This time of year it’s easy to spend way too much time and money at the mall. But one race this weekend offers an antidote to the holiday rush and crush.

Old Fashioned Christmas in Volant 5K and Kids Run, this Saturday at 11 a.m., starts and finishes in the center of the quaint village of Volant. The out-and-back course travels into the almost level Amish countryside with the return trip slightly easier than the beginning.

The town of Volant is known for its shops and restaurants, but it’s a perfect location for a low key, family friendly running event. Co-race director Jim Pitts says that the run has a good family feel. His kids, ages three and five, will be participating in the quarter-mile kids run which follows the 5K.

“The kids run was popular last year,” he says. The kids run is open to all kids under the age of 13 and all participants in the event will receive a Christmas gift bag.

Last year was the first year for Old Fashioned Christmas in Volant 5K. The 2011 event had 121 finishers in the 5K event with another dozen kids finishing the quarter-mile distance. Dominic Wyzomirski won the men’s division in a time of 17:52 while Slippery Rock’s Leslie Kramer finished first of all women with a time of 20:39.

Jim Pitts says that the town of Volant is very encouraging to this event. Some of the town council members worked as volunteers in support of last year’s race. The local business community has also been supportive of the Old Fashioned Christmas 5K.

Businesses have donated items which will be gift wrapped and given as unique awards to overall and age group winners of the race as well as items for a post race random drawing.

Valentino’s, a local pizza shop, will show its support by hosting the post race party and awards ceremony. Runners can share pizza, cocoa and coffee in the warmth of the restaurant. Of course, runners are encouraged to visit the many other unique stores in town, too.

Jim Pitts says that, based on the success of the Old Fashioned Christmas in Volant 5K, he and co-race director Herb Cratty are planning a winter trail race on a level trail which begins in town and heads approximately four level miles toward the west.

Pitts and Cratty co-direct five or six races annually. The next race on their schedule is the Doomsday 5K, held at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 in Sharpsville, a lighthearted look at the end of the world. And on Jan. 19, the two will conduct the popular fourth annual Chilly Cheeks 5 Mile and 10 Mile in Buhl Farms Park in New Castle.

For more information about Old Fashioned Christmas in Volant 5K, visit www.smileymiles.com, call Jim Pitts, 724-456-2373 or email Herb Cratty, bonnherb@yahoo.com.

In a follow up to another Jim Pitts venture, last Saturday’s Turkey Hangover Run raised more than $350 to benefit a victim of Hurricane Sandy. Pitts says that despite low turnout for the event due to an overnight snowstorm, all of the participants were very generous.

Upcoming events

Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Post run coffee and snacks. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.: Elite Runners Group Run, Robinson Township. Weekly three mile fun run for all abilities. www.eliterunners.com

Wednesdays, 6 p.m.: Elite Runners Group Run, Monroeville. Weekly four to five mile group run for all abilities. www.eliterunners.com

Wednesdays, 7 p.m.: MoJo Sports Group Run, Seven Fields. Run three to seven miles with friends. 724-772-2808

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Oil City’s Christmas Past Cold Man’s 5K, Oil City. Run on Samuel Justus Bike Trail. shinds@oilcity.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Historic Ambridge 5K, Ambridge. Also 3K fun walk, cash prizes to overall winners. 724-266-4500 or c-lpopovic@pa.gov

Saturday, 11 a.m.: Old Fashioned Christmas in Volant 5K and Kids Run, Volant. Out and back course, wrapped gifts to winners, free kids run. bonnherb@yahoo.com

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Trot for Tots 10Kand 5K, Oakdale. Flat and fast on Panhandle Trail. Post race music, hot soup and hot chocolate. 412-490-0881 or ksmith@eliterunners.com

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Nittany Valley Half Marathon, State College. 814-355-1589 or dhel@psu.edu

Dec. 8, 10 a.m.: Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis, Pittsburgh. Run or walk for all ages on North Shore. Raise money for Arthritis Foundation. www.jinglebellrunpittsburgh.kintera.org

Dec. 8, 10 a.m.: Snowflake 5K, Erie. Starts at Presque Isle State Park, Rotary Pavilion. 814-774-3209 or dana@erie-runnersclub.org

Dec., 7 p.m.: Doomsday 5K, Sharpsville. bonnherb@yahoo.com

Dec. 31, 3 p.m.: Harmony Silvester 5K, Harmony. Also 1 mile fun run. Holiday celebration begins at 6 P.M. 724-452-3149 or saltemus@zoominternet.net

Jan. 1, 10 a.m: Erie Runners Club New Year’s Day 5 Mile Race, Erie. Starts at Presque Isle State Park Rotary Pavilion. 814-774-3209 or dana@erie-runnersclub.org

Race results

Chicago Marathon, Oct. 13: Tsegaye Kebede, 1st Overall M, 2:04:38; Atsede Baysa, 1st Overall W, 2:22:03; Robert Pudlo, 3:20:03; Dorothy Moxie, 3:28:13; Dianne Zalenski, 3:34:47; Harry Peterson, 3:38:26; Sean Dolan, 3:56:05; William Daly, 4:33:35; Chelsea Bremenour, 5:08:37; Chuck Lenns, 5:31:16

Kittanning YMCA Fall 5K, Nov. 10: Timothy Wyant, 1st Overall M, 18:19; Kody Flanders, 2nd Overall M, 20:14; Seth Eisman, 3rd Overall M, 20:23; Aaron Depew, 1st 40-49 M, 20:23; Matthew Drohan, 2nd 40-49 M, 21:10; Sara Roudybush, 1st Overall W, 21:41; Olivia Drohan, 2nd Overall W, 23:43; Kerry Harding, 3rd Overall W, 24:02; Michael Roudybush, 1st 50-59 M, 22:05; Phil Wilson, 1st 30-39 M, 22:18; Seth Bevington, 3rd 10-14 M, 23:42; Alyssa Miller, 1st 30-39 W, 24:58; Robert Dunmire, 2nd 30-39 M, 25:28; Abbey Smith, 2nd 15-19 W, 25:30; Sydney Schaffer, 2nd 10-14 W, 25:42; Taylor Relich, 3rd 10-14 W, 25:47; John Opalka, 2nd 50-59 M, 26:00; Lee Ann Formaini, 2nd 30-39 W, 26:04; Audrey Hageter, 3rd 30-39 W, 26:06; Leah Roudybush, 3rd 15-19 W, 26:56; Bill Oleksak, 1st 60+ M, 27:14; Terry Johns, 29:04; Kaitlin Mohney, 3rd 20-29 W, 29:05; Dez Csizmadia, 3rd 60+ M, 29:13; Julie Opalka, 2nd 50-59 W, 30:18; Jodee Roudybush, 3rd 40-49 W, 30:44; Debra Kuminkoski, 3rd 50-59 W, 31:58; Michael Relich, 23:50; Angela Shirey, 26:12; Brendan Swanson, 26:40; Corey Shumaker, 29:04; Benjamin Swanson, 29:04; Erica Brown, 29:23; Ashleigh Bowser, 29:35; Leslie Babcock, 29:41; Nick Parisi, 31:26; Jacob Parisi, 34:17; Calob Strobel, 36:24; Jesse Allen, 36:28; Seth Crawford, 37:15; Mike Crawford, 37:15; Nicole Shaffer, 38:07; Bailey Bevington, 41:06’ Jodi Bevington, 41:06; Allison Bunta, 41:41; Michelle Bevington, 43:47; Jennifer Parisi, 53:40

Fight for Life 5K, Nov. 17: Sean Cary, 1st Overall M, 18:57; Morgan Ansell, 1st Overall W, 20:16; Blake Benko, 2nd 13 & Under M, 22:17; Jesse Dick, 2nd 16-19 M, 23:19; Jamie Dick, 2nd 16-19 W, 25:22; Sherri Smith, 1st 50-54 W, 32:42; Dane Benko, 3rd 45-49 M, 34:29; Dana Nicklas, 26:58; Avery Benko, 34:24; Mike Brestensky, 35:50

PNC Turkey Trot 5K, Nov. 22: Alex Moran, 1st Overall M, 15:55; Maura Carroll, 1st Overall W, 18:06; Michael Finikiotis, 3rd 45-49 M, 20:58; Steve Cochran, 2nd 55-59 M, 22:37; Lois Adams, 2nd 60-64 W, 32:05; Norman Stephen, 2nd 80+ M, 46:58; Steve Cottington, 18:54; Noah Bowser, 19:34; Joseph Deemer, 21:13; Tyler Keenan, 23:05; Kyle Majeski, 23:13; Thomas Majeski, 23:13; Ryan Gallaher, 23:30; Dan Gramc, 24:32; Thomas Oehmler, 25:06; Veronica Keenan, 25:20; William Curry, 25:37; Andrew Anderson, 25:44; Erin Jaske, 25:53; Tyler Cochran, 26:11; Kevin Cottington, 27:05; Jason Geyer, 27:06; John Geyer, 27:10; Julia Solomon, 27:17; Kyle Jaske, 27:23; Brooke Zukowski, 27:53; Jenny Fair, 28:05; Amy Kinney, 28:07; Ted Kinney, 28:10; Theresa Jay Toney, 28:19; Jacqueline Schoeffel, 28:19; Marisa Schooley, 28:22; Laura Myers, 28:31; Patrick Schuster, 28:35; Elena Dysert, 28:46; Megan Majeski, 28:53; Rob Cottington, 29:06; David Mulqueen, 29:09; Joe Mulqueen, 29:15; Joe Geyer, 29:20; John Geyer, 29:29; JoAnne Raymundo, 29:31; Tracy Geyer, 29:33; Alyson Acquaviva, 29:51; Kristi Stiegler, 29:52; Amber Auchey, 30:33; Adam Auchey, 30:34; Marc Oehmler, 30:34; Kim Veon, 30:36; Caroline Curry, 30:40; Michael Mahoney, 30:48; Carli Walker, 30:51; Diann Corll, 30:51; Ben Walker, 31:05; Harry Paisley, 31:26; Patrick Malone, 31:55; Selin Cetin, 32:02; Nicole Ettore, 32:04; Maria Ettore, 32:04; Deborah Little, 32:29; Abigail Gloninger, 32:34; Braden Zukowski, 32:43; Kaitlin McConnell, 32:50; Patty Hunter, 33:04; Randy Simmons, 33:10; Sherry Kleindl, 33:13; Carter Davis, 33:14; Joelle Parise, 33:14; Attracta Mulkerrin, 33:30; Bryan Coopey, 33:32; Allison Gloninger, 33:32; Elizabeth Profozich, 33:34; Audrey Cope, 33:55; Steven Tracy, 33:55; Kristy Sperandeo, 33:59; Colleen Malone, 34:04; George Tracy, 34:06; Becki Toth, 34:17; Jessie Keenan, 34:36; Kiera Grieco, 34:42; Debbie Laughlin, 34:43; Tiffany Booth, 35:11; Sue Majeski, 35:15; Drew Satriano, 35:15; Jessica DeAnjelo, 35:18; Heather Springer, 35:18; Shannon Springer, 35:19; Sam Schurer, 35:19; Phil Austin, 35:23; Kristen Pavlina, 35:30; Ben Houston, 35:37; Mark Campisi, 35:48; Julie Yonek, 35:48; Andrew Gracan, 36:10; Jennifer Allen, 36:30; Lindsey Laughlin, 36:43; Lisa Boettcher, 36:53; Allison McClelland, 37:28; Dave Zamperini, 37:30; Karen Novak, 37:46; Randy Carper, 38:05; Suzanne Sheets, 38:05; Brian Allen, 38:07; Evren Cetin, 38:12; Taner Cetin, 38:17; Kelly Nelson, 38:17; Kimberly Hartman, 38:20; Shauna Zukowski, 38:26; Edward Miller, 39:06; Cassandra Law, 39:24; Cathy Hertweck, 39:50; Melissa Howard, 39:55; Dean Marraccini, 40:53; Beth Marraccini, 40:53; Christian Walker, 41:48; Jessica Walker, 41:48; Michael Shaheen, 42:33; Crystal Waits, 42:51; Keara Lydon, 43:05; Caryn Garia, 44:42; Lauren Stough, 47:47; Mary French, 47:47; Kimberley McBryar, 48:22; Paige McBride, 48:32; Kim McBride, 48:32; Ashley Depew, 48:35; Wendy Lydon, 51:26; Ryan Deasy, 55:42; Lisa Curry, 55:43; Lauren Deasy, 55:43; Diane Grajcar, 58:18

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net