With about five weeks left until the 29th annual Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk, race organizers are making sure all participants understand the new course layout.

Race Director Howard Corcoran said road construction on National Road in the Woodsdale area has forced race officials to move part of the race course away from that area. This means runners and walkers will bypass two of the course's major obstacles, Wheeling Hill and Chicken Neck Hill.

Race Co-Director Bob Scatterday said the course requires a minimum of three lanes of traffic, two lines for cars and one line for runners and walkers.

In areas where aid stations are located, four lanes of traffic are required. There was a possibility of alternating traffic on National Road during the race, but there was great potential of backing up traffic all the way to Interstate 70.

Also, the section of the race in Woodsdale is a favorite location for spectators, which created an additional safety concern.

"The safety of the runners, walkers and spectators became a major concern," Corcoran said.

Corcoran said the race has taken place on the same course for the last 28 years. Minor alterations were made to the course several years ago for course recertification purposes, but the race has had the same start/finish line for 28 years.

That tradition will continue this year, with a nearly four-mile change along the way. For this year only, the race will utilize a section of the Wheeling Heritage Trail. Organizers plan to return to the usual route next year when work on National Road should be complete.

"Wheeling is fortunate to have the trail network, and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the race," Corcoran said.

Scatterday said the altered course will be a little friendlier for participants. The Heritage Trail is mostly flat, and using the trail means racers won't have to travel all three hills on the original course.

"Runners will have to train hard for this course too, but instead of having four miles of hilly terrain, you'll have four miles of flat ground," Corcoran said.

Corcoran said the start and finish lines, located adjacent to WesBanco Arena, will remain the same as will the first two miles of the course for the 20K Classic.

The changes begin at 33rd Street in South Wheeling. Instead of making the loop at that point, the runners and walkers will head to 39th and Chapline streets, turn left to Wood Street, take another left to 33rd, turn left to Eoff Street and take a right on Eoff to 29th Street. At this point, the competitors will begin their usual ascent and descent along 29th Street Hill.

At the bottom of the hill, the course goes past Bridge Street Middle School, then swings left over the hump bridge onto National Road. Then, when the runners and walkers reach the Junior Avenue bridge, they turn left again, cross the bridge to Lava Avenue, taking a right there and traveling on that road until passing the site of one of the event's major sponsors, Mason Rehab Center. The course swings right onto the city's Heritage Trail and continues to the exit at 14th and McColloch streets in East Wheeling. The runners and walkers then travel down 14th Street until reaching the finish line.

Markers will be placed along the new areas of the course. Scatterday, also in charge of the aid stations, will have several stations located along the Heritage Trail.

It's likely the event will result in the fastest time ever but it won't count as a course record.

Scatterday said lead runners may finish the course in under an hour.