Saturday Wellness Weekend Events Delight Competitors, Spectators Alike
John McCabe Trending
WHEELING -- One of the best ways that Perry Nardo, general manager of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, judges the success of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine is by looking for smiles on faces of the people who congregate in downtown Wheeling for the event.
On Saturday, he said he saw plenty of grins.
"I saw so many people smiling," he said. "The Tiny Tot Trot families with the tiny tots, the runners were smiling, as well as the walkers. It just seemed like everyone who was involved, everyone who was taking part in the event, were really enjoying themselves."
More than a thousand people overall took part in the many Saturday events of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine. There were ways to get the blood flowing for young and old, runners and walkers, for the serious runners and the casual joggers, and even for those who came just to cheer on family and friends.
The marquee event was the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic Run and Walk, which took competitors through many of the Friendly City's neighborhoods, as well as up and down some serious hills. Along the way, runners and walkers were greeted by volunteers passing out water and Gatorade and various stations on the course.
Some Wheeling residents put up their own stations, propping water hoses onto step ladders to give competitors a chance to cool down. Others sat along the course with signs spurring on all the competitors, or specific ones they came to see.
For those looking for good exercise but not up for a full 13.1 miles, the 5K Walk and Run presented by WVU Medicine Children's was there to give them that chance. Much of that race took runners and walkers along Wheeling Heritage Trail, allowing them to catch a glimpse of the Ohio River along the Way.
The youngest runners weren't left out. The Ogden Fun Run presented by WVU Medicine Children's gave older children the opportunity to run a 1-mile course through downtown Wheeling. And the Tiny Tot Trot presented by WVU Medicine Children's gave children ages 5 and younger a chance to get the wiggles out on a 100-yard jaunt.
Meanwhile, the youngsters could pal around with mascots like Spike from the Wheeling Nailers, Justice the Legal Beagle from Bordas & Bordas, the Pirate Parrot and two of Mrs. T's Pierogies, Potato Pete and Bacon Burt, as well as play other games. Jingles the Clown twisted balloons and WVU Medicine Children's had a tent that offered tips on things like car seat safety.
Popularity has continued to grow for the Saturday events of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine. The 1,121 participants that day was up from the year before. There were 411 registered for the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic Run and 83 registered for the walk. There were 240 registered for the 5K Run presented by WVU Medicine Children's and 264 registered for the 5K Walk presented by WVU Medicine Children's. There were 52 registered for the Ogden Fun Run presented by WVU Medicine Childrens and 71 registered for the Tiny Tot Trot presented by WVU Medicine Children's.
Joe Lovell, race director and special events coordinator for Ogden's Ohio Valley publications, said part of the appeal for these races is the personal touch given to them. Competitors, he said, feel like they're being welcomed as guests to Wheeling, a testament to the work of the weekend's volunteers, Ogden employees, sponsors and the City of Wheeling.
"People saw that," Lovell said. "Other marathons and half-marathons are bigger, but they said they'd come in, do that marathon and just head home. It's not anything like what we do here personal-wise."
That personal touch made an impression on those who participated and watched Saturday's events. Nardo said the smiles sealed that.
"Probably the best way you can gauge something is that, if they're smiling, you've probably done something right," he said.