Photo credit: John McCabe
More than 1,000 people attended Saturday’s event as part of Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend, hosted by WVU Medicine.
WHEELING — Perry Nard, general manager of the Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register, says one of the best ways to gauge the success of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend hosted by West Virginia University Medicine is to see the smiles on the faces of people who flock to downtown Wheeling for the event.
He said there were a lot of smiles on display Saturday.
“There were a lot of smiles on people’s faces,” he said. “Tiny Tot Trot families with young children, runners and walkers were smiling too. Everyone involved and everyone who took part in the event looked like they were really enjoying themselves.”
Overall, more than 1,000 people participated in Saturday’s numerous events during Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend, hosted by West Virginia University Medicine. Men and women, young and old, runners and walkers, serious runners and casual joggers, and even those who were just there to cheer on family and friends, there was a way for everyone to get the blood flowing.
The highlight event was the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic Run and Walk, which took participants through many Friendly City neighborhoods and up and down steep hills. Along the way, runners and walkers were greeted by volunteers handing out water and Gatorade at various stations along the course.
Some Wheeling residents set up their own stands, propping water hoses up on platforms so competitors could cool down, and others sat along the course holding signs encouraging all the competitors or the specific ones they came to watch.
For those who want to get in a good workout but aren’t up for the urge to run 13.1 miles, the 5K Walk and Run hosted by WVU Medicine Children’s is your chance, as the race often took runners and walkers along the Wheeling Heritage Trail, with views of the Ohio River along the way.
The youngest runners weren’t left out either: The Ogden Fun Run, hosted by WVU Medicine Children’s, gave older kids a chance to run a one-mile course through downtown Wheeling, while the Tiny Tot Trot, hosted by WVU Medicine Children’s, gave kids ages 5 and under a chance to get energized with a 100-yard stroll.
Meanwhile, kids mingled with mascots such as Spike from the Wheeling Nailers, Justice the regal beagle from Boldus & Boldus, the pirate parrot and two of Mrs. T’s pierogies, Potato Pete and Bacon Bart, and enjoyed other games. Jingles the Clown twirled balloons, and West Virginia University Medicine Children’s set up a tent offering tips on car seat safety and more.
Saturday’s events at Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend hosted by WVU Medicine continue to grow in popularity. Participation on the day was 1,121, up from last year. 411 people registered for the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic Run and 83 people registered for the Walk. 240 people registered for the 5K Run hosted by WVU Medicine Children’s and 264 people registered for the 5K Walk. 52 people registered for the Ogden Fun Run hosted by WVU Medicine Children’s and 71 people registered for the Tiny Tot Trot.
Joe Lovell, race director and special events coordinator for Ohio Valley Publications in Ogden, said part of the appeal of these races is the personal attention given to them. He said participants feel like they are welcomed guests in Wheeling, which is a testament to the efforts of the weekend’s volunteers, Ogden employees, sponsors and the city of Wheeling.
“People have seen that,” Lovell said, “and there are other marathons and half marathons that are bigger, but they said they’re just going to show up and run the marathon and go home. On a personal level, that’s totally different from what we’re doing here.”
That personal attention made an impression on those who attended and watched Saturday’s event, and Nardo said the smiles cemented it.
“Probably the best way you can gauge something is, if they’re laughing, you’ve probably done something right,” he said.
