It began in 1977 as a “community fun run” with numbered Popsicle sticks as placeholders for 1,000 finishers.

That race of humble beginnings has grown to the running extravaganza of 15,000 entrants, two distances with separate starting times and chip timing that is the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race.

This year’s event proved more popular than ever, selling out its 15,000 bibs by mid August and breaking the 2011 participant record of 14,500.

It’s easy to see why the Great Race is the highlight of many runners’ fall season — pre-race expo and pasta party, quality commemoratives, shuttle provided, mostly downhill run, music along the course, timing clocks at each mile and a post race awards ceremony with food and raffle prizes.

I ran my first Great Race in 1978, missing out on the possibility of joining the exclusive club of perfect Great Racers who have finished all 35 events. There are still 24 Perfect Great Racers, including Butler’s Gary Boyd and former Pittsburgh mayor Tom Murphy.

Pittsburgh’s Great Race, founded by popular mayor Richard S. Caliguiri and riding the wave of the first running boom in the early 80s, quickly grew to become the 10th largest road race in the country with more than 10,000 finishers.

Following the mayor’s death in 1987, the race was officially named in his honor and a portion of the proceeds from the race set aside annually for the Richard S. Caliguiri Amyloidosis Fund to fight the rare disease which took the mayor’s life.

Over its lifetime, the Great Race has earned several distinctions. The 10K served as USATF Masters Championship in 1989. And in 2011, the race was awarded a green certification from the Council for Responsible Sport, one of only 31 races worldwide with this designation.

As the 10K distance began to fall from favor, CitiParks added a 5K event to the Great Race. The inaugural 5K in 1993 attracted 900 participants and steadily grew to a field of 5,000 for this year’s dash from Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood to downtown.

The popularity of the Great Race may be attributed to the increase in women’s participation in the 10K. Women comprised over 60 percent of the 5K field in 1996, a percentage that has maintained in this year’s race. But while only 30 percent of 1996 finishers in the 10K were female, women actually outnumbered men in the 2012 Great Race, comprising 52 percent of all finishers at the longer distance.

Although the Great Race celebrated its 35th running last Sunday, the race is actually 36 years old. The 2003 event was cancelled as the city of Pittsburgh struggled through financial difficulties.

During that year The Great Replacement Race, a two-loop course through Schenley Park, was organized by the local running community. Several informal runs were held as well in protest of the cancellation. The hiatus lasted only one year and more than 8,000 people finished the 2004 Great Race.

Participants in this 35th Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race received commemorative technical t-shirts to honor the occasion and hats to mark the celebration of another anniversary — race director Mike Radley’s 25 years of service as Director of Pittsburgh’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Radley was presented with a personalized Steelers jersey for his dedicated service to the city and to the running community.

This year’s Great Race featured nearly perfect running weather with overcast skies and temperatures in the low 50s for the 5K. Slower runners in the 10K splashed through the final miles in a cool drizzle.

Justin Taylor won the men’s 5K in a time of 15:09 while Kristin Leslie won the women’s 5K with a time of 17:56. Local women Emily Wolfarth of Cranberry Township and Heather Melzer of Mars finished second and third overall, racing each other to the finish with times of 18:23 and 18:25, respectively.

Trent Binford-Walsh of Pittsburgh won the men’s division of the 10K with his finishing time of 30:46 while Leechburg’s Sara Rachiatore finished first in the women’s race in 34:46.

Upcoming events

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

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

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Life Advocates 5K, Grove City. 717-449-3166 or welchat1@gcc.edu

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Small and Mighty 5K, Portersville. Starts at Moraine State Park North Shore. daniellekelly@trulyunique.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Applefest Race a Race for Any Pace 5K, Franklin. Also kids run. 814-432-2138 or dkrizon@franklinymca.org

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Her Times 5K, Erie. Women’s race starts at Presque Isle State Park Rotary Pavilion. Free babysitting for preregistered.www.hertimes.com

Saturday, 10 a.m.: AABA Columbus Day 5K Fun Run/ Walk, Apollo. Flat out and back course, cash prizes for overall winners. www.apolloaba.org

Saturday, 5:30 p.m.: Mosaic 5K and 1 Mile, Harmony. One mile race starts at 6:30 P.M. liquidpaparazzi@hotmail.com

Sunday, 9:30 a.m.: Oktoberfest Classic 10K, Minster, OH. 937-441-1342 or okt10k@yahoo.com

Sunday, 10 a.m.: Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners Fall Classic, Highland Park. Choice of 10K, 5K or 2 miles, starts at Highland Park Pool. 412-276-1800

Oct. 13, 8:30 a.m. Clearfield Pumpkin Run 5K, Clearfield. 814-765-2683 or rob.bozovich@gmail.com

Oct. 13, 9 a.m.: Race for Pace 5K Run/ Walk, Churchill. Also one mile Paws for Pace Dog Walk. Call 412-342-4302 or register online at www.paceschool.org

Oct. 13, 9 a.m.: Good Samaritan Hospice 5K Run/ Walk and One Mile Fun Walk, North Park. Starts at boat house. Register at www.stlukelutheran.gsh5k.com

Oct. 13, 9 a.m.: Mahoning Shuffle Half Marathon and 5K, Punxsutawney. 814-938-7700 or www.punxsutawney.com

Oct. 13, 9 a.m.: Fall Foliage Classic 5K, Shawnee State Park, Everett. 814-652-0025

Oct. 20, 8:30 a.m.: Harvest Moon Run, Moon Township. Choice of 10 miles or 5K. www.race360.com/14346

Oct. 20, 9 a.m.: Golden Tornado Art on the Run 5K & Children’s Fun Run, Butler. Starts at Butler High School. ArtontheRun5k@gmail.com

Oct. 20, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Freeport. Point to point on Butler-Freeport Rail Trail. Sorry, sold out. To volunteer to help, visit www.butlerfreeporttrail.org

Oct. 20, 9 a.m: Art on the Run 5K Run/ Walk and 1K Family Fun Run, Butler. Run on Butler High School campus, art activities, refreshments and raffle prizes. Artontherun5k@gmail.com

Oct. 20, 3 p.m.: MS Monster Stomp 5K Race, Walk and Goblin Trot, New Castle. Also post race Monster Bash. 724-658-8583 or www.msmonsterstomp.com

Oct. 21, 9:30 a.m.: Peace Race, Youngstown, OH. Two mile run or classic 10K at 11:30 A.M. 330-637-8466

Oct. 27, 9 a.m.: Dempseytown 5K, Oil City. Challenging out and back course. 814-676-0959 or dempseytown5k@oakandum.com

Oct. 27, 10 a.m.: Ghostly Gray 5K or 10K Trail Run or 30K Mountain Bike Race, Camp Lutherlyn Prospect. 724-284-1134, ext. 250 or www.troopcampcadet.org

Oct. 27, 10 a.m.: ethesda’s Annual 5K Mud Run, Meadville. Off road run with obstacles. 814-724-7510 or maryann.koman@bethesda-home.org

Oct. 27, 10 a.m.: Freaky Friday 5K and Terrifying 10K, North Park. Pet walk at 9:30 a.m., competitive and costume awards. www.freaky5k.org

Nov. 3, 8 a.m.: ZooZilla 5K Run/ Walk, Pittsburgh. Run through Pittsburgh Zoo grounds. 412-665-3640 or pittsburghzoo.org

Nov. 3, 9 a.m.: Run for the Wounded Warrior 5K and 5 Mile, North Park. Starts at North Park Boathouse. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.com

Nov. 3, 10 a.m.: Butler YMCA Turkey Trot 5K, Butler. Also one mile kids race. 724-287-4733 or jknauff@bcfymca.org

Nov. 4, 9 a.m.: Ridgway Marathon, Ridgway. Flat out and back course on Clarion River- Toby Creek Rail Trail. 814-594-4173

Race results

Pittsburgh Great Race 10K, Sept. 30 (finishers under 1 hour): Trent Binford-Walsh, 1st Overall M, 30:46; Sara Rachiatore, 1st Overall W, 34:46; Wesley Roberts, 1st 17-19 M, 35:30; Mark Courtney, 3rd 55-59 M, 39:01; Sharyl Relic, 3rd 50-54 W, 44:35; Val Wolfarth, 3rd 55-59 W, 45:10; Rachel Hensler, 3rd 12-13 W, 45:18; Patricia Neubert, 2nd 60-64 W, 51:51; Margretta Lutz, 1st 80+ W, 1:15:12; Bill Shepardson, Jr., 35:26; Michael Baumgartel, 36:51; Brian Forester, 38:00; Matthew Sudak, 38:27; Todd Roberts, 40:25; Brian Kile, 40:36; Christopher Bloch, 40:51; Donald Briggs, 41:28; Jeff Hoban, 41:32; Nicholas Scutella, 41:42; Sarah Gill, 42:08; Joshua Edmiston, 43:02; Mat Marshall, 43:33; Kevin Quinn, 43:38; Nicholas Radio, 44:01; Kathy Hensler, 44:03; Lewis Minett, 44:15; John Millea, 44:30;Reuben Pink, 44:37; John Ristey, 44:53; John Alexander III, 44:58; Michele Gogolin, 44:59; Tammy Straughn, 45:28; Mike Menchyk, 45:34; Dean Ritner, 46:10; Daniel Ritner, 46:10; Daniel Bolena, 46:26; Michael Stapleton, 46:36; Lindsey Monahan, 46:47; Bruce Barnes, 46:56; Chris McCormick, 47:02; Christine Edmiston, 47:14; Nick Kijowski, 47:15; Laine Seely, 47:24; Bill Schwalm, 47:24; Jeff Hans, 48:47; Andrew Brugnone, 47:31; Megan Pudlo, 47:40; Bob Pudlo, 47:41; Nathan Grjalva, 47:51; Erica Drew, 48:03; Steve Cochran, 48:05; Megan Rippin, 48:08; Bridget Lane, 48:18; Jinny Hertweck, 48:29; Douglas Cygan, 48:29; Ryan Miller, 48:42; Brian Myers, 48:49; Mark Stanek, 48:51; Paul Gentile, 48:53; Heather Slater, 49:02; Matt Grossman, 49:20; Kurt Hellgren, 49:23; Matthew Kravec, 49:36; Taryn Tronosky, 49:41; Mitsuru Nakadan, 49:47; Jessica Northern, 49:50; Edward Schreiber, 49:52; Sara Fowler, 49:53; Kenneth Krause, 50:06; David Steigerwald, 50:06; Michael Tronosky, 50:14; Jennifer Aprile, 50:15; Andrew Catterall, 50:16; Michel Pascal, 50:19; Phillip Shinsky, 50:20; Megan O’Keefe, 50:22; David Fetterman, 50:26; Chad Ellis, 50:31; Gregory Peitz, 50:32; Ron Ripper, 50:37; Howard Greenstein, 50:41; Beth Newell, 50:56; Micci Hutterer, 50:57; Sara Coon, 51:03; Koushik Sampath, 51:13; Tanya Krause, 51:13; T.J. Braithwaite, 51:17; Elena Kolano, 51:21; Tonya Godown, 51:23; John Verona, 51:25; Emily Morse, 51:28; Lonnie Birckbichler, 51:29; Greg Fender, 51:30; Melissa Stewart, 51:30; Matt Kaltenberger, 51:30; Eric Melo, 51:31; Lori McClafferty, 51:39; Valerie McGee, 51:46; Laura Goossen, 51:49; Christina Dugan, 51:50; Landon Wood, 51:53; Chris Walters, 51:56; Linette Voytovich, 51:58; Alana McLaughlin, 51:58; John Scanlon, 51:59; Pamela Scanlon, 52:00; Carol Barnes, 52:01; Michele Fausnacht, 52:01; Ryan Beilstein, 52:03; Joseph French, 52:16; Anthony Pityk, 52:18; Carrie Blawas, 52:18; Matthew Conquest, 52:22; Megan McDaniel, 52:24; Cyndie Delucia, 52:31; Rich Sciacca, 52:33; Meghan Morris, 52:37; Will Gramlich, 52:39; Shawn Manning, 52:41; Tedd Nesbit, 52:42; Connie Walsh, 52:54; Gypsy Horner, 52:55; Michael Dreveniak, 52:55; Christa Bjalobok, 52:58; Andrew Perrotto, 53:07; Sabrina Agnew, 53:14; James Hodgson, 53:15; Joe Oliver, 53:24; Dorothy Moxie, 53:24; Jennifer McClain, 53:25; Chuck Johns, 53:25; Anna Haney, 53:29; Kristy Martino, 53:38; Jeffrey Kapinski, 53:41; Christine Wilson, 53:41; George Karpakis, 53:43; Jason Young, 53:46; J.J. Hensley, 53:54; Kristen Slivka, 53:55; Barnes Allen, 53:56; Christine Sevin, 53:56; Brittany Johnson, 54:01; Ronald James, 54:05; Rob Vandenburgh, 54:08; Edward Schreiber III, 54:11; Amy Leonard, 54:11; Justin Mech, 54:15; John Scungio, 54:22; Edward Kolano, 54:22; Nichole Rebholz, 54:29; Steven Day, 54:32; Gina Weber, 54:35; Amy Lally, 54:39; Krista Novak, 54:41; Caitlin Sippey, 54:51; Sean Martin, 54:55; Roger Black, 54:57; Amy Peterson, 54:58; Carrie Denk, 55:07; Suzanne Leonberg, 55:15; Robert Congdon, 55:23; Orryn Sledge, 55:25; Tracy Hartle, 55:25; Amy Pry, 55:27; Jesse Rodgers, 55:30; Robert Lally, 55:41; Beth LaGamba, 55:44; Melissa Kramer, 55:47; Randy Cameron, 55:49; Elizabeth Sperry, 55:50; Laura Palisin, 55:52; Melissa Evans, 5:52; Vincent Moore, 55:53; Tara Quinn, 55:53; Kathie Blinn, 55:56; Jeffrey Altmire, 55:58; Chelsea Cameron, 56:01; Jennifer Jones, 56:07; Jeffrey Castello, 56:15; Jeff DeShay, 56:21; Sean Pieszak, 56:29; Chris Soloski, 56:34; Chad Chrostowski, 56:38; Jorge Biaggini, 56:42; Eva Cervantes, 56:43; Chuck Bergman, 56:43; Robyn Stewart, 56:48; Gary Golebiewski, 56:53; Blake McCarty, 56:5; Anna Schoeppner, 57:00; Bo McCleary, 57:03; Brian Kravec, 57:18; Christina Mullen, 57:18; Katherine Colton, 57:19; Adam Piccuta, 57:27; Brianne Voelp, 57:27; Charlene Kurpakus, 57:35; Mark Nischalke, 57:39; Eileen Price, 57:44; Sheila Shaffer, 57:45; Angela Oldfield, 57:45; Chrissy Kaufman, 57:45; Amber Auchey, 57:46; Leann Scoeppner, 57:49; Joanne Castello, 57:52; Dena Petrella, 57:53; Rich Price, 57:56; Maria Singel, 57:57; Robert Vybiral, 57:58; Joseph Pronic, 58:07; Allison Miller, 58:11; Rick Mercante, 58:24; SuLan Peebles, 58:24; Joseph Birch, 58:35; Randy Voelp, 58:36; Chuck Dibello, 58:38; Gary Boyd, 58:45; Adam Bernauer, 58:47; Anthony Bruno, 58:47; Anthony Bruno, 58:47; Jeffrey Smith, 58:47; Brooke Catterall, 58:48; Dan McLaughlin, 58:55; Matthew Parson, 58:59; Monicalynn Susanin, 59:00; Jennifer Cygan, 59:07; Shawn Chapman, 59:08; Marilyn Lapiska, 59:13; Kristin Stumm, 59:18; Carol Donahey, 59:33; Nicole Clark, 59:42; James Clark, 59:42; Kathy Kramer, 59:43; Amy Brown, 59:51; Leah Rapp, 59:54; Darren Klaum, 59:58

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

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle.