As in past years, runners of all ages will be strutting their stuff on Friday, May 27, the eve of the 29th annual Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk in Wheeling.

The activities will start with everybody's favorite sprint, the Ogden Tiny Tot Trot, sponsored by Ohio Valley Parent Magazine.

It will be followed by the Ogden Fun Run and the Ogden Mile, setting the stage for Saturday's exciting competition in the Ogden 20K Run and Walk and the Ogden 5K events, which include a run, walk and the first-ever Team Cup event.

The Tiny Tot Trot kicks off Friday's activities at 6:45 p.m. The 100-yard dash to the 20K finish line located near WesBanco Arena is for children ages 5 and under. There is no entry fee. About 150 to 200 youngsters are expected to participate, and the Tot Trot is designed to allow parents to accompany their children if they wish.

Each entrant will be awarded a No. 1 race ribbon and a special race packet. Domino's Pizza, Pepsi products, and Eat 'N Park cookies will be available for participants at no cost.

The Tiny Tot Trot is an excellent way for children to experience the health benefits of aerobic running for the first time, according to Ogden 20K race Director Howard Corcoran.

"The race committee is trying to allow younger groups of children to become initiated into running as healthy exercise,'' Corcoran said.

Following the Trot is the mile-long Ogden Fun Run for kids 12 and under. It is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

"It's a step up from the Tiny Tot Trot," said Corcoran. "The kids are getting involved with a longer distance just for the pure fun of running.

"We've had many young people who started out participating in the Fun Run and Tiny Tot Trot eventually move on to the 20K. It has proven to be a starting point for the young ones to get interested in running."

The Fun Run is a non-competitive event, with participants taking off from the starting line at the top of Wheeling Hill and cruising across the 20K finish line near WesBanco Arena a mile later. No prizes will be awarded.

The Fun Run has a $5 entry fee with each participant receiving a T-shirt. Parents are allowed to run with their children at no cost, but they may also pay the $5 fee to receive a shirt as well.

The final event of the evening is the Ogden Mile, often billed as "the fastest mile in America" with a blazing course record of 3 minutes, 39.82 seconds set in 2003.

"It's a very, very competitive race," said Corcoran. "It's extremely popular. It's gotten more and more entries every year.

"It's great to watch and (it) happens so quick that it's a good kick-off event for the Ogden 20K weekend."

The Ogden Mile is open for participants ages 13 and up, and it has an entry fee of $10. All entrants will receive a T-shirt.

Prize money and trophies will be presented to the top three male and female finishers.

Trophies will be presented to the top two male and female finishers in the Masters category of 40 years old and over.

An awards ceremony for the Ogden Mile is scheduled to start at 7:45 p.m. at the conclusion of the race.

Transportation for the Fun Run and the Ogden Mile will be provided for participants so they don't have to walk or drive to the starting line. Buses will begin shuttling entrants from WesBanco Arena to the top of Wheeling Hill at 5:45 p.m. and will continue until 6:45.

Registration for Friday's events or Saturday's 20K can be done online at www.ogden20kclassic.com or on Friday, May 27, at 5 p.m. at WesBanco Arena. Race packets for all participants will be available at 5 p.m.

All of Friday's activities will be overseen by volunteers from the Ohio Valley Road Runners & Walkers Club.