Memorial Day weekend means different things to different people.

For the Romanek family of Wheeling, America's unofficial start to summer signifies one thing - racing.

And they're not talking about a race of the four-wheel variety made popular on a brick track in southern Indiana.

Rather, the Romaneks fancy an event of the two-legged variety-the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk.

When events surrounding the 29th annual road racing showcase begin in downtown Wheeling Friday, May 27, the Romaneks will have quite a presence.

Not one, not two, not three, but 12 members of the family - spanning three generations - will take to to the streets of the Friendly City.

"We just celebrate the entire weekend," said John Romanek Sr., the patriarch of the Romanek racing family. "It's been a tradition for a lot of years."

While many families venture out of town for the holidays, members of the Romanek family prefer to stay home and take part in an event they like to call an important family gathering.

"We make a big day out of it," Romanek Sr. said.

Romanek Sr. was the first member of the family to tackle the tough 20K course, as his sons sparked his interest in the event.

"The kids starting running track and cross country in high school and junior high and the little road races were starting to spring up at the time," Romanek Sr. recalled.

"I started running in the evenings with them," he added. "And it caught on. I got hooked."

Soon, other members of his family became intrigued by the event.

Since Romanek Sr. ran his first race in the early 1980s, 11 other family members have taken part.

They include sons Paul, 39; John L., 37; Bruce, 34; and Jason, 31; and daughter Bethany, 22.

Also involved are Jason's wife, Stephanie, and their daughter, Isabella, 20 months; and John L.'s four children - Elena, 9, Emma 7, and Ethan and Lizzie, both 3.

For the elder Romanek, that first experience in the 20K prompted appearances in area marathons, as well as many 5K and 10K events. But he still thinks of the Ogden 20K as his favorite.

"After the race we get together and talk about it," said Roanek Sr., whose best time is 1 hour, 25 minutes.

Paul Romanek competed in his first race in almost the same year as his father. He said the butterflies still come back each year as he steps to the start/finish line.

"It seems like every year when you run in the race you get to the starting line and in the back of your mind wonder if you can make it," he said. "You just have that slight doubt because it's a tough course."

What's the toughest part of the course? Almost everyone said 29th Street hill.

"You have to do a lot of training preceding the race," Romanek Sr. said. "If you do a lot of hill work, you won't suffer too much on 29th Street."

"You can't tell anyone how to train for 29th Street," added John L. Romanek. "It's 1.6 miles straight up and there's no way to tell someone how to get ready for it."

Romanek Sr. said the best way to tackle the course's hills is to begin a rigorous training regimen months in advance. He runs six miles a day five days a week.

"If you don't train on hills, it will be an awful day for you," he said.

Most of the Romanek children ran cross country and track in high school.

"Being involved with cross country helped with mental toughness," said Bruce Romanek, who will be competing in the 5K this year after stints in the 20K.

Bethany Romanek is the youngest of the children. She remembers watching her father and older brothers preparing for the event.

"They were always talking about it, always training for it," she said.

This will be Bethany's fifth year involved in the Ogden 20K. She began with the Fun Run and Ogden Mile before graduating to the 20K.

"We all train together sometimes now," she said. "We recognize each other's talents and support each other."

John L. Romanek has competed in the 20K since the early 1980s. Since then he has watched his children get involved. His daughters Elena and Emma will compete in the Fun Run this year, while twins Ethan and Lizzie are slated to race in the Tiny Tot Trot.

Also participating in the Tiny Tot Trot will be Isabella Romanek, the 20-month-old daughter of Jason and Stephanie Romanek.

Stephanie will be competing in the 5K this year because she is five months pregnant. She said she can't wait to get back to the main event next year.

"Once you start it you want to run it every year," she said. "I love it."

She began racing after seeing how much joy it brought to her husband and his family.

"I just saw what great shape their entire family was in," she recalled. "I just admired the fact they were all runners."

Jason Romanek has captured a pair of fifth-place age group plaques in the 20K.

"There's just something about the race that makes me want to come back every year," he said.

Having the entire family along for the ride is what makes the weekend special for each family member.

"It really makes it special to run and be involved in something you love with the people you love," Bethany Romanek said.