Photo by Emma Delk| The Smith family gathered from across West Virginia and Pennsylvania to compete in the Tough as Nails Urban Challenge together. Back row from left, Jeff Smith, Nathan Ravas, Mason Smith and Chandler Webber. Front row from left, Peyton Smith, Bob Smith, Jordan Smith, John Lugaila and Dakota Smith.

Relatives of the Smith family hailing from the Nail City, Steel City and beyond united on Sunday to take on the Tough as Nails Urban Challenge.

The group brought nine competitors to the course, with brothers Bob and Jeff Smith from Wheeling and Pittsburgh, respectively, being the two who gathered the family for the weekend.

Nephews of the brothers Dakota Smith and Nathan Ravas were taking on the challenge for the first time, with Jeff joking that it would be Dakota’s “first and last” time on the course.

“I was supposed to be here last year, but something came up so this is my redemption year,” Ravas said.

Dakota Smith added he was “curious to see how big the hills are” as they would be his biggest challenge.

Bob Smith’s son Mason Smith had more experience coming into the course. He has competed in the race every year since its inception. His time on the course last year placed Mason Smith second among the finishers.

“This is their (Dakota and Ravas) first year running, and I’ve run every year they’ve had it so far,” Mason Smith said. “I love it. We look forward to the race all year long.”

The group also included Bob Smith’s daughters Jordan Smith from Morgantown and Peyton Smith from Wheeling, Bob’s cousin John Lugaila from Pittsburgh and Chandler Webber from Williamstown, the boyfriend of Mackenzie Smith, who was not competing in the race.

Bob Smith was inspired to compete in the race for the first time by Mason Smith, who was the first in the family to take on the course. Bob Smith ran in the second rendition of the race with Mason and Jordan Smith.

“From there, everybody sort of jumped in,” Bob Smith described. “We did it again last year, so this will be my third year and Mason’s fourth year.”

Regarding how the family would move through the course together, Bob Smith described the group as “pairing up” as they head through the obstacles.

“We just become a mixed bag on the course,” Bob Smith said. “We all have fun together at the beginning and end, but we sort of do our own thing in the middle.”

Bob Smith enjoys conquering the obstacles with his daughter Peyton Smith, while Jeff Smith pairs with his niece Jordan Smith. Mason Smith is the lone wolf on the course, since he is the fastest in the group.

Having someone to rely on while conquering the course is helpful for the family, as Bob Smith describes himself and Peyton Smith encouraging each other on the rope and stair climbs.

“Everybody has a hodgepodge of how they train and go through the course,” Bob Smith noted. “It’s nice to have motivation. We motivated each other while we trained for this, too.”