Kind of odd to think that St. Louis runners have a big weekend in mid-December. But it be so, with runners entered in national races in San Diego and Spokane.

First, Emily Sisson and Diane Robison of Parkway Central will be in San Diego for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships on Saturday.

Second, Big River Running has entered a team in the men’s division of the USA Track and Field Cross Country Club Nationals on Saturday in Spokane. Team members are Jeremy Doherty, Karl Gilpin, Brian Lyons, Adam MacDowell, Joseph Porter, Ben Rosario and Carter Snow. Big River hopes to improve on its seventh-place finish last year and ninth place in 2006.

For the rest of us, there’s the Fun on the Freeway 5K at 9 a.m. on the westbound lanes of the new I-64 at Ballas. The bad news is that the event is sold out, but you can still cheer on the runners and cyclists, who will be holding a time trial.

Or, if you’re determined to run, check out these races:

• The St. Louis Track Club’s Frostbite Series 12K/3K, 9 a.m. Saturday at the Forest Park Visitor’s Center.
• Snowflake 5K Race Walk, 2 p.m. Sunday at Stacey Park.