WHEELING — Each year, about 30,000 runners are approved to run in the Boston Marathon, and this year, at least eight of them are coming from the Ohio Valley.

The community of local competitors is leaving Saturday morning to participate in the historic 130th Boston Marathon, set to take place Monday in the city.

They are Kristina Tomlan of Clearview, a physical therapist; Jonathan Ebbert of St. Clairsville, also a physical therapist; Thomas Karrasch of Wheeling, a procurement officer for WesBanco; Jeff Wesolowski of Wheeling, a banker; Matt Riffle of Wheeling, a tax accountant; Nikkol Zanes of Rayland, a dog groomer; Dave Kozusnik of Jacobsburg, a respiratory therapist; and Kreg Robinson, a journalist.

Most of the runners have run the Boston Marathon more than once.

The group came to know each other through the running community.

Not everyone gets to run in the Boston Marathon, and a certain run time in other events first must be achieved. More than 11,000 runners are cut from the race each year, the local group explained.

“The Boston Marathon is the mecca of all marathons. It’s like the Superbowl of marathons,” said Karrasch. He noted that for the runners, participation “takes more grit” in Boston than elsewhere.

Most participants run at least 40 to 60 miles a week to prepare, while others top 100 miles.

“We all have to prepare ourselves because Boston is hilly,” explained Tomlan. “The course starts out with a rolling downhill that’s going to beat up your quads….”

The run then goes upward and takes many ups and downs along the way, and you have to “train your legs,” she explained.

It’s similar to running in West Virginia, the runners agreed.

“It’s actually the perfect place to train,” Tomlan said. “Just running along U.S. 40 helps.”

Before the race even starts, runners take a 90-minute bus ride into the country to the starting line at “Athletes Village.” From there, they make their way 26.2 miles to the finish line downtown at Boylston Street.

Top runners might make the trek in under two hours, but lesser athletes can take more than six hours. The cutoff is 6.5 hours before they take those still running off the course, according to the runners.

“It’s a historic route,” said Riffle. “You get enthusiastic support from the starting line to the finish. The city puts on a marathon like no other city.”

Tomlan said running is an outlet for her.

“I do it because it makes you feel better,” she explained.

Zanes, meanwhile, noted running was more personal for her.

“I do it for proof to myself that I can do it,” she said.

The runners added that when they run together, they often chit-chat, making for a more social experience.