Runners head through downtown Wheeling during a previous Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic, part of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine. (File Photo)

WHEELING — The Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine is a showcase of the entire city of Wheeling, from the many neighborhoods that make up the path of the Ogden Newspapers Half-Marathon Classic to the city landmarks that are part of the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan.

With so much of Wheeling in the spotlight that weekend, the City of Wheeling — its police and fire departments and many more — make sure to help as much as possible in making the weekend’s events a continued success. For the Wheeling Police and Fire departments, those two days are an all-hands-on-deck situation. Dozens of police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel are found along the courses of all the events, to make sure everyone is safe.

The Wheeling Police Department can be found throughout the courses directing traffic to ensure participants can run and climb without worrying about passing automobiles. Members of the department’s Neighborhood Assistant Volunteer group also lend a hand there.

Officers remain visible around the start and finish lines and around Heritage Port, where many of the food trucks and entertainment can be found. They’ll use K-9 officers and drones to see the area from different perspectives.

They also work closely with the Wheeling Fire Department to coordinate responses between the two departments at Incident Command.

“This is one of the marquee events the city has each year,” Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said. “Right up there with the (Festival of Lights) Parade and a couple of other events. Everyone steps up because they all know they have a mission to make sure this goes off without a hitch.”

The Wheeling Fire Department will have personnel around the courses, and some of them will be on ATVs and bicycles to explore parts of the courses that a fire engine or ambulance can’t reach. That, Fire Chief Jim Blazier said, is most important when it comes to the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan, where participants can find themselves in more remote and hard-to-get locations.

Fire and emergency personnel will be available for needs like sprains and strains to heat-related injuries. Blazier said he’s always enjoyed assisting with the races, as it heralds the start of the summer season.

“I always look at it as this is the beginning of summer,” Blazier said. “When the Ogden weekend comes around, it’s like a turning point. We’re looking forward to good weather and the Memorial Day weekend. We’re always glad to be a part of it and make things come off nice and safe.”

Several other city departments are on the case, too, said Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron. The operations department scours the courses to make sure barricades and signs are where they need to be, that the courses are free of debris and that adapters are connected to fire hydrants at the right spots on the half-marathon course for the aid stations. The Wheeling Parks and Recreation Department also makes its presence known.

And many of the obstacles found along the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan are either found in city facilities or are the city facilities themselves.

“The entire weekend is such a positive community event that promotes fitness and family,” Herron said. “We’re happy to help any way we can. It’s just a first-rate community event.”

Jim Spanner, general manager of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, said the city’s cooperation is integral in the continued success of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine.

“It can’t be stressed enough how important the City of Wheeling is to what we do each year with the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine,” Spanner said. “So many city departments have been so gracious with their time, efforts and resources both now and in the past. We are extremely grateful for their contributions and can’t wait for what this year’s event has in store.”