As the region welcomed back the Pittsburgh Marathon after a six-year absence, Sunday's cool, cloudy weather made for enjoyable and safe running.

This year's marathon developed into an exciting race with Ethiopian Kasshun Kabiso of New York City edging out Columbus, Ohio's Jim Jurcevich by three seconds for a win in a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, 51 seconds.

In the women's race Kristin Price, formerly of the Pittsburgh area and now residing in Raleigh, N.C., won with a time of 2:36:33.

Leslie Kramer of Slippery Rock was the first Butler County women's finisher, placing 22nd among women with her time of 3:14:18. Valencia's Sean Gallagher finished among the top 100 men with his time of 3:03:08.

In the half marathon, Greg Costello of Chicago won in 1:07:54 while Rahab Ndungu of Ethiopia bested the women's field with her 1:17:16 finish on the fairly level course.

Grove City's Daniel Spaulding finished third overall with a time of 1:13:48 while Alicia Thompson of Gibsonia finished 62nd among women in 1:41:27.

Now that the marathon is over, many runners will turn their attention to upcoming shorter events in our area.

Komen Race for the Cure takes over Pittsburgh's Schenley Park Sunday morning. The day's events begin with an aerobic warm up at 7:15 a.m., followed by the survivor parade and tribute at 8. The chip-timed 5K race starts a half-hour later while the more popular untimed 5K run and walk and mile walk begin at 8:45.

All money raised benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization that fights breast cancer through research and diagnostic services. For information visit www.komen.org.

At 9 a.m. May 16, a new race takes its place. The Mars Band on the Run 5K Run-Walk, a challenging loop on rural Adams Township and Valencia back roads, supports Mars High's award-winning marching band.

First-time race director Mary Morgan has set a goal of 200 participants. Morgan has worked hard to make Mars Band on the Run 5k a quality event that runners will want to attend annually.

With sponsorship from Mizuno and Butler County running stores, the race offers technical T-shirts to all preregistered runners and plenty of great door prizes.

For information about Mars Band on the Run, call 724-625-1419 or visit www.marsband5k.com.

Register online at signmeup.com or register on the day of the race at Mars High at 7:30 a.m.

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Habitat for Humanity 5K Run, Natrona Heights. New location around Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills. Also 3-mile walk, 10-or 20-mile ride. www.habitatav.orgSaturday, 10 a.m.: Team in Training Info Meeting, Wexford. Train and run for something greater than yourself. 800-482-TEAM or www.teamintraining.orgSunday, 8:30 a.m.: Race for the Cure 5K, Pittsburgh. The next big event in town. www.komenpittsburgh.orgSunday, 10 a.m.: Crazy Horse Trail Run, South Park. Choice of 4Z\x or 2 miles of rugged trails. Part of Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners series. 724-348-6012 or cgarber_us@comcast.netMay 13, 7 p.m.: Muskie Mini Marathon, Jamestown. Heather_harmon@jamestown.k12.pa.usMay 16, 9 a.m.: Charlotte's Run 5K, Monaca. 724-774-5198 or xandres@adelphia.netMay 17, 8:30 a.m.: St. Margaret's Fitness Classic 5K, Aspinwall. 412-784-4206 or caldwellca@upmc.eduMay 17, 9 a.m.: MS Miles of Smiles 5-Mile Race, North Park. 724-713-0934 or msmilesofsmiles.comMay 22, 7:30 p.m.: Ogden Newspapers Masters Mile, Wheeling, W.Va. www.ogden20k.comMay 23, 8 a.m.: Ogden Newspapers 20K, Wheeling, W.Va. www.ogden20k.comMay 30, 7:30 a.m.: Freeport Flash 5K, Sarver. Run on Butler-Freeport Rail Trail benefits Freeport Cross Country Boosters. www.freeportcrosscountry.comJune 7, 8:30 a.m.: Greenfield Glide 5K, Pittsburgh. Cross country run through Schenley Park. 412-422-8885 or www.active.comJune 12, 7 p.m.: Riverview 5K, Pittsburgh. Run through Riverview Park, first event of Citiparks footraces. www.riverview5k.comJune 13, 9 a.m.: Quality Life Cup Series 5k Event 2, Fair Winds Manor, Sarver. Also music, yard sale, crafts and games. 724-431-0770, ext. 2104 or MikeL@QualityLifeServices.com

<B>Pittsburgh Marathon, May 3:</B> Rory Cooper, 1st Overall Hand Cycle, 1:52:48; Kassahun Kabise, 1st Overall M, 2:22:51; Kristin Price, 1st Overall W, 2:36:33; Nicole Blaesser, 3rd Overall W, 2:43:57; Rich Makin, 2nd 50-54 M, 3:05:25; Mark Courtney, 3rd 50-54 M, 3:07:02; Leslie Kramer, 2nd 30-34 W, 3:14:58; Curt Grimm, 2nd 60-64 M, 3:19:28; Sharyl Relic, 2nd 50-54 W, 3:30:48; Ethan Corle, 3rd 19 and under M, 3:44:58; Patricia Neubert, 2nd 55-59 W, 3:54:40; Cindy Grimm, 3rd 55-59 W, 3:55:50; Marcia Semple, 3rd 65-69 W, 5:54:48Christopher Rotelli, 2:53:20; Sean Gallagher, 3:03:08; Kiyoshi Hayakawa, 3:05:07; Andrew Brosius, 3:05:42; Mary Dillhoff, 3:07:49; William Peace, 3:10:10; Melissa Shaeffer, 3:15:11; Brett Decker, 3:16:42; Jeff Leya, 3:18:43; Thomas Stuart, 3:19:20; Stacy Kopchak, 3:20:31; Dean Rippee, 3:22:31; Michael Baumgartel, 3:22:45; Karl Zellars, 3:23:30; R. Brent Collins, 3:24:28; John Armstrong, 3:24:47; Ashley Brooks, 3:26:14; Brian Daugherty, 3:27:27; Pam Daugherty, 3:27:28; Robert Mars, 3:27:40; Jodi Leung, 3:27:58; Todd Roberts, 3:28:22; Robert Jackson, 3:28:47Robert Miller, 3:29:49; Christopher Bise, 3:33:40; Ryan Kennis, 3:33:59; Mitch Radella, 3:34:04; Jeremiah Stauffer, 3:34:24; David Bernardelli, 3:35:57; Kevin Recker, 3:36:13; Larry Lutz, 3:36:19; Tim Weil, 3:36:43; Evan Lowe, 3:39:21; William Schessler, 3:40:34; Erin Nicotra, 3:41:07; Francis Donnelly, 3:41:15; Philip O'Hara, 3:41:29; Dan Nguyen, 3:42:38; Val Wolfarth, 3:42:40; Jeff Yingling, 3:43:23; Paul Ferraro, 3:43:31; Jeff Lynn, 3:46:02; William Lawson, 3:47:09; Adam Leskanic, 3:47:13Michael Eubanks, 3:47:16; Susan Moury, 3:48:26; Bradley Shmitt, 3:48:55; Heather Hudak, 3:49:15; Heather Melzer, 3:49:16; Janine Marcoux, 3:50:00; Harry Peterson, 3:50:06; Theresa Cardone, 3:50:27; Ron Trout, 3:50:33; Alex Keffalas, 3:50:37; Michael Covert, 3:51:06; Robert Waltrip, 3:51:27; Bruce Barnes, 3:52:54; Dan Ruble, 3:53:29; Matthew Rhenish, 3:54:40; Denise Trivoli, 3:55:24; Mary Jo Sanks, 3:55:52; Gary Snyder, 3:56:04; Adam Yates, 3:56:09; David Bowser, 3:56:13; Scott Blackburn, 3:56:33; Ryan Urik, 3:56:48; Ferdinando Saglio, 3:56:53; Steve Schupp, 3:57:06; William Marsh, 3:57:10Bob Stanionis, 3:57:28; David Singh, 3:57:33; Steve DiAntonio, 3:58:14; Tom Ulewicz, 3:58:21; Mike Monaco, 3:58:48; John Reddick, 3:59:07; Charles Lenns, 3:59:46; Todd Torfimuk, 4:00:16; William Schwalm, 4:00:34; Alex Fertelmes, 4:00:42; Mark Pekich, 4:00:53; Dorothy Moxie, 4:02:22; G. Donald Ripper, 4:02:41; Sean Girdwood, 4:02:43; Jake Norris, 4:03:17; Dianne Zalenski, 4:03:39; Philip Mathew, 4:04:30; Ian Humphreys, 4:04:53; Cullen Flanders, 4:05:37; Mike Schmidt, 4:05:47; Michael Kawecki, 4:06:02; Ryan Leonberg, 4:06:08; Paul DiBucci, 4:07:07; Sean Dolan, 4:07:21; Robert Behr, 4:08:04; Robert Todd, 4:08:49; Michael Glew, 4:09:23; Cathleen Matuzak, 4:11:53; Brian McCafferty, 4:11:46; Cheryl Fox, 4:12:26; Sharon Millea, 4:12:28; Brian Connell, 4:12:46; Darrell Brandon, 4:13:20Barb Volek, 4:14:28; Rebecca Miller, 4:14:34; Todd Houck, 4:14:47; Carol Bolen, 4:14:56; Kristen Kelosky, 4:15:23; Steven Swan, 4:15:25; Jeffrey Listwak, 4:15:53; Elizabeth DiNunzio, 4:16:10; Christine Murray, 4:16:10; Susan Altemus, 4:16:11; Mike Stubler, 4:16:52; Mark Kay, 4:17:03; Steven Day, 4:17:27; Gineen Jarnevich, 4:17:29; Heather Cianfrocco, 4:17:29; Joseph Wuenschell, 4:18:08; Thomas Parenti, 4:17:08; Mark Shipley, 4:17:57; Gregory Vitale, 4:18:17; Nicole Khoury, 4:19:12; Michael Cratty, 4:19:15; Charles Huth, 4:20:14; Kristen Kunkel, 4:20:31; Anthony Sunseri, 4:20:37; Jim Carr, 4:20:41; Cyndie DeLucia, 4:21:18; Robert Clark, 4:22:45; Carrie Robb, 4:23:40; Tim Trivoli, 4:24:18; Jason Richey, 4:24:30Alice Wiesner, 4:24:41; Bryan Mack, 4:25:09; Kristine Poloyac, 4:26:31; Fran Graytock, 4:26:38; Michele Bamburak, 4:27:02; Cary Cameron, 4:27:09; Patty Schmidt, 4:28:14; Mary Blom, 4:28:14; James Hodgson, 4:28:42; Michele Pekich, 4:29:10; Carrie Snell, 4:29:49; Mark Benvenuto, 4:30:03; Amy Formica, 4:30:08; Suzanne Leonberg, 4:30:13; Kristina Sieckowski, 4:31:15; Caroline Monteleone, 4:31:45; Vicki Young, 4:31:46; Jason Acerra, 4:32:31; Lisa Simakas, 4:33:13; Israel Christie, 4:35:08; Carl Hill, 4:37:31; Wayne Toy, 4:37:57; Steve Moore, 4:38:04; Douglas Smith, 4:38:04Mary Morgan, 4:38:08; Kirk Little, 4:38:37; Amy Leonard, 4:38:50; Jarett Buchanan, 4:39:35; Nick Buchanan, 4:39:36; Ralph Sandoval, 4:40:27; Sean Nolan, 4:42:51; Steve Smith, 4:44:33; James Ryan, 4:46:28; Jen Beachem, 4:46:35; Dean Marraccini, 4:46:47; Joy Huntington, 4:47:31; Jinny Hertweck, 4:47:35; Matthew Garrity, 4:47:41; Robert Eckels, 4:48:14; Patricia Eckels, 4:48:16; Jana Lake, 4:48:30; Rick Waltemire, 4:48:47; Katie Kukieza, 4:49:26; Robert Crawford, 4:49:24; Sylvain Roverva, 4:50:49Lisa Brienza, 4:51:51; Jeff Byko, 4:53:03; James Miller, 4:58:40; Gary Golebiewski, 4:58:50; Robert Congdon, 4:58:48; James Ellis, 5:06:26; Robert Zukas, 5:06:59; Barnes Allen, 5:09:08; Benjamin Allen, 5:09:31; Randy Olson, 5:15:42; Ron Bennett, Kristina Bennett, 5:16:20; Hal Martin, 5:18:27; Sandra Cetti, 5:21:10; Matthew Brennan, 5:27:53; Charlie McLaughlin, 5:29:54; Craig Rogers, 5:35:12; Emily Lindsay, 5:36:11David Frick, 5:36:40; Victoria Marra, 5:38:27; Joan Baker, 5:38:43; Christine Bellich, 5:39:36; Terry Moore, 5:41:21; Wesley Willow, 5:42:51; Erin Hartle, 5:46:11; Susan Garver, 5:52:35; Nicolas Minto, 5:48:55; Darrick Gartley, 5:59:00; Fran Fuhrer, 6:01:11; Ann Hixon, 6:31:34; Kelly Hixon, 6:31:35; Terri Biafore, 6:43:13; Molly Hackimer, 7:05:59; Mark Foster, 7:11:47Send comments and suggestions to 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail: lotzak@consolidated.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.