21st Annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon

RACE DAY:    OCTOBER 17, 2026  9:00 AM EDT Start

A point-to-point Half Marathon on the Butler Freeport Community Trail --- majority of the course is on a crushed limestone surface.  Our gentle downhill course allows many finishers to run their personal best times. Spectacular fall foliage makes our course one of the most scenic you will experience.  Race begins in Cabot and finishes at the south end of the Trail at the former Butler Junction under the highway 356 bridge over the Allegheny River.

Annually on the 3rd Saturday of October.  SAVE THE DATE

The Buffalo Creek Half Marathon is presented as a race, not a walking event.  We do welcome first-time half-marathoners, older runners and differently-abled runners. However, we expect that all runners have trained and are capable of completing the race in approximately 3 hours or less.  Please aim for an average of a 13.75 minute mile or better.  NO WALKERS.  DO NOT participant if you think you cannot complete the course within 3 hours.

The Race Facility closes at 12:30 pm including food, drink and first-aid.  As this is a point-to-point course, water stations and first-aid stations along the course close at appropriate time intervals.  For example, you should expect the first (2 mile) water station to be closed 30 minutes after the start of the race and the 4th (9 mile) water station with Gatorade to be closed 2 1/2 hours after the start of the race.  Our experienced bicycle escorts are authorized to require you to abandon the race if your time intervals indicate that you will not finish in a timely manner.

LAST SHUTTLE to Cabot Methodist Church is 12:30 pm.

Anne Gallagher was a one-time Race Director of the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon. She stepped up to serve as race director for the transition year between founding race director Ron Bennett and current race director Chris Ziegler.  We are thankful to her for assuring that the tradition of the Annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon was able to continue.

Anne and her husband, Angelo Quaranta, who survives her, were/are long-time supporters of the Butler  Freeport Community Trail.  Anne passed away unexpectedly in October 2023.  She is truly missed.

BIB EXCHANGE (Transfers Runner To Runner) may be initiated by a Registered Runner on-line at www.Runsignup.com.

• NO BIB EXCHANGE AFTER FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 10:00 P.M.
• NO BIB EXCHANGE AFTER RUNNER HAS PICKED UP THEIR PACKET

BIB EXCHANGE INSTRUCTIONS:  Transfer from Registered Runner to New Runner is called “Bib Exchange” on the Runsignup.com. Check the Tutorial or email info@runsignup.com for instructions.

To Bib Exchange, the Registered Runner goes to his/her profile on RunSignUp, click on Buffalo Creek Half Marathon and go to “Registration Management” and click on “Transfer”. Follow the instructions.  There are two options: "Transfer Gift" or "Transfer for Refund".

New Runner will get an email regarding the transfer. The New Runner MUST REGISTER on RunSignup to complete the Bib Exchange.

 “Transfer for Refund” refunds your money from RunSignUp.com once the other party has paid. 

“Transfer Gift” immediately transfers.   If you use “Gift” the two of you can just exchange money, if you want.

Don Amadee was on the ground floor of both the Butler Freeport Community Trail (1992) and the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon (2006). He and his wife, Amy, supported the Trail from its inception and were among the volunteers who installed gates and bridge railing on the first section of Trail.  Don and Amy participated in the first Buffalo Creek Half Marathon.  Don’s streak of 10 consecutive Buffalo Creek Half Marathon ended with his unexpected passing in July 2016. Amy continued her streak of consecutive BCHM.

Don was the general manager for the Municipal Authority of Buffalo Township and served  the community privately and publicly in many ways. Don Amadee is honored by the permanent bench located just south of the Monroe Road Trailhead.

The Buffalo Creek Half Marathon is the major fund raiser for the Butler Freeport Community Trail Council, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization.  All proceeds from this event support the maintenance, improvement and promotion of the Butler Freeport Community Trail, a 22 mile rail trail.

Your additional donation benefits the Trail and is greatly appreciated.

Ed Doyle was well-known and respected in the running community of Western Pennsylvania and beyond.  Ed loved running and wanted everyone else to love running.  For Ed running was not only about competition, but was about relationships, mentorship, benefiting the community and fun.

In 2003, Ed was able to fulfill his dream of opening his own running store. Up-N-Running in Valencia became the place for quality athletic equipment for runners and walkers with a personal touch.  Ed knew running, Ed knew runners and Ed knew shoes and all the gear to help runners train, compete and reach goals and to enjoy running from youth to old age. As an independent business owner, Ed was able to provide customers with personalized attention, sponsor runners and running teams, act as race director of races to benefit the community, provide swag for countless races, and support charities such as the Alzheimer’s Association and Glade Run Lake Conservancy.  Ed had the privilege to retire and pass the Up-N-Running store to a son and daughter-in-law. Up-N-Running stores are now located in Valencia and Ebensburg.

Ed was instrumental in the founding of the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon in 2006.  Ron Bennett, the founding and long-time president of Butler-Freeport Community Trail Council, wanted to ensure the sustainability of community support for the development, maintenance and promotion of the Trail. Ron thought that a Trail Council-sponsored race as a fund-raiser on the Trail could provide that sustainability, introduce the Trail to more people and be just plain fun. Ron reached out to Ed and Ed enthusiastically got on board.  Ed said it should be a half-marathon in the Fall and the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon on the 3rd Saturday in October was born.  Throughout the first 15 years of the race, Ed was an active advisor and supporter for the race.  Most years, Ed acted as the MC of the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, announcing the start of the race, calling out the names of runners at the finish line, and announcing medal winners. The 2021 16th Annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon was dedicated to Ed Doyle.

The loss of Ed Doyle to Covid-19 in December 2020 was not only heartbreaking and tragic to his family and friends but also to the community and those of us at the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon.  Ed Doyle will be remembered as a family-man, loyal friend, generous mentor, fun-loving competitor, and Shoe-Whisperer.

FOOD and DRINK provided by the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon is for the personal consumption of registered runners and authorized volunteers.

FOOD and DRINK is not available for spectators, friends or family. Please ask your spectators to plan accordingly.

Cabot Methodist Church Food Bank is the primary food bank for southeast Butler County and is part of the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank network.  

Cabot Methodist Church graciously hosts the start of the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon. The Church provides parking, an indoor location for packet pickup, and a location for our bank of port-o-johns as well as a safe location for the start of the race.

Please consider expressing your appreciation to the Church and help families and individuals in need by donating.  Monetary donations from individuals like us are particularly important and effective now. Monetary donations are accepted at early and race day packet pickup. Non-perishable food is accepted in the church during packet pickup.

Donate here now https://bit.ly/CabotFoodBank

The Buffalo Creek Half Marathon does not permit runners to have strollers or pets on the racecourse.  Running with pets or strollers is not allowed.

Spectators may use strollers at the Start, along the Racecourse and at the Finish.  Spectators may have pets at the Start, along the Racecourse and at the Finish.  Pets must be under physical control at all times.  Leashes for dogs and other pets must be 6 feet or less long.  Those with strollers and/or pets should take care to maintain safety for the runners.

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6612861977/

Map of the Annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, starting at Cabot Methodist Church, Winfield Road, Helmbold Road to Marwood Road with 180 turn on to the Butler Freeport Community Trail with the finish at the southern terminus of the Butler Freeport Community Trail at the former Butler Junction.   

Many of those who ran the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon will remember Monte Pursifull.  Monte and Shawn Widenhofer were the go-to-guys as volunteers for evening packet pick-up at Up-N-Running, clearly calling out each runner’s shirt size. On race day itself, Monte was one of the bicycle escorts (sweepers) for the race, frequently taking up the rear to ensure than every runner (and their stuff) safely made it to the end. 

Monte was a fun-loving guy who enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities and loved bicycling. He was a repeat rider of the Great Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.  He, often teamed with Shawn, was a dedicated volunteer to the Butler Freeport Community Trail. Benches and picnic tables along the Trail are some of their handiwork.  Monte was always ready to pitch-in for friends and community and volunteered with many other organizations. And what can you say about a guy who fostered hundreds of dogs throughout the years?  That is Mr. Monte!!!

Monte passed away unexpectedly in February 2021. Mr. Monte will be greatly missed and not forgotten.

Monte Tribute Video - YouTube  (see below)

PRE RACE DAY PACKET PICKUP at UP-N-RUNNING RT. 8,  1177 Pittsburgh Road, Suite 103 VALENCIA, OCTOBER 15 (Thursday) from noon-6:30pm and October 16 (Friday) from 11:30am- 5:30pm  -- 2 days only, Thursday and Friday.  All BCHM participants will receive a 15% discount in store or 10% discount on-line at Up-N-Running (discount not applicable on sales items or Garmin products). Discount Thursday, October 15 - Saturday, October 17. 

Packets will not be mailed.

Packets may be picked up by a third party.  Details are provided in the packet pickup email sent to registered runners the week of the race.

RACE DAY PACKET PICK UP at Cabot Methodist Church, 707 Winfield Road, Cabot starting 7am and ending at 8:50am.  Race starts at 9:00am.

Restrooms in the building will not be available.  Port-o-Johns are provided.

PARKING:  Runner parking at Cabot Methodist Church, 707 Winfield Road, Cabot, PA 16023. Additional parking at Winfield Fire Dept. 194 Brose Rd., Cabot, PA 16023.  Parking is directed by volunteers from Cabot Methodist Church.  Please respect our host.

START LOCATION:  Cabot Methodist Church, 707 Winfield Road, Cabot, PA 16023.

FINISH LINE is at the southern terminus of the Butler Freeport Community Trail at the former Butler Junction, trailhead is just off of Montrose Avenue, Buffalo Township, PA 16229, with continuous shuttle service back to Cabot Methodist Church parking lot.

FINISH LINE PARKING is available at the trailhead just off of Montrose Avenue, turn right on to the gravel trail surface and park as directed by our volunteers.   Directions: From Route 28, head south on Highway 356, continue past the traffic light for Freeport, at the next traffic light stay to the left to continue on Highway 356, immediately after the light turn right on Coal Street, at the fork stay left.                                              

Just as the Butler Freeport Community Trail is a community effort so is the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon.  Offering the Half Marathon involves many facets from assuring the Trail is in condition and ensuring the safety of the participants and volunteers to providing for the enjoyment and comfort of the runners.

These are our Partners in providing you with a quality event:

GCXC Race Timing & Management

Buffalo Township

Freeport Borough

Winfield Township

Freehling Lumber

Holbein, Inc.

South Armstrong Regional Police

Buffalo Fire Department

Saxonburg EMS

Nurse volunteers

Fort Armstrong Wireless Association

Boy Scout Troops 19 

Freeport Cross County

Bus drivers

Cabot Methodist Church

Janis Hacket Design

Titler’s Special-Tees

WoodmenLife

Vocelli’s Pizza, Sarver

Joel Warren Photography

START LINE is at Cabot Methodist Church, 707 Winfield Road, Cabot, PA 16023.

WATER STATIONS:  Water stations are at miles 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, and finish line. Gatorade at 5, 7 and 9. 

FIRST AID is at miles 5, 7, 9, and finish line.

Ambulance service available.

PORT-O-JOHNS at Start, Finish and miles 3, 5 & 9.

FINISH LINE is at the southern terminus of the Butler Freeport Community Trail under the Highway 356 bridge over the Allegheny River, with continuous shuttle service back to Cabot Methodist Church parking.

The FINISH LINE can be accessed by automobile from Montrose Avenue, Buffalo Township, PA 16299.  Directions: From Route 28, head south on Highway 356, continue past the traffic light for Freeport, at the next traffic light stay to the left to continue on Highway 356, immediately after the light turn right on Coal Street, at the fork stay left.  Parking is available by turning right on the gravel path.

GEAR TRANSPORT:  As this is a point to point race, we understand that runners may want to have warmups and other gear and belongings available at the Finish.  Bag with Bib Number is provided. If runners use their own bag it must be marked with the runner’s Bib Number. Secure transport of gear from Cabot Methodist Church to Finish Festivities.

BICYCLE ESCORTS AND SWEEPERS:  Our experienced bicycle riders accompany the runners on the course and are available to assist and encourage runners. Bicyclist sweepers collect abandoned clothing along the course.  Abandoned clothing can be retrieved at the gear bag area after 12:30 pm race day.

COURSE CLOSES AT 12:30 (3 ½ hours after Start Time).  The sweepers reserve the right to pull a participant for not hitting marks and who realistically will not finish by 12:15.

NO REFUNDS.

RACE INSURANCE is offered through RunSignUp.  If you purchase this race insurance, please understand that it is a contract between you and a third party. If you purchase this race insurance, you will receive a separate email regarding the insurance.  Buffalo Creek Half Marathon and its organizers cannot help you with this transaction. 

The Buffalo Creek Half Marathon is limited to 1250 runners to ensure a quality event.

Registration for the Live race closes at 1250 runners or 10:00 pm EST on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Registration will be available at Up-N-Running during early packet pickup if registration limit has not reached 1250.

No Race Day registration.  No registration after 10:00 pm EST on Friday, October 16, 2026.

$$$   PRICE INCREASE on October 1, 2026.  $$$

Logo shirt guaranteed for everyone registered prior to October 1.

Those registering after September 30, 2026 will be able to pick up a race shirt on a first-come first-served basis at the end of the race from the stock of shirts unclaimed during packet pickup.  

Course Record for the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon racecourse introduced in 2025:

Will Loevner in 2025:  1:03:04 (men)

Jessica Graf in 2025 1:22:26 (women)

The Buffalo Creek Half Marathon offers an award of $100 to the man breaking the men's record and to the women breaking the women's record.

Legacy course record holders for the original Buffalo Creek Half Marathon racecourse with the finish line in Freeport: Will Loevner in 2024:  1:03:53 (Men) and Sara Raschiatore in 2013: 1:16:58 (Women).

Rick Davanzati owner of Signs by Rick  was, if nothing else, a character you would never forget.  He always had a joke or ten for you.  Rick was a huge supporter of the trail and often donated signs for the trail.  He was also an integral part of the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon and one of the two founders of the Butler Road Race.  If memory serves me he was one of the original sweepers (bicycle escorts) and he was in his 70's at that time.  Rick would entertain us all at packet pickup. 
Rick was an avid runner, cyclist and turkey hunter.  He was a very talented artist, the sign you see at Fellowship Crossing in Butler is the last piece he designed for the trail.  He served in the Navy during the Korean War. 
Rick loved riding his Bianchi and you are not a cyclist until you have ridden with THE Rick Davanzati.  It was a ride, I will never forget. 
Every time, I visited Rick he had words of encouragement, finishing the trail into Butler was not easy or fast...slow and steady wins the race.  I had been contemplating doing the MS150 Escape to the Lake Ride in 2014, on my last visit he said to me, that when I would feel the wind on my face, it was him pushing me along and “Time is a precious gift, use it wisely, for time is swift”.  I took his spirit with me on that ride and a day has not gone by that I don’t miss him. 

We never know who is going to enter into our lives at the perfect time for the perfect reason.
Wait...wait..wait...got time for one more joke. 

Happy Trails, Chris Ziegler

Shuttles are provided from the Finish of the race for runners to return to their parked cars at the Cabot Methodist Church parking lot. Shuttles run continuously ending at 12:30 p.m.  and starting once runners have arrived at the Finish.

Shuttles are for runners only.

Shuttles only drop off at the Cabot Methodist Church parking lot.

There are no Shuttles at the Start of the Race.

UP-N-RUNNING

Frankferd Farms Food

PNC Bank

Butler County Chamber of Commerce

Concordia Lutheran Ministries

CW Howard Insurance Agency

Bankson Engineers, Inc.

Derailleur Bike Shop Cafe

Verne Bergstrom Family

1833 Coffee and Tea Company

Woopie Ties

The Butler-Freeport Community Trail is the home of the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon.

The Butler-Freeport Community Trail is located in the remarkably diverse Buffalo Creek Watershed in southeast Butler County, Pennsylvania. Starting in south of Laneville at the former Butler Junction, the trail has Buffalo Creek as its companion for over 3 miles through the forest of the Buffalo Creek Gorge. The Buffalo Creek Gorge is the spectacular view which can be seen from the bridge on Route 28 one mile north of the Sarver-Freeport exit. The Trail then picks up Little Buffalo Creek as its companion for another 8 miles, crossing the creek seven times. Many of the smaller tributaries are reminiscent of mountain brooks, offering natural cooling on a hot day and the thrill of rushing, tumbling water in all seasons. Gradually as the trail meanders northward toward Butler, it travels from the woods of the Gorge to a broader forest valley with the trail securely passing between cliffs on one side and the Little Buffalo Creek on the other to more open woods to farmland and village communities before again plunging into forest as it leaves Little Buffalo Creek near its headwaters.

The Butler-Freeport Community Trail is a rail-trail, preserving the route of Butler County’s first railroad (1871), the Western Pennsylvania Railroad which connected the City of Butler to the Allegheny River port of Freeport. As a rails-to-trails project, the trail offers a level, natural crushed limestone surface with a gradual uphill grade as it travels north (barely noticeable to walkers) and the converse downhill grade as it travels south (greatly enjoyed by bicyclists). The trail is enjoyed by people of all ages for walking, jogging, hiking, bicycling, and with the help of Mother Nature, cross-country skiing.

The Butler Freeport Community Trail volunteers are the lifeblood of both the Trail and the Half Marathon.  During Packet Pickup, at the Start Line, throughout the course and at the Finish Festivities, you will see the volunteers in the brightly colored cotton tee shirts sporting the race logo and “Volunteer” across the back.

Please contact Chris Z at BuffaloCreekHM@yahoo.com  if you would like to volunteer.  You will be contacted with details as to how you can help.

You may also signup for specific race volunteer tasks on this website. Just click on "MORE" and then "VOLUNTEER" at the top right of this Webpage.

The Buffalo Creek Half Marathon is the major fund raiser for the Butler Freeport Community Trail Council, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization.  All proceeds from this event support the maintenance, improvement and promotion of the Butler Freeport Community Trail, a 22 mile rail trail.

LOGO SHIRT - Each participant receives a Long Sleeve Technical Shirt sporting this year’s special logo.  Your choice of Men’s and Ladies’ sizes.  You must register before October 1, 2026 to guarantee your size.  Those registering after September 30, 2026 will be able to pick up a race shirt on a first-come first-served basis at the end of the race from the stock of shirts unclaimed during packet pickup.  

FINISHER’S MEDAL - Each runner finishing the race receives a finisher’s medal featuring this year’s special logo.

The photo shows the 2023 shirt and finisher's medal. Each year the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon features a different logo related to the Trail or to the Race.  You will not be disappointed with this year’s special logo.

CONSUMABLE SWAG at the Finish Festivities – Hot Apple Cider, bananas, Vocelli’s cheese pizza, Whole Wheat Fig cookies, and more.  

Age group awards are given to Top 3 Male and Female in the following categories:

Master's, Overall, 19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 & 70+. 

Age group awards will be announced and awarded at the end of the race as part of the Finish Festivities.  Unclaimed awards will be available for pickup at Up-N-Running for a limited time starting the Tuesday after race day.

Timing and results will be provided by GCXC via a chip start and chip finish.  Disposable chip embedded in the race bib. Digital results at www.runsignup.com, www.gcxcracing.com, and www.athlinks.com. 

LIVE Results as runner crosses finish line via QR on bib, www.gcxcracing.com, text message, and Facebook.