Medical Team From Wheeling Hospital Will Watch Over Runners During the 41st Annual Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic

From start to finish -- and beyond -- participants in Saturday's 41st-annual Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic will be under the watchful eyes of trained medical professionals and emergency responders to ensure a safe and healthy event.

"We're observing the runners throughout the race," said Dr. James Comerci of Wheeling Hospital, which is running the race's medical tent near the start/finish line this year. "And as soon as they cross the finish line, we've got medical and non-medical volunteers observing them. … You're probably on autopilot (after running 13.1 miles), so it's often when you get across the finish line and sit down that you have problems."

Race officials have worked to put a system in place by which all participants receive direct evaluation both during and after the event, considered by many to be the most difficult half marathon in the country.

It all starts with the Wheeling Fire Department, under the direction of Fire Chief Larry Helms. There will be at least six paramedics and 11 other first-responders stationed along the course, according to Helms, looking out for those who may be in distress and staying in constant radio communication with race officials to respond as needed anywhere along the course.

To add another layer of protection, as soon as the first half-marathon runner crosses the finish line, Comerci and Race Director R. "Scat" Scatterday will take off in a golf cart and traverse the course backward, evaluating each runner and walker along the way.

After they cross the finish line, Wheeling Hospital physicians and resident physicians will have a triage system in place, looking at each finisher and determining whether they're in good shape to be released, or whether they need to be directed to one of three methods of aid -- immediate transport to a hospital, a visit to the medical tent or to the adjacent physical therapy tent operated by new race partner, Mountain River Physical Therapy.

Mountain River will have 10-12 clinical staff on hand Saturday, under the direction of physical therapist Adrian Moses, to deal with anyone experiencing cramps, aches and pains or other musculoskeletal issues after the race. According to Moses, what may seem like a minor problem can turn chronic if not dealt with quickly.

"It's best if we don't have to get involved, but realistically something's going to happen," he said.

In addition, there will be 15-20 volunteers from Young Life at the start/finish line who will hand out wet towels and race medals to each participant as they cross the finish line. Often, these are the first faces runners see after they finish, and can help identify those in distress and direct them to the proper help, according to George Frazier, a member of the local Young Life committee.

"A lot of these folks are overheated when they come in," Frazier said.

Race events Saturday begin with the Half Marathon Walk at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Half Marathon Run and Run Relay at 8 a.m., the 5K Run/Walk at 8:15 a.m. and the mile-long Ogden Fun Run at 8:20 a.m.

All those events begin and end at 14th and Main streets, with the exception of the Fun Run, which begins at 14th and Main but ends on Water Street.

Late registration and packet pickup will be available from noon to 6 p.m. Friday inside the Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Transportation Center. Packets may also be retrieved from 6:30 a.m. until race time on Saturday inside the intermodal center, but there will be no race day registration.

Registration for the Tiny Tot Trot, a 100-yard dash for children 5 and under, begins at 7:30 a.m. and the trot takes place at 9 a.m. on Water Street near Heritage Port.