “10 toughest marathons” by Runner’s World. 814-558-5353 or rungcm.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Monroeville Foundation Run/Walk, Monroeville. Run 5K or walk 3K in Monroeville Community West Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Monroeville/MonroevilleFoundationRunWalk

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Forest County Bigfoot Festival 5K Run/Walk, Marienville. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Marienville/ForestCountyBigfootFestival5k

June 15, 9 a.m.: Run Like an Animal 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk, Hermitage. Benefits local animal shelter. Dogs on leashes welcome with awards for dogs and humans. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hermitage/RunLikeanAnimal5kand1milewalk

June 17, 7 p.m.: Strawberry Days 5K (QUAD I), Grove City. First race in Mercer County QUAD. 724-866-1374 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=141329

June 20, 6 p.m.: New River Gorge Trail Festival 5K, Fayetteville, W.Va. Run on scenic national park trails. www.newrivergorgeruns.com

June 21, 7 a.m.: New River Gorge Trail Festival 50K and Half Marathon, Fayetteville, W.Va. Run on scenic national park trails. www.newrivergorgeruns.com

June 21, 9 a.m.: Butch’s Bucket Brigade 5K, Worthington. Also kids’ (10 and under) bike race. 724-464-3420 or runsignup.com/Race/PA/Worthington/ButchsBucketBrigade

June 21, 9 a.m.: Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma 5K Run/1 Mile Walk, Allison Park. Starts at North Park Boat House. 724-816-4074 or www.pittsburghcuresarcoma.org/runwalk/

June 21, 9 a.m.: Susquehanna Classic 5K and 10K, Curwensville. 814-236-3455 or sharonike@verison.net

June 28, 8:30 a.m.: Greater Clarksburg 10k, Clarksburg, W.Va. 304-672-3637 or gc10k.weebly.com

June 28, 9 a.m.: Butler Road Race 5 Mile and 2K, Butler. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/ButlerRoadRace

June 29, 10 a.m.: Elk County Striders BZ Classic 5K, Ridgeway. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Ridgway/BZClassic5K

July 2, 7 p.m.: Groundhog Festival 5k, Punxsutawney. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Punxsutawney/GroundhogFestival5k

July 3, 7 p.m.: Firecracker 5 Mile Run/2 Mile Walk, Latrobe. Starts at Memorial Stadium. 724-537-4331 or latroberecreation.org

July 4, 7:30 a.m.: 41st Annual Whiskey Rebellion 5k, Canonsburg. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Canonsburg/WhiskeyRebellion5KRunWalk

July 4, 8 a.m.: Get Fit Families Firecracker 5K and 1 Mile, Zelienople. Run at Zelienople Community Park. Family discount. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/Getfitfamiliesfirecracker

July 4, 8:30 a.m.: Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5K, Allison Park. Challenging course starts at Hampton Community Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/2022HamptonRotaryClubFirecracker5K

July 5, 9 a.m.: Ford City 5k/Half Mile Kids Race, Ford City. Flat and fast downtown loop. 724-763-3761 or secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=141052

July 5, 9 a.m.: Ellwood City Arts and Crafts Food Festival 10K, Ellwood City. Formerly Ellwood City Ledger 10K. Starts at Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool in Ewing Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/EllwoodCity/EllwoodCityLedgerArtsCraftsFoodFestival10k

Chase the Antelope 5k, April 26: Paul Collier, 1st Overall M, 19:16; Katrin Saile, 1st Overall W, 24:53; Molly Anderson, 3rd Overall W, 25:43; Nathan Nusslren, 1st 20-29 M, 23:48; Daniel Walter, 2nd 20-29 M, 23:48; Ryan Brady,

2nd 13 & Under M, 24:22 Shannon Wishart, 1st 40-49 W, 26:35; Anna Wishart, 1st 13 & Under W, 27:31; Marc Medley, 2nd 14-19 M, 35:36; Tracey Eck, 3rd 50-59 W,50:36; Nate Milsom, 27:56; Charles Pfeiffer, 28:22; Henry Glidden, 28:23; Lavona Sarver, 33:26; Richard Duff, 38:04; Caroline Glidden, 45:29; Kristen Butler, 50:36

Mercy Health Glass City Marathon, April 27: Jonas Lagergren, 1st Overall M, 2:53:33; Stephanie Moore, 1st Overall W, 3:17:45; Joe Floris, 2:55:51; Seth Jenny, 2:57:44; Angela Jenny, 2:58:14; Hannah Gildersleeve, 3:30:34; Caroline Hufnagel, 3:50:22; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 4:03:59

Friends’ Earth Day 5k, April 27: Brian Canny, 1st Overall M, 19:59; Emily Keir, 1st Overall W, 23:21; Elizabeth Linton, 3rd Overall W, 25:44; Ben Raub, 26:34; Jill Takach, 27:53; Alana Jensen, 28:03; Gypsy Dreveniak, 28:20; Maryrose Cerny, 29:42; Ava Bender, 32:14; Katie Raub, 33:12; John Evankovich, 33:20; Owen Evnkovich, 33:21; Kaitlyn Byers, 33:51; Susan Cerny, 34:15; Svetlana Tarassov, 34:35; Jennifer McCurdy, 36:33; Robert Potter, 37:21; Allison Takac, 37:52; Carisa Takac, 37:57; Nancy Luttrell, 41:04; Cynthia Potter, 43:50; Michele Kaczmarczyk, 46:35

Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon, May 4: Seth Essling, 1st Overall M, 2:45:32; Rosa Haag, 1st Overall W, 3:21:52; Jinny Hertweck, 3rd 50-54 W, 4:20:48; Caleb Massie, 4:38:23

Zeigler Kalamazoo Half Marathon, May 4: David Mitter, 1st Overall M, 1:15:34; Erin Dowd, 1st Overall W, 1:35:13; Patricia Neubert, 1st 70-74 W, 2:46:43; Ashley Bender, 2:40:24

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle. Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-352-4395, email lotzak@consolidated.net