Since 1977, the Great Race has been a great race. It's 10 kilometers -- about 6.1 miles -- of Pittsburgh hills, parks and valleys.

Everything but tunnels.

This 31st annual event -- officially the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race -- will begin at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Frick Park and end at Point State Park, Downtown. The 5K run/walk will start at 8:30 and cover the second half of the route, beginning at Fifth Avenue and Atwood Street, Oakland.

There are 26 men who have completed every Great Race 10K, and will likely extend their streak to 31. Nine are from the PG East circulation area:

They are, alphabetically by name: Ken Balkey, of Churchill; Paul Gaberson, Forest Hills; John George, Shadyside; Ronald Hannan, Morningside; Jack Marszalek, Wilmerding; Roger McGuire, North Huntingdon; Richard Monheim, Edgewood; Rob Ruck, Squirrel Hill; and Don Slusser, Monroeville.

No woman has finished every Great Race.

Online registration is over, but participants can sign up tomorrow and Saturday at the Circuit Centre, South Side. The fee is $25.

For more information, go to www.RunGreatRace.com or call 412-255-2493.

Enhanced health wasn't the only benefit Denny Pyles reaped from one of his daily walks in a Monroeville park.

The Rev. Pyles, pastor of Monroeville Community Church, got the inspiration to organize a contemporary Christian music concert featuring groups from his church and others from that municipality.

Mission accomplished. "Praise in the Park" will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Tall Trees amphitheater, Monroeville Community park, Tilbrook Road.

Participating will be worship teams from Monroeville Community Church (Southern Baptist) and LIFE Church (nondenominational), plus the St. Bernadette Catholic Church contemporary choir and the Men of Grace quartet from Grace Baptist Church.

The term "man in motion" took on new meaning for Monte Ashby a year ago. After his school, Duquesne High, was closed by the state, he transferred to East Allegheny. Monte adjusted well, especially on the football field. Now a senior running back, he is 242 yards shy of the vaunted career mark of 4,000. He will go for it tomorrow when the Wildcats play host to Mount Pleasant in an Interstate Conference game.

Last Thursday, in a PG East story about Plum resident Sunny Carney's battle with a rare cancer, it was mentioned that there will be a benefit Wiffle Ball Tournament for her Sunday in Boyce Park.

Here are more details: The tournament will be at the Silver Beaver fields. There will be five players per team in adult and kids divisions, and the cost is $20 per adult team, $15 per Kids team.

Preregistrations are at sunnycarneycarcinoidcancerfund@verizon.net. Game-day registration will begin at 9 a.m., with the games starting at 10. There will be food, drinks, music and other activities. It's $10 for those who attend and don't play (covering food and drinks).