Participants in the Tough as Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan climb the Stairway to Heaven obstacle in mile 4 of the contest. As they passed, several of them indicated the long climb was one of the most dreaded challenges on the course. (Photo by Jennifer Compston-Strough)

WHEELING — The Sunday crowd of the Ogden Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine featured hundreds of participants who hit the trails on their bicycles and pushed themselves to the limit through a grueling urban obstacle course.

Events kicked off at 7:30 a.m. with the 16th annual Wheeling Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour and continued with the Tough as Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan starting at noon.

The Tough as Nails Urban Challenge took competitors on a 6-mile run through hidden parts of downtown Wheeling with 27 obstacles, rock climbs, steps, a cliff run, and the Nail City Carry along the way. Some of the course obstacles included traversing abandoned cars, scaling flood walls, a polar plunge and more.

Eric Anderson, publisher of the Wetzel Chronicle, Tyler Star News and the GreenTab, said participation by the community as a whole made the day a success.

“Tough as Nails was a great success,” he said. “Our participation was over last year, community support was even greater than last year and there were more groups involved. There were over 100 volunteers out on the course on Sunday, and the runners really appreciate their support as they go through the course.”

According to registration information, the Tough as Nails Urban Challenge brought in the most participants out of all the individual events. This year, 523 participants set out to prove they were “tough as nails,” a sizable increase from the 441 people who participated in the event last year.

Anderson said the atmosphere of Tough as Nails was lively and that the runners supported each other along the way.

“It’s more about having fun than trying to finish as quickly as you can,” he said. “That’s what’s kind of different and unique about the Tough as Nails Challenge compared to a general road race.”

The Heritage Trail Tour offered cyclists the option of completing the 100k, 50k, or 15k ride, with the longest route taking participants on a hilly loop through downtown Wheeling, Elm Grove, Warwood, Short Creek, West Liberty and Bethany. Participants rested and recharged with a stop at Bethany College.

Perry Nardo, general manager of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, said Sunday’s participants in both events brought in a lot of energy.

“These guys and gals, they come down here and they want to be challenged, they want to be pushed and then when they’re done, they just want to be able to have some fun and party and listen to music,” he said.

The race afterparty kicked off at 10 a.m. with the opening of the beer garden. Live entertainment was provided by The Sun King Warriors, who took the stage at 1:30 p.m. and The Delaneys, who followed up at 3:30 p.m. A variety of food trucks and vendors also lined the Heritage Port area.

Nardo said he was grateful for such a successful weekend in the wake of so many new projects coming to downtown Wheeling.

“This has been, you know, a real fluid period in Wheeling, with roads closed and roads open, and everybody worked with us and made it just a great day,” he said.