Neubert: Get outside and celebrate summer with Strawberry Days 5K and Butler Road Race
It makes sense that the older you get, the more you should celebrate each birthday. That’s true for races as well as for people.
Strawberry Days 5K in Grove City kicks off the 43rd year for Mercer County Twilight QUAD, the longest continuously running series in our region. Each year, more than 150 runners and walkers earn a commemorative award for completing the series. In its history, the QUAD has seen more than 50,000 runners in 149 events.
Strawberry Days 5K wasn’t in the original QUAD but became part of the package in 2002. As is QUAD tradition, Strawberry Days 5K will be run at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 24. There’s also a separate half-mile kids’ race for those ages 11 and under starting at 7:45 p.m.
Although this year’s Strawberry Days 5K follows a familiar, level, figure-eight course on paved bike trails, it starts at a new location outside Grove City near soccer fields at 660 North Liberty Road.
This is the flattest of the QUAD races, which include Sharpsville’s Dam Race and Fredonia 5K in July and the popular Ice Cream Race in Grove City on Aug. 12.
Strawberry Days 5K is chip-timed with mats at the start and at each half-mile mark for those interested in exact race pace.
Awards include Eat’n Park strawberry pies for top-five overall male and female finishers and first masters. Top three in age groups from 11U through 75-plus earn medals. All kids who finish the half-mile event receive ribbons, and the top three in age groups 6U through 9-11 earn medals.
Walkers are welcome, but there are no separate awards. Dogs and strollers are also welcome but must start in the back for safety on the narrow bike paths. All participants can enjoy post-race refreshments including watermelon and strawberries.
You may register online for Strawberry Days races individually or bundle and save by signing up for the entire QUAD series. Commemorative T-shirts are sold separately in advance or at race-day registration. For more information or to register, visit runhigh.com.
On June 27, our own Butler Road Race celebrates 51 years of dashing down Main Street. Although the event has evolved over time from a challenging 10K to a gentler 5-mile run and 2K walk, it retains bragging rights as the “longest continuously held road race in Western Pennsylvania.”
Although the event has changed, its focus is always on Butler County and its residents.
All proceeds from Butler Road Race benefit Butler Family YMCA’s Annual Support Campaign, which funds programs and services for kids, families and seniors in the county. This campaign ensures everyone can participate in these programs.
The 5-mile race starts in Diamond Park at 9 a.m. with the 2K (1.60 miles) run/walk starting at 9:05. Both events run out-and-back from Main Street to Penn Street. Organizers insist walkers stick with the 2K distance to accommodate the cutoff time of 10:30 a.m.
All participants are welcome at Butler Road Race. That includes runners and walkers of all abilities, strollers and friendly dogs on leashes.
The event can be hot. There will be water stations on the course, but organizers advise carrying water if needed. As always, C.B. Rangers and Butler police will be monitoring the course for safety.
Butler Road Race offers awards for top-three male and female finishers in both distances and age groups from 5U through 70-plus in the 2K, 12U through 70-plus in the 5-mile. First male and female Butler County finishers earn the Donny Bayne Memorial Award.
Online registration for both Butler Road Race events is open until June 26 at 8 p.m. Day-of-event signup opens at 7:30 a.m. in Diamond Park with cash or check only. Kids 17 and younger receive a 50% discount on registration.
Friday, 7 p.m. – Saturday, 8 a.m.: New River Gorge 5K, Half Marathon and 50K, Fayetteville, W.Va. Challenging trail run, part of New River Gorge Trail Festival. runsignup.com/Race/NewRiverGorgeHalfMarathon/Page/Race-Info-1
Saturday, 8 a.m.: EV Ethnic Days 5K and 1-Mile Fun Walk, East Vandergrift. runsignup.com/Race/Events/PA/EastVandergrift/EthnicDays5kRunAnd1mileFunWalk#event-1139073
Saturday, 8 a.m.: 2016 Schoolyard Run and Walk 5K and 1-Mile, Mars. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Mars/SchoolyardRunWalk
Saturday, 9 a.m.: Butch’s Bucket Brigade 5K, Worthington. Also Kids Bike Race at 11 a.m. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Worthington/ButchsBucketBrigade
Sunday, 9 a.m.: Run Like an Animal 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk, Hermitage. Out-and-back from Linden Pointe, awards for canines and humans. Proceeds benefit local animal shelter. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hermitage/RunLikeanAnimal5kand1milewalk
Saturday, 9 a.m.: Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma Annual Run/Walk, North Park. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/AllisonPark/pcsrunwalk
June 24, 7 p.m.: Strawberry Days 5K, Grove City. First event in Mercer QUAD. raceroster.com/events/2026/125546/twilight-quad-strawberry-days-5k
June 26, 9 p.m.: Moon Glow Run 5K, Moon Township. Neon lights, glowing gear, music and entertainment. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/MoonTownship/MoonParksRecreationVirtualGLOW5KRunWalk
June 27, 8:30 a.m.: Cecil Jarvis Greater Clarksburg 10K and 5K, Clarksburg, VW. runsignup.com/Race/WV/Clarksburg/CecilJarvisGreaterClarksburg10K
June 27, 9 a.m.: 51st Butler County Road Race 5-Mile and 2K, Butler. Run the “longest continuously held road race in Western Pennsylvania.” runsignup.com/Race/PA/Butler/ButlerRoadRace
June 27, 9 a.m.: Be the Change 4.12 Mile Race and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk, North Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/BeTheChange412Miler
June 28, 9 a.m.: Elk County Striders BZ Classic 5K, Ridgeway. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Ridgway/BZClassic5K
July 3, 7 p.m.: Groundhog Festival 5K, Punxsutawney. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Punxsutawney/GroundhogFestival5k
July 4, 7:30 a.m.: 42nd Whiskey Rebellion 5K Run & Walk, Canonsburg. Run before 4th of July Parade. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Canonsburg/WhiskeyRebellion5KRunWalk
July 4, 8 a.m.: Get Fit Families Firecracker 5K and 1-Mile, Zelienople. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Zelienople/Getfitfamiliesfirecracker
July 4, 8 a.m.: Ellwood City Arts & Crafts Food Festival 10K and 1-Mile Run/Walk, Ellwood City. runsignup.com/Race/PA/EllwoodCity/EllwoodCityLedgerArtsCraftsFoodFestival10k
July 4, 8:30 a.m.: Hampton Rotary Firecracker 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Walk, Allison Park. Run through Hampton Community Park. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/2022HamptonRotaryClubFirecracker5K
July 4, 9 a.m.: McCandless B-Day 5K Run/Walk, 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk and Kids’ Dash (13U), Allison Park. Held at North Park Boathouse. runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/McCandlessBday5K
July 4, 9 a.m.: 35th Annual Ford City 5K and Kids’ Half-Mile, Ford City. runsignup.com/Race/Info/PA/AllisonPark/pcsrunwalk
July 12, 8 a.m.: Murrysville Monster 20K and 10K, Murrysville. Rugged trail race through Duff and Pleasant Valley Parks. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Murrysville/MurrysvilleMonsterTrailRaces
Glacier Ridge 50-Mile Trail Race, May 9: Tyler Hanks, 3rd Overall M, 7:59:36; Matt Bernardi, 3rd Overall M, 9:41:12; Amanda Debevc, 1st Overall W, 10:34:33; David Snyder, 10:52:11; Michael Wallace, 12:15:37; Zach Porter, 12:31:34
Glacier Ridge 50K Trail Race, May 9: Tom Dausch, 1st Overall M, 5:24:11; Luke Owrey, 2nd Overall M, 5:29:53; Elizabeth Cortez, 1st Overall W, 6:09:08; Alexander Witmer, 6:25:11; Eric Slagle, 7:17:43; Seth Murray, 7:38:40; Gage Eckley, 7:39:25; Dustin Kalkbrenner, 7:42:44; Damon Clark, 7:50:46; Steve Kazmarek, 7:53:14; Luke Eckley, 7:53:15; Christie Lucas, 8:06:38; Cameron Brookins, 9:07:15; Justin Achezinski, 9:22:13; Carl Wooten, 10:31:17; Heath Skinner, 10:41:45
Glacier Ridge 20-Mile Trail Race, May 9: Nick Winebrenner, 1st Overall M, 3:13:18; Sean Corey, 2nd Overall M, 3:15:38; Alexis Sciarrino, 1st Overall W, 4:17:47; Marta Golden, 2nd Overall W, 4:27:41; Matthew Sydlik, 3:41:27; Keith Smetak, 5:32:03; Jim Carr, 5:50:28; Carla Loughner, 6:03:03; John Demann, 6:37:31; Kevin Walzer, 6:40:23; AJ May, 6:53:25; Jeff Peterson, 6:53:47; Kelley Morrone, 7:45:27; Monica Thompson, 7:45:28
Run Like a Mother 5K and 1-Mile, May 10: Jacob Szul, 1st Overall M, 17:24; Camden Schaefer, 2nd Overall M, 18:01; Justin Sellinger, 3rd Overall M, 18:13; Alyssa Rotellini, 1st Overall W, 20:58; Jeannette Boyd, 2nd Overall W, 21:58; Adam Sellinger, 1st 12-15 M, 18:37; Peter Boyd, 1st 50-59 M, 20:18; Cooper Rauschenberger, 2nd 12-15 M, 21:20; Vern Morrow, 1st 60+ M, 21:42; Adam Mason, 3rd 12-15 M, 21:43; Weston Craig, 1st 11U M, 22:29; Matthew Schaefer, 3rd 40-49 M, 22:48; Kyle Dittman, 2nd 20-29 M, 24:00; Carrie Birckbichler-Smith, 1st 40-49 W, 24:35; Ben Mason, 3rd 11U M, 25:18; Gracie Szul, 1st 11U W, 25:19; Amber Wagner, 2nd 30-39 W, 25:20; Christopher Mertz, 3rd 20-29 M, 25:55; Alycia Brehm, 2nd 20-29 W, 26:08; Michelle Jancse, 3rd 30-39 W, 26:14; Chloe Schaefer, 2nd 11U W, 26:50; Leeann Conto, 3rd 20-29 W, 27:05; Tricia Schaefer, 3rd 40-49 W, 27:08; Cameryn Booher, 1st 16-19 W, 27:16; Isabelle Fesler, 3rd 11U W, 28:19 David Valenza, 3rd 60+ M, 28:46; Tasha Werner, 2nd 50-59 W, 29:31; Renee Meinert, 2nd 60+ W, 31:45; Wendy Beeching, 3rd 60+ W, 31:55; Sherry Mertz, 3rd 50-59 W, 32:00; Lila Skarbek, 2nd 16-19 W, 55:56; Sydney Luxton, 3rd 12-15 W, 58:10; Jacob Ponteous, 21:51; Mason Hunt, 25:54; Jared Sullivan, 25:54; J Schley, 26:43; Tasha Ponteous, 27:09; Tucker Vouga, 27:32; Christian Kremer, 28:08; Laura Mason, 28:20; Phil Mason, 28:20; Jessica Hamilton, 28:34; Ryanne Miller, 28:56; Simon Davidson, 30:17; Presley Craig, 30:27; Nikki Winkler, 30:35; Kristie Dittman, 32:19; Ashley McCrea, 32:20; P Schley, 32:22; Tanner Williams, 32:38; Danielle Cush, 32:51; Jenn Fesler, 32:53; Lina Romig, 33:45; Sara Romig, 33:46; Anthony Sunseri, 34:06; Kelli Hillwig, 34:44; Aaron Holt, 35:38; Abigail Frederick, 35:39; Kim Miller, 35:42; Cohen Ingram, 36:18; Chelsea Davis, 36:19; Brian Wheeler, 36:23; Rick Orlowski, 37:17; Mary Piroch, 38:01; Travis Craig, 38:34; Noah Wheeler, 39:11; Denise Schandelmeier, 39:43; Carol English, 39:49; Katie Davidson, 40:42; Sonya Kremer, 40:43; Shannon Mack, 40:43; Chris Mertz, 41:00; Rylee Werner, 41:29; Alexis Eshenbaugh, 42:30; Nichole Wheeler, 45:22; Jackie Bullman, 45:25; Taylor Wheeler, 47:58; Makenzie Gould, 48:00; M Schley, 48:32; Kaleb Eshenbaugh, 48:56; Ralph Deer, 50:18; Sharon Haley, 51:28; Rachel Craig, 53:43; Tabitha Watterson, 53:44; Ginger Anderson, 53:45; Paula Neu, 54:42; Katricia Vouga, 54:43; Ian Luxton, 55:07; Debbie McCandless, 55:56; Nicole Skarbek, 55:57; Danny Sweeney, 56:48; Jeannine Strohmyer, 56:51; Jen Hammonds, 57:28; Ashley Ganoe, 57:30; Heidi Fletcher, 58:26; Sue Langianese, 1:05:01; Jamie Kemper, 1:05:02
Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle. Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, phone 724-822-1577, email lotzak@consolidated.net
