Participants Challenge Themselves to Take Next Step Up in Future
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WHEELING - Many people participating in the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine view the events as a great opportunity to take steps toward bigger race goals in the future.
Some participants start out with one of the walking events with a goal to take part in a running event next year. Others start out running the 5K presented by WVU Medicine Children's with the goal of participating in the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic in the future.
"This is my second year doing it," said Michael Hawk of Rayland, who was running the 5K Run/Walk presented by WVU Medicine Children’s. "I did run the Elby’s race in 1988. So it’s been a while."
Although Hawk tackled the longer races back in the day, he indicated that it takes more training to build back up to a comfortable level where he could head into a half marathon with confidence. But that’s an achievable goal that he’d like to see happen.
"I’m 50, and I don’t want to die," he joked. "Midlife crisis hits, and you’ve got to try to get it all back to what you could do in your 20s. I do about 10 5Ks a year - to keep me in shape. I get up in the morning before work and run a couple of miles every day. I need to go longer, because I can’t do 10 miles in the morning. It ain’t happening."
Challenging yourself to take the next step up toward bigger events can be easier if you have moral support, too.
Clarissa Dolenc of Glen Dale took on her first 5K on Saturday with veteran runner Jessie Herrnberger of Moundsville by her side.
"This was on my bucket list - so we’ll see," Dolenc said. "I just want to finish. I’m not a runner. I actually hate running!"
Yet Dolenc was challenging herself this weekend, and the electric atmosphere of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine may motivate her to set even bigger race goals in the future.
"I’m going to stay with her. We’re going to finish," Herrnberger said. "I told her she’s going to enjoy this environment. Everyone is happy, and it’s a lot of fun."
This was not Hernnberger’s first rodeo, but it was her first time breaking in a newcomer.
"I did the Tough as Nails last time," Hernnberger said, noting that she had no problem dialing it back to the 5K this year. "I’m doing this for her. I just did a half marathon a couple of weeks ago."