Although they were taking their first steps in a Wheeling race, two Ohio competitors “walked” away with titles in the Ogden 5K Walk.

The men’s 5K Walk winner, with a time of 27:21, was Vince Peters, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, who said that although he has never raced on the Ogden Course before, he thinks he may come back and do it again.

“This course was a lot hillier than what I am used to,” Peters said.

“This is my first time being here. ... I think I will be pretty sore tomorrow.”

Peters explained that he and a large group of other people from the same area came together to the race Saturday.

Some of the group walked the 5K while others walked the 20K.

“As a race-walker, I am used to more flat terrain,” Peters said. “I had to slow down on some of the downhills.

“Some of the downhills really pound the legs.” Peters said he has been training with long-distance walking for the past several months.

Donna Graham of Lowell, Ohio, took the women’s 5K Walk title, with a time of 31:59.

She said the course was great for her Saturday.

“I wanted to break the 32 minute mark, which I did,” Graham said, adding that she has been training very hard the past few months for this race.

“I started seriously training about a year ago,” Graham said.

“I don’t just walk, though. I train.” She explained her training sessions include wearing a heart monitor, long-distance walking and doing sprints among other training activities.

She also said working on ger horse farm has helped her tremendously in improving her strength.

“I have never been to the Ogden race before,” Graham said.

“Everyone has just been real nice.”