The face of road racing has changed quite a bit since the first Wheeling Distance Race was held in 1977 and the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic has changed right along with it.

One of those changes has been the addition of the 5K Run and Walk, which will once again be part of Saturday’s racing smorgasbord.

‘‘Road racing was in its heyday when this race came into being 30 years ago,’’ said Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic race director Howard Corcoran, ‘‘but the longer, tougher courses are less popular now.

‘‘We’ve added things such as the 20K Walk, the 5K events, the kids events and the downhill mile in order to maintain the viability of our total concept.’’

Corcoran says the 5K events have proven to be a very popular addition.

‘‘There’s been a national trend toward shorter events,’’ he said, ‘‘and our 5K course is very flat and easy to run.’’

Starting from scratch just four short years ago, the 5K Run and Walk attracted more than 300 finishers last year despite a driving rain that produced some of the worst conditions in the three decades of the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic.

Ovidiu Olteanu of Wixom, Mich. splashed through the downpour to set a course record of 15:30 in winning the men’s 5K Run. Kirt Komocki of Columbus was second in 15:35.

It was Olteanu’s second win in as many days in downtown Wheeling. The previous night, he had run a sub four-minute mile to win the Ogden Mile.

Sarah Ogle of St. Albans, W.Va. duplicated Olteanu’s feat, winning the women’s 5K in a time of 18:15 less than 24 hours after taking the women’s division of the Ogden Mile.

Beavercreek, Ohio’s Amy Beatty was the women’s 5K runnerup with a time of 18:42.

Mouse Yoker of Barton, runnerup in the 2004 men’s 5K Walk, quick-stepped into the winner’s circle last May when he edged Shane Phillips of Sycamore, Pa. for the title.

Yoker was timed in 28:21 over the 3.1-mile course with Phillips just a tick behind at 28:22.

The female 5K walk trophy also rode home with a local woman as Wheeling’s Brenda Colvin breezed to a comfortable victory in a time of 34:06.

Lori Starenski, also of Wheeling, claimed second place in 36:38.

The 5K course follows the same path as the 20K course for the first two miles before hanging a right on 33rd Street and heading toward the Ohio River.

The runners and walkers then follow Wheeling’s Heritage Trail back to the downtown area.

Just past Main Street Bank, the course loops up toward Chapline Street and follows Chapline Street to 14th Street, where it turns left and heads down the hill to the finish line located adjacent to WesBanco Arena.

The 5K runners and walkers start at 8:15 a.m. Chris Corcoran is the director of the 5K Run and Walk.

He’s been receiving some extra assistance this year from Awards Director Meghan Corcoran.