The Health Plan Excited To Sponsor Tough As Nails Urban Challenge Again This Year

Derek Redd

WHEELING -- The Health Plan President and CEO Jeffrey Knight said his company's sponsorship of the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge isn't just boosted by the unique event's overall popularity. The popularity it has among The Health Plan employees also is a driver.

"I know the one event that they talked about the most is the Tough As Nails versus the (Ogden Half Marathon Classic) or anything else. So I think that's why we really like being the sponsor of the Urban Challenge."

The Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan once again will be one of the marquee events of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine. The Urban Challenge will highlight the happenings of Sunday, May 26, beginning at noon.

The weekend itself kicks off Saturday, May 25, with the 46th running of the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic. The Half Marathon Run is scheduled for a 7:15 a.m. start, with the Half Marathon Walk following at 7:30 a.m. The weekend's 5K Run will start at 7:45 a.m. May 25, with the 5K Walk starting at 7:50 a.m. For the youngsters, there will be a Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. May 25 and a Tiny Tot Trot at 10:30 a.m.

The Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan isn't the only big event on Sunday. The Wheeling Heritage Trail Bike Tour will begin that morning, offering cyclists trails of 100 km, 50 km and 15 km to ride. The 100 km ride begins at 7 a.m., with the 50 km ride following at 8 a.m. and the 15 km ride going at 9 a.m.

The Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan provides the ultimate test for urban warriors wanting to show off their grit. Participants will tackle obstacle after obstacle that leads them to traverse over, around and through some of the hardiest hurdles, many incorporating the city of Wheeling's history.

Knight said that's one of the biggest draws for his company, that the course embraces many of the things that makes Wheeling special. The Health Plan has done its part there, too, becoming one of the anchor businesses of downtown Wheeling.

"I love how they incorporate a lot of the history of downtown Wheeling," Knight said. "People who aren't from around here get to see a little bit of downtown Wheeling ... maybe more than what they expected but ... II think it makes it neat.

"I think being able to show off a little bit of our past and hopefully our future makes the event worthwhile for the people who aren't from around here and are traveling from afar to participate," he said.

Eric Anderson - publisher of the Tyler Star-News, Wetzel Chronicle and Green Tab and one of the directors of the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan - shares in Knight's excitement over this year's running.

"This will be the fourth year of the Tough As Nails and we're planning to add several new obstacles for this year's event that will be sure to test participants," he said. "The course will include climbing over, crawling under, or carrying a variety of items and give participants a full-body workout. Whether participants go at it solo or as a part of a group, we feel they'll be challenged and have fun doing it."

Knight said the constant evolution of the course is another plus to the event.

"I really do think that's the one thing that everybody is looking for," he said. "What new, devious wrinkle did they add?"

The organizers of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine are happy to have The Health Plan return as a sponsor of the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge. The company's participation, they said, is a major boost to the entire weekend.

"The Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan is such a special event rarely seen," said Perry Nardo, general manager of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register. "Its popularity has only grown through the years and it has become a great anchor to the entire Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine. We're so pleased that The Health Plan shares in the excitement of the event as well as the entire weekend. The company has been a wonderful sponsor of the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge and its continued support of the event will only make it better this year and is greatly appreciated."

Registration for all the weekend's events is open and can be found at ogdenwellnessweekend.com.