October is our area’s driest month of the year and the sunniest month of fall with an average of 6.6 hours of sunshine per day.

While runners appreciate the cooler, crisper days and near-perfect running conditions, we can’t just run wild. Take a few precautions to have a safe and fun fall running season.

Mind when you run where you run:That October sun on our backs as we run through the long afternoon shadows feels great, but remember that the sun that now hangs low in the sky blinds drivers coming toward us, especially at dawn and before dusk.

On sunny mornings and late afternoons, consider running a more north-south out and back route or a deeply shaded loop.

Darkness is not your friend. Western PA averages 308 days per year with at least ¼ cloud cover. Flat gray light and dwindling daylight hours can make visibility a challenge for runners, both in seeing and being seen. This is the season for fluorescent colors and reflective wear. And invest in a headlamp or handheld light just in case you get caught out after dark.

All the weather at once:Fall is a transition, but not always a smooth one. A sudden weather front passing through can take your run from comfortable to hypothermic in minutes. Check the weather forecast before heading out the door. Even if you expect the best, prepare for the worst. A poortex raincoat(plastic trash bag) tucked into your waist pack or pocket could be a lifesaver in a sudden downpour.

Hidden off-road dangers: This is my favorite time of year to hit the trails for a foliage tour. But fallen leaves can hide ankle-twisting rocks or roots and wet leaves can be slick, especially on hilly courses.

If you are new to trail running, start with a paved route such as the loop trail in Adams Township Community Park. Rail trails like our own Butler-Freeport Trail are scenic, gentle and safe.

It’s tick season — again: Ticks are most active in the spring when they come out of hiding to hitch a ride on passing deer and from late August through November when they return to warm field mouse dens or to layers of leaf cover in preparation for winter. Ticks will be dormant in winter, but anytime the temperature rises above 32 degrees, they will be active.

You’ll likely encounter ticks on narrow wooded trails or deer paths in fields or in any areas where leaves accumulate. The best prevention for tick bites is to wear long pants, high socks and a hat (if you have long hair) anytime you venture onto trails or grasslands inhabited by deer. Clothing impregnated with permethrin is available or you can spray treat your own. Apply a repellent containing picaridin or DEET to exposed skin.

After your run, send all clothing to the dryer on medium/high heat for 30 minutes to kill any clinging ticks before tossing them in the clothes hamper. Be sure to do a total body tick scan. Look closely and thoroughly since young ticks can be smaller than a poppy seed.

Don’t be a target: We love the freedom of running through the woods, but in Pennsylvania, we sometimes share the space with more than just wildlife. Archery hunting season for deer begins Sept. 29, followed by muzzleloader week beginning Oct. 13 and regular firearms deer hunting on Nov. 26. There’s also hunting for most small game starting in mid-October and for turkeys on October 27.

Dress in bright colors when running in rural areas, especially on weekends. Wear a hat to cover gray or white hair and leave those white cotton gloves at home. Check to see if your favorite running park or trail allows hunting.

Upcoming events

Sept. 29, 9 a.m.: United Way of Clarion County’s 5k and 10k Race, Clarion. 814-226-8760 or clarionunitedway@verizon.net

Sept. 29, 11 a.m.: Dollar Bank Junior Great Race, Pittsburgh. Fun runs for kids ages 5 through 12 held at Point State Park. www.rungreatrace.com

Sept. 30, 8 a.m.: 7th Annual Heart and Sole 5k and Bike Duathlon, Ford City. 724-763-3974 or Klukan3974@hotmail.com

Sept. 30, 8 a.m.: 41st Annual City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5k, Pittsburgh. Run from Oakland to downtown. www.rungreatrace.com

Sept. 30, 9:30 a.m.: 41st Annual City of Pittsburgh Great Race 10k, Pittsburgh. Run from Frick Park to downtown. www.rungreatrace.com

Sept. 30, 2 p.m.: Sunday Run Day, Springdale. Fun run of 5k or 1 mile distance plus free post-run pint at Leaning Cask Brewery. Families, strollers, dogs welcome but must be 21 or older for beer. 724-715-7539 or www.leaningcaskbrewing.com

Sept. 30, 3 p.m.: Buffalo Creek 5k, Worthington. Also kids’ run immediately following. 724-543-1120 or mruffaner@mechlingheller.com

Oct. 6, 9 a.m.: Applefest A Race for Any Pace 5k, Franklin. 814-432-2138 or www.franklinymca.org

Oct. 6, 9 a.m.: Freeport Girls Basketball 2nd Annual Halloween Hustle 5k, Freeport. Run on Butler-Freeport Trail. ksoilis@zoominternet.net

Oct. 6, 8 a.m.: October Half Marathon, 10k Run and 5k Walk, Hollidaysburg. www.hollidaysburgareaymca.org

Oct. 7, 9 a.m.: Her Times 5k, Erie. Women only race with free babysitting followed by kids’ fun runs for boys and girls. Starts at Presque Isle Park’s Rotary Pavilion. https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Erie/HerTimes

Oct. 7, 9 a.m.: Teddy Bear Trot 5k, New Castle. Helps fight dyslexia. 724-654-5408 or mmerritt@valleyofnc.org

Oct. 13, 9 a.m.: Mahoning Shadow Shuffle Half Marathon and 5k, Punxsutawney. www.punxsutawney.com

Oct. 13, 9 a.m.: West Penn Trail Triathlon, Saltsburg. Sprint triathlon with 7 mile paddle on Conemaugh River, 14 mile bike on West Penn Trail, 5k run on West Penn Trail. 724-676-4712 or barrytuscano@verizon.net

Oct. 14, 8 a.m.: Trail to Eagle Trail Run 10k, Beaver Falls. Run through Brady’s Run Park. 724-480-9250 or troop423@comcast.net

Oct. 14, 8 a.m.: Pittsburgh Penguins 6.6k Run and 3.3k Family Walk, Pittsbugh. https://www.mariolemieux.org/our-events/6-6k-run-and-family-walk/

Oct. 20, 9 a.m.: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Cabot. Mostly downhill on Butler-Freeport Trail. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Cabot/BuffaloCreekHalfMarathon

Oct. 20, 10 a.m.: 17th Annual Pittsburgh Steel Wheelers 5k Run/Walk/Wheel, Allison Park. Run from North Park Boathouse follows bike and hand cycle event. laurie@wptla.org

Oct. 27, 10 a.m.: Brookville YMCA Color Run Half Marathon, Brookville. Color runs of 10k, 5k and 1-mile following at 11 A.M. All events run on rail trail. 814-849-7355 or tinahouseholder@gmail.com

Oct. 28, 3 p.m.: Great Pumpkin 5k and 1 Mile, Zelienople. Mattew.sauers@gmail.com

Oct. 29, 2 p.m.: Sunday Run Day, Springdale. Last day for fun run of 5k or 1 mile distance plus free post-run pint at Leaning Cask Brewery. Families, strollers, dogs welcome but must be 21 or older for beer. 724-715-7539 or www.leaningcaskbrewing.com

Race results

Barber Beast on the Bay, Sept. 8: Chad Gross, 1st Overall M, 1:14:36; KoreyAnne Smith, 1st Overall W, 1:42:41; Matthew Rhenish, 1:43:49; Caleb Rauscher, 3:46:40

Ice Cream Race 5k, Aug.15: Jed Christiansen, 1st Overall M, 15:52; Summer Hill, 1st Overall W, 18:23; Katherine Fedko, 2nd Overall W, 18:36; Daniel Spaulding, 1st 30-34 M, 16:55; Cael McEwen, 3rd 13-15 M, 18:30; Seth Jenny, 2nd 35-39 M, 17:48; Angie Jenny, 2nd 35-39 W, 20:13; Melissa Conjack, 1st 30-34 W, 20:16; John Armstrong, 3rd 50-54 M, 20:21; Brian Buchan, 3rd 40-44 M, 20:22; Chad Green, 2nd 16-19 M, 20:28; Delaney McCarthy, 3rd 16-19 W, 20:41; Kim Hohman, 1st 40-44 W, 20:45; Leslie Kramer, 2nd 40-44 W, 21:25; Mark Courtney, 2nd 60-64 M, 21:28; Mike Brown, 3rd 60-64 M, 22:08; Elizabeth Witmer, 3rd 35-39 W, 22:55; Olivia Drohan, 1st 20-24 W, 22:57; Olivia Lowe, 2nd 20-24 W, 23:42; Miles Jenny, 3rd 11 & Under M, 24:07; Anna Single, 3rd 11 & Under W, 25:53; Cindy Suber, 1st 55-59 W, 27:14; Debbie Courtney, 2nd 55-59 W, 27:32; Valerie Sands, 2nd 70+ W, 36:17; Luke Owrey, 18:08; Ramsey Saltrick, 18:09; Jacob Lowry, 18:40; Cody Reeher, 19:02; Alex Edmonds, 19:02; Anthony Miller, 19:32; Evan Miller, 19:56; Dehan Courtney, 20:32; Elijah McClymonds, 20:56; Tara Lucot, 21:02; Clark Schwarz, 21:06; Scott Meskel, 21:11; Tim Sloan, 21:42; Connor Casteel, 21:58; Doug Joseph, 22:14; Harold Domville, 22:18; Andrew Edmonds, 22:19; Hollie Walters, 22:30; Pasha Avdejevs, 22:32; Steven Nichols, 22:33; Mary McCarthy, 22:36; David Suber, 22:41; Talan Conjack, 22:49; Makara Smocer, 23:03; William Hannon, 23:09; Abby Biddle, 23:12; Mikayla Montgomerey, 23:25; Rebecca Krenzer, 23:36; Emily Unverzagt, 23:48; Chuck Sarver, 24:04; Holly Matsko, 24:05; Wyatt Shepson, 24:15; Noah Byun, 24:15; Jeremy Dicus, 24:16; Mitchell McCleary, 24:19; Rick McKain, 24:42; Nathanael Nuss, 24:51; Ben English, 24:59; Jesse Miller, 25:01; Abby Mellon, 25:31; Ainsley Howard, 26:03; Abby Geiger, 26:03; Bill Swanik, 26:07; Bereket Unverzagt, 26:13; Mac Messer, 26:14; Keely Looper, 26:24; Tamagn Unverzagt, 27:20; Casey Unverzagt, 27:20; Nathaniel Kochis, 27:21; Hannah Courtney, 27:23; Steven Drew, 27:24; Harrison Saltrick, 27:39; Jamie Knauff, 27:44; Keith Saltrick, 27:45; Samantha Drohan, 27:59; Jamie Maxwell, 28:09; Kayla Albert, 28:13; Tony Sunseri, 28:15; Josiah Unverzagt, 28:23; Evan Maxwell, 28:27; Allen Matz, 28:31; William Woods, 28:32; Mary Siegel, 28:42; Justin Barger, 28:47; Dan Lorigan, 29:01; Tara Jones, 29:04; Vicki Brendlinger, 29:09; Cindy Bennett, 29:21; Riley Criss, 29:39; Robert Sands, 30:01; Haley Angerett, 30:07; Alexis Reeher, 30:29; Meredith Yarington, 30:32; James Hendell, 30:53; Sherrie Mazurek, 31:01; Emily Matz, 31:03; Stacy Matz, 31:04; Madison Michael, 31:30; Lisa Jamison, 31:45; Amanda Dicus, 32:05; Laura Augustine, 32:07; Rhonda Maloney, 32:29; Leiah Maloney, 32:31; Marcus Kelly, 32:35; Catie Sindlinger, 32:39; Meegan Looper, 32:40; Nicole Hughes, 33:07; Chloe Dunn, 33:07; Hannah Hohman, 33:07; Leah Buchan, 33:08; Bailee Williamson, 33:12; Ted Spencer, 33:14; Missy Jungling, 33:25; Aiden Voorhees, 33:40; Stephanie McCreary, 33:41; Richard Beech, 33:49; Alayna Bishop, 34:01; Kathy Williamson, 34:09; Nathan Majure, 34:13; Danielle Haney, 34:22; Debbie Jamison, 34:27; Rob Schmieler, 34:29; Josh Roach, 34:38; Emma Roach, 34:39; Kurt Gomez, 34:51; Jake Frey, 35:00; Crystal Albert, 35:27; Emily Peffer, 35:29; Michele Carson, 36:09; David Byers, 36:38; Keenan Holko, 36:47; Becky Farren, 37:02; Carol English, 37:04; Grace Witmer, 37:09; Carly Bett, 37:35; Renae Shawgo, 37:42; Regis Matz, 37:59; Regis P Matz, 37:59; Vickie Turner, 38:20; Robin Trinko, 38:21; Katie Boatright, 38:52; Isaac Filer, 39:09; Erika Filer, 39:14; Ryan Helsel, 39:17; Brady Helsel, 39:18; Carissa Spencer, 39:19; Daniel Dean, 40:05; Tre Tucci, 40:54; Dawn Tucci, 40:55; Bridget Casteel, 43:34; Gloria Stewart, 48:40; Thomas Turner, 48:40; Katie Maloney, 53:48; Troy Cummings, 55:18

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle