I love to run down hill. Nothing beats that wind in your face, almost flying, halfway falling feeling of running as fast as your legs can turn.

The one disadvantage to running down hill is that with few exceptions, what goes down must come back up. So when I get the chance to cruise down hill without slogging back up, I go for it.

Laurel Mountain is not high by mountain standards. It stands a mere 2,800 feet above sea level. But it is one of the highest summits in our region with a major road going over the crest and it’s only a mile away from my getaway cabin in the Laurel Highlands.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, my husband waved goodbye to me at the summit with the promise to ride me back up the mountain later. It seemed like a dream run — all down, no up.

Anticipation built as I jogged along the broad summit past the flashing lights and signs warning of the steep grade ahead. No shifting to a lower gear for me — I planned to fly down the 3-1/2 miles of 8 percent grade like a truck with no brakes.

Gradually, I felt lighter as the road sloped downward. My legs began to turn over faster and I lengthened my stride a little, leaning forward to keep from striking hard on my heels. Suddenly the ground fell away and I was flying.

Just over the summit trucks chugged past, straining to lug heavy loads to the top. Behind them a convoy of cars too cautious to pass snaked around the bend.

I tried not to look at the drivers, though I’m sure they wore curious and maybe jealous expressions. I watched the edge of the road, knowing that one misstep on a piece of gravel or errant chunk of asphalt could mean a month or more of nursing a sprained ankle.

Even though I focused on the road a few feet ahead of my flailing feet, I couldn’t help but notice out of the corner of my eye the odd assortment of discards half buried in the grass. Articles of clothing, rusted car parts, cigarette butts, doll heads, blankets and pillows passed in and out of my sight — nothing valuable or unusual enough to warrant a closer look.

On the other side of the road, signs loomed larger, then passed quickly as my legs gobbled up the distance. Three miles to go, now two and a half.

Unbelievably, the slope steepened. My arms whipped the air in counterbalance to my flailing legs. I tried to maintain control of my body, knowing I’d suffer a painful sidestitch if I let my torso twist too much.

Two miles to go and my legs were numb. I wheeled into a driveway to catch my breath and quiet the pins and needles in my quads.

After a short stretch I hit the road one more. My knees wobbled and quads ached, but I still had more than a mile of mountain to descend.

Thankfully the slope began to lessen. No more fear of falling on my face or getting tangled in my own feet, just another 10 minutes of quad thumping, foot slapping pavement.

By the time I passed the runaway truck ramp close to the base of the hill, I could relax to enjoy the view and the breeze through my hair. The gentler downhill allowed me to run fast rather than simply control my fall.

I cruised into Ligonier to meet my chauffeur, satisfied that I had run the fastest four miles of my life. Already my muscles were tightening from the beating I’d given them.

I paid for my half hour of downhill flight with stiff knees and sore quads for the next week. But after my chiropractor worked the kinks out of my back and my legs began to bend normally, I was still smiling.

Saturday, 7 a.m.: Beat the Heat 5K, Murraysville. Starts at Sloan Elementary School. 412-352-7961 or www.active.comSaturday, 8 a.m.: Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon, Parkersburg, WV. Cash prizes, no day-of-event registration. www.NewsandSentinelHalfMarathon.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: Armstrong County YMCA Summer Fun 5K Run/ Walk, Kittanning. 724-545-9622 or kknepshield@armstrongymca.org.Saturday, 9 a.m.: Running on Mars 5K Run and Walk, Mars. 724-991-1648Saturday, 9 a.m.: David Hutton Memorial 5K Run and 2 Mile Walk, Emporium. 814-486-1508 or nin114@hotmail.comSunday, 8 a.m.: Hamot 10K/ Mayor’s Cup, Erie. 814-898-4472 or davecomi@erie-runnersclub.orgSunday, 6 p.m..: Run for the Trail 7K Run/ Walk, Indiana. Run on Dilltown Ghost Town Trail. 724-479-0769 or Thaddeus.Pajak@ffic.comAug. 23, 9 a.m.: Run in the Park 5K, Johnstown. Trail run through Powell Stackhouse Park. 814-254-4118Aug. 23, 9 a.m.: Run Around the Square 5K, Regent Square, Pittsburgh. 412-731-4456 or www.runaroundthesquare.comAug. 27, 6:30 p.m.: Stoneboro Fair Mile, Stoneboro. Run 2 loops on dirt track. 724-458-4435Aug. 30, 9 a.m.: LHOT Run for Shelter 5K, Butler. Run through VA Medical Center Campus prevents homelessness. alane@ccpgh.orgAug. 31: Nike Human Race 10K, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh. Register for free at nikeplus.com/humanraceSept. 1, 8:30 a.m.: The Bethlehem Project’s 5K Home Run, Greensburg. Starts at Lynch Field, benefits Bethlehem Project for homeless. 724-834-3710, ext. 11 or bethlehemproject@blessedsacramentcathedral.orgSept. 1, 9 a.m.: Gatorade/ Steelers 5K Race, Fitness Walk and Kids Kickoff Run, Pittsburgh. 412-697-7713 or 5k@steelers.comSept. 1, 9:15 a.m.: Buhl Day 5K, Hermitage. 724-981-3700Sept. 6, 8 a.m.: Saxonburg Festival of the Arts 5K, Saxonburg. Third race in Saxonburg Distance Series. 724-898-2525 or Shoes@RunPa.comSept. 6, 8 a.m.: Ikea-Montour Trail Half Marathon and 5K, Imperial. 724-695-2638 or www.montourtrail.orgSept. 7, 9 a.m.: Pizza Joe’s 5K, New Castle. 800-860-JOES or www.pizzajoes.comSept. 14, 7 a.m.: Erie Marathon at Presque Isle, Erie. Also half marathon, half marathon race walk and 5K fun run. 814-898-4472 or www.eriemarathon.orgOct. 18, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Cabot. Start training now for this fast downhill run to Freeport. 724-898-2525 or register online at www.active.com

Rube’s Run 5K, July 19: Cameron Stauffer, 1st Overall M, 17:13; Dominic Wysomirski, 2nd Overall M, 18:15; Tim Monfre, 3rd Overall M, 18:28; Ashley Crawford, 1st Overall W, 21:32; Cindy Grimm, 2nd Overall W, 22:56; Carrie Smith, 3rd Overall W, 24:15; Leslie Perry, 1st Masters M, 18:51; Linda Ealy, 1st Masters W, 25:59; Jake Montag, 1st 15-19 M, 18:56; Matthew Crawford, 2nd 15-19 M, 19:01; Mitch Radella, 1st 40-44 M, 19:38; Mike Covert, 2nd 40-44 M, 19:42; Mark Knapp, 1st 45-49 M, 20:10; Curt Grimm, 1st 55-59 M, 20:51; Russ Oschenhirt, 1st 30-34 M, 21:28; Matt Drohan, 2nd 35-39 M, 21:29; Richard Davanzati, 1st 50-54 M, 21:33; Dean Rippee, 2nd 50-54 M, 22:10; Bruce Hall, 3rd 35-39 M, 23:23; Dez Csizmadia, 2nd 65-69 M, 24:23; David M. Suber, 3rd 50-54 M, 25:12; Ed Loaskie, 3rd 30-34 M, 25:16; Ryan Clean, 1st 25-29 M, 25:30; Devin Goehring, 1st 14 and Under M, 25:37; Chris Clark, 2nd 14 and Under M, 26:21; Julia Murray, 1st 40-44 W, 26:22; Verlynda Moyers, 1st 35-39 W, 26:27; Nelson Noto, 3rd 65+ M, 26:38; Amy Nichols, 1st 25-29 W, 26:40; Maggie Goodman, 1st 14 and Under W, 27:07; Holly Depew, 2nd 35-39 W, 27:12; Ethan Kellett, 3rd 14 and Under M, 27:25; Ann Cheman, 1st 55-59 W, 27:27; Pamela Black, 1st 50-54 W, 27:46; Pam Eckert, 3rd 40-44 W, 28:44; Sabrina Eakin, 3rd 25-29 W, 28:48; Cindy S. Suber, 1st 45-49 W, 29:52; Donald Loughry, 2nd 60-64 M, 30:17; Carol Garbett, 2nd 50-54 W, 32:55; Charles Garbett, 3rd 60-64 M, 32:56; Debra Kuminkoski, 2nd 45-49 W, 33:40; Alexis Zmijowski, 2nd 14 and Under W, 33:46; Eric Miller, 2nd 25-29 M, 34:57; Meghan O’Brien, 1st 20-24 W, 36:46; Dorie Schleidon, 2nd 55-59 W, 39:01; Pamela Loaskie, 3rd 55-59 W, 40:50; Beth Brasseur, 3rd 45-49 W, 49:42; Kim Daugherty, 1st 30-34 W, 51:43; Tiffany Kriberney, 2nd 30-34 W, 59:04; Andray Gealey, 3rd 30-34 W, 59:05; Sue Koegler, 1st 60-64 W, 59:10; Jim Gallagher, 20:35; Brandon Burk, 21:11; Chris Grooms, 22:52; Bruce Soule, 24:59; Bob Claric, 25:07; Brian Miller, 25:55; Jordan Meals, 26:54; Christopher Cooper, 28:03; Michael Marra, 28:09; Jeff Mortinelli, 28:57; Lisa Moss, 30:07; Dennis Brown, 30:50; Bill O’Brien, 31:30; Mackenzie Kellett, 33:11; Dalton Hilliard, 33:14; Eric Duchess, 35:15; John Davis, 35:15; Edward Loaskie, 35:47; Renee Goodman, 36:20; Pete Bryan, 36:51; Al Davis, 39:40; Lisa Burk, 41:45; Craig Moss, 43:21; Beth Miller, 49:40; Karen Kennedy, 50:46; Barbara Shumaker, 51:41; Robert Meals, 51:45; Janine Thoma, 59:08Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net