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The grueling race is not only an exciting contest, it’s a community event, according to Ohio Sen. Charlie Wilson, D-St. Clairsville.
“It’s an excellent event, and it has great support from the community,” Wilson said.
“I have a number of friends running and walking. Everyone is pleased that Ogden Newspapers continues to put on the race. It’s absolutely wonderful for the area.”
Uniontown, Pa., resident Pat Filcheck was on hand Saturday to cheer on her 62-year-old husband, Bill, who has competed in the Ogden 20K Classic in years past. Filcheck said her husband competes in a number of similar races, but he enjoys the “timing” and organization of the Wheeling event.
“He says the course is very accurate in terms of mileage,” Filcheck said. “He knows when a mile is long or short.
“Runners have a camaraderie. This race is one of their big ones. It’s well organized.”
A group of St. Clairsville High School students gathered at the start-finish line prior to the race to cheer on their friend and classmate, Justin Nicholes, and some of them even wore colorful T-shirts bearing his name. For Nicholes, the Ogden 20K Classic is a family tradition as his grandfather, Mitch Toto, is an Ogden Ironman who has competed in each of the event’s 30 years.
Eighteen-year-old Adam Perzanowski, a member of the Nicholes cheering contingent, said Saturday was a special day for his friend for two reasons.
“It’s his first race here, and we graduate today,” Perzanowski said. “I think he’ll be done with the race in time,” he added with a smile.
“I’ve been here before when my parents ran,” he said. “It’s pretty crazy. There are a lot of people down here.”
Saturday not only was a fine day for race fans, it was a good day for local business. 7-11 employee Shawn Angus said Saturday morning typically is a slow time at the business. That wasn’t the case on race day.
“Each time a group (of runners) would leave, people would come in to buy coffee and water,” Angus said. “It’s usually slow, but at about 8:15 a.m., it was steady. As soon as a group would go, it just picked up.”
Wheeling Coffee & Spice at 13 14th St. is located only feet from the Ogden 20K Classic start-finish line, and business owner Mary Ann Lokmer said customers began arriving early Saturday morning. Lokmer said her employees reported for work at 5:20 a.m. Saturday to brew the more than 40 pots of coffee needed just to start the day.
“It impacted us very much, and we were extremely busy,” Lokmer said of the race crowd. “Customers started coming in at about 6 a.m.
“It’s a great asset to Wheeling and local businesses,” she said of the 20K Classic. “It’s nice to get people from out of town. We have people from Charleston and Columbus that stop every time they race. It’s a fun day all the way around.” |
Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic