WHEELING - Volunteers on Friday learned how to properly dispense aid and encouragement to participants in the upcoming 29th Annual Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic.

Race Co-Director Robert Scatterday said between 400 and 430 people will help distribute ice, water and powdered drinks from nine stations during the 20K race and from 10 stations during the 5K race. These races and more are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 27-28, in Wheeling.

Friday's aid station training was held at Ritchie Elementary School, where about 60 children and some parents learned the right way to keep runners on their toes.

"They learned how to do two things: to dispense fluids, and second, to encourage them," Scatterday said. "For 28 years I've done this, and one single thing I continue to hear from runners is that "I wanted to quit but I was too embarrassed to. There were people encouraging me, and I couldn't find a place in the race to quit.'"

Since the race course has changed because of ongoing repairs to National Road between Mount de Chantal Road and Chicken Neck Hill, Scatterday said he also had to change aid station locations. This year there are three new stations: Wheeling Middle School, which will be supervised by Principal Andy Garber and station Chairman Andy Railing; Ritchie Elementary School, which will be supervised by Principal John Jordan, who also is the station chairman; and Bridge Street Middle School, which will be supervised by Principal Pat Doyle and Ann Paul, station chair.

"Bridge Street unofficially served as a station for years," Scatterday said. "This year we will supply cups" and other supplies.

Scatterday believes having additional Ohio County schools getting involved will not only be good for the race, but a good experience for the families involved.

"I would like to say thanks to George Krelis (assistant superintendent of Ohio County Schools) for his support, guidance and causing these additional volunteers to be part of our race this year," Scatterday said.

During the 30-minute training session, volunteers also learned how to dispense items safely and efficiently. In an assembly line fashion, people behind tables will fill cups with either ice, water or powdered drinks, which they will pass to others to give to runners. Those actually handing out the drinks must be careful not to encroach upon runners' rights of way, but stay in a straight line. Volunteers must yell what they are holding out to the runners.

"It's important the runners know by whom and what they are getting," Scatterday said.

He said if a runner gets the wrong cup, they may accidentally dump a powdered drink on their head instead of water, which will leave them sticky the rest of the race. He said runners often will take two different cups at the same time.

Scatterday said 19,100 cups have been ordered for the stations, in addition to 28 jars of powdered drink mix, which make 10 gallons of drink each. Two water tanks holding 750 gallons each are being supplied by the state's National Guard and Army Reserves.