To continue expanding the family friendly atmosphere at the inaugural Ogden Wellness Weekend, the 5K Run and Walk for Health this year will permit participants pushing children in strollers to take part in the event.

The 5K is set for an 8:15 a.m. start for the runners and an 8:20 a.m. start for the walkers on Saturday, May 25. Ogden Half Marathon Race Director Joe Lovell said the change will allow more families with small children to take part in the wellness weekend.

“The addition of strollers to the 5K this year will allow families with babies or small children to participate,” Lovell said. “We would love to see more moms, dads and grandparents with strollers as part of this year’s event on Saturday.”

Lovell also noted the change could help accommodate families with children looking to do the Ogden Tiny Tot Trot at 10:30 a.m.

“We really hope this change gets even more families involved in the Ogden Half Marathon and its associated events,” he said.

The Half Marathon kicks off a weekend full of activities to help celebrate the beginning of summer. Along with the showcase 13.1-mile running event, there’s the Half Marathon Walk, the 5K Run and Walk for Health, the Ogden Fun Run, and the Tiny Tot Trot, sponsored by OV Parent.

All those events will start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 25. Proceeds from this year’s Half Marathon will go toward construction of Wheeling’s Gold Star memorial, which will be located at the Veteran’s Memorial Amphitheater at Heritage Port.

On Sunday, May 26, the Ohio Valley Trail Partner’s Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour pedals off at 8 a.m., with 10- and 30-mile legs. For the more seasoned riders, there’s also a 100-kilometer tour that heads through West Liberty and Bethany.

That’s followed at noon by the Tough as Nails Urban Challenge, sponsored by the Ogden Newspapers and The Health Plan of West Virginia. Following events on both days is the recovery party.

There will be portable bars set up near WesBanco Arena by Carenbauer Distributing to serve water, soda or choice adult beverages to those of legal age, and a number of food trucks from throughout the region will be filling empty stomachs.

There also will be a number of local and regional bands both days, helping to fuel the festive atmosphere at Wheeling’s waterfront.

Registration for the Ogden Wellness Weekend events — the Half Marathon, 5K Run and Walk, Ogden Fun Run, Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour or the Tough as Nails Urban Challenge — can be done at ogdenwellnessweekend.com.