TL Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH Participants in the 2023 Ogden Newspapers Tough as Nails Urban Challenge run between obstacles.
WHEELING — The entire city of Wheeling is the setting for Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine. From the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic, which takes walkers and runners through several neighborhoods around the city, to the Tough as Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan, which uses Friendly City landmarks as obstacles for participants to overcome, the city is written into the weekend’s DNA.
City departments will be working hard leading up to the weekend to ensure participants, their families and other spectators enjoy two days filled with fun and wellness.
For some city departments, especially the Wheeling Police and Fire Departments, this weekend is an all-out effort. With hundreds of people participating in weekend events and thousands coming into the city to watch, keeping everyone safe is paramount.
Wheeling Police Department Maj. Josh Sanders said the department is committing 43 personnel to the watch over the two days, including uniformed officers, members of the Wheeling Police Department’s Neighborhood Assistant Volunteer Group and even members of the most recent Citizens Police Academy class who want to help out.
Sanders said volunteers serve in a variety of roles, including serving breakfast to officers and helping with traffic control.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t say we have a fantastic group of civilian volunteers.” He said.
WA Police will also be deploying their Unmanned Aerial Response Team, sending drones into the sky to get additional views of the crowds and ensure everyone is safe. Sanders said police are prepared to do everything they can to make sure everyone can enjoy the weekend.
“I think it shows the service the Wheeling Police Department provides to the community. It can be tough at times, but we know this event is important to the city, the people who live here and the community that is involved with this event.”
Wheeling Fire Chief James Brazier said all of his on-duty and some off-duty firefighters will be stationed along the course to watch over the participants, some on bikes and some on ATVs, Brazier said.
“Our goal is to have someone on scene as quickly as possible if something does happen.” He said. “Sometimes it’s something as simple as a sprained ankle or strained muscle, and sometimes if they can’t finish the race we just need to give them a ride on the ATV to the start/finish line.”
Wheeling Fire Department personnel will also be responding to more serious issues, and Brazier said with the unseasonably warm weather the past few weeks, attendees should be careful to avoid heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke.
Brazier said the department wants to help make Wheeling more welcoming and provide an experience that makes people want to return.
“Whether they’re from Wheeling, visiting for the first time because of the half marathon, or maybe they moved and are coming back for the holiday weekend and decide to participate in the wellness weekend, we want everyone to have a fun experience, be glad they came to Wheeling and tell everyone how great it was here.”
Police and fire aren’t the only ones hard at work at the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend, presented by West Virginia University School of Medicine. City operations plays a big role both before and during the event, Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said. Crews will be installing water sources on parts of the course and keeping the course clean and free of trash, among other tasks. The Wheeling Parks and Recreation Department also has personnel on hand for the weekend.
Herron said that as this weekend positions itself on Wheeling’s summer events calendar, it will also provide city departments with important information on how to most effectively host large events in the city. Information gained from this weekend will be useful for other major events the city has planned for later in the summer.
“This is a really high-quality, family-oriented weekend and we’re very happy to be able to support it.” Herron said: “And we’re so grateful that Ogden Newspapers supported and sponsored this event.”
Perry Naldo, general manager of the Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register, said the support the city of Wheeling provides to Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend, hosted by West Virginia University School of Medicine, is impossible to quantify.
“The cooperation and support of the City of Wheeling is essential to the success of the weekend.” Nardo said. “The hard work, skill and expertise of these city employees are key factors in making Ogden Wellness Weekend hosted by WVU Medicine a featured event. Like us, they feel Wheeling is a gem that everyone should see.”
