Photo by Eric Ayres Michael Lemaster and Pat Cronin greet each other after completing Saturday's Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic. Known as the Ironmen, they are the only two runners left who have participated in every race in the event's 48-year history.

WHEELING – This year’s field of Ironmen in the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic was narrowed down to just two runners – Pat Cronin and Michael Lemaster – who both finished their 48th race in downtown Wheeling to continue the streak.

The Ironmen have run every race in the event’s history – dating back to the beginning in 1977 when it was known as the Elby’s Distance Race. R. “Scat” Scatterday, the race’s longtime director who died in 2019, coined the term “Ironmen” for the group because they had run in every race. In recent years during Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine, the Ironmen carry the status of event celebrities.

Back in the early days, the distance race was a 20K run which, during several years, attracted elite runners from around the world.

“There used to be a lot more runners and a lot of ‘celebrity runners,'” Cronin said of the event’s longest run, known as the “Toughest Half Marathon in America” because of its challenging, hilly terrain along the 13.1-mile course. “Today it feels more like a local race.”

And that local, hometown vibe brings together runners who over the years have become long-time friends.

Cronin is a lifelong Wheeling resident, and Lemaster is from Worthington, Ohio, just outside of Columbus. Cronin said he looks forward to reuniting with familiar faces and seeing his fellow Ironmen – which is now his fellow Ironman.

“We’ve had a relationship for over 50 years, and we see each other once a year,” Cronin said.

Last year, there were three Ironmen running in the Wheeling race. However, fellow runner Tim Cogan, the oldest of the last three Ironmen at age 78, was unable to run in this year’s half marathon.

So now there are two, and Cronin and Lemaster have no plans of stopping. They already have eyes set on next year’s race.

Lemaster said he tries to participate in as many races as he can throughout the year.

“I usually try to hit a state that I haven’t run one in before once a year, and then the rest of them probably within 100 miles,” Lemaster said. “I do about 20 other 5Ks.”

But the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine feels like home to the Ironmen, they confessed.

“They waive the entry fee for us,” Lemaster said of the Ironmen. “They started comping us about 10 years or so ago. I think they figured we’ve paid to enter enough times over the years,” he laughed.

They are also fitted in custom Ironman running shirts for each year’s race.

“The weather was perfect,” Lemaster said after crossing the finish line at a time of 3:34:14. “I finished – that’s the only thing I’ll say about it!”

Cronin crossed the finish line at 2:51:00.

“I think I did OK,” he said. “My goal was to finish, and I did that. There were no expectations of a very fast time, based on the training I’ve done and the age I’ve achieved.”

Each year, the personal goal for the race changes, Cronin said.

“I used to have times I was hoping to achieve – to run a good time or run a better time than last year,” he said. “I don’t do that anymore. My goal anymore is to just finish standing up.”

Saturday’s weather called for relentless downpours, for which most racers prepared. But the morning turned out to be very nice – cool with just a few passing drops of rain.

“It turned out perfect, I thought,” Cronin said. “It was in the 50s and cloudy. It wasn’t pouring down rain. It was a great day for running.”

Cronin said he still runs a race once in a while, but for the most part, the Ogden Wellness Weekend hosts his primary race. He crossed the finish line Saturday flanked by his young grandchildren Maeve and Cormac Williams, who joined him on the final stretch.

As for who may be the last Ironman standing in the future, history is yet to see.

“He’s younger, but it will probably be a tie!” Cronin, 72, said of his fellow Ironman, Lemaster, 65. Both said they look forward to participating next year.

“Thanks to all of the volunteers and the organizers for putting on a high-class event,’ Cronin said. “It’s really well done.”