Photo by Eric Ayres Kathy Ervin claimed victory in the Ogden Newspapers 5K Walk on Saturday not only in the women's category, but also overall – crossing the finish line first out of all 5K walkers and achieving a personal goal of finishing the race with a time under 33 minutes.

WHEELING – Kathy Ervin, a veteran walker at the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine, earned victory in Saturday’s 5K Walk presented by Bordas & Bordas not only in the women’s category, but also overall.

Ervin, of Norwich, Ohio, but originally from Wheeling, has participated in numerous races over the years, and on Saturday, she returned to the 5K Walk presented by Bordas & Bordas to secure the title once again.

“I’ve probably done the competitive half marathon walk 10 times, and I think I’ve won three times,” she said. “Most of the time, I’ve been in the top three. Two years ago, I had a bad experience – I passed out at the finish line. I did finish, but I don’t remember it!”

She used to participate in the running events, taking the half marathon and the previous 20K races numerous times since 1993.

“I used to run, and then when Wheeling added a walking competition, I decided to switch over to the walking side,” Ervin noted. “I came back this year because my son is running his first Wheeling half marathon, and I came back to do the 5K. I think this is the third time for me.”

Ervin said she did the 5K event 22 years ago just 10 weeks after her son was born for a true postpartum challenge. This year her son, Thomas, at age 22, ran his first Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic Run. She admitted that she may have twisted his arm a bit to join her in the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine.

Over the years, she has truly tried to give it her all during the races, Ervin said.

“Three years ago, I did the 5K, and I lost first by seven seconds,” she said. “We got mixed in with runners. The girl who beat me three years ago was back again this year, so that was my competition.”

Ervin said she has also won the overall walks before, finishing ahead of both competing women and men in previous races.

“I’ve worked at the Howard Long Wellness Center for years,” she said. “I like to come back here because it’s like a reunion with everybody. I manage a gym now in Zanesville, Ohio, so that keeps me busy and active.”

She said she also does a few other events, including walk races in Barnesville, and she has stuck strictly to competitive race walking now.

And Saturday’s event and cool but surprisingly dry weather, despite all forecasts, was perfect for a good day of competition, Ervin said. She finished with a solid time of 32:55:36.

“I was ecstatic that it didn’t rain,” she noted. “I watched the weather all week, and I said, ‘if I didn’t already sign up, I probably would not have come.’ But I’m glad I did. I beat 33 minutes, which was my goal today.”