WHEELING - Wheeling's annual distance race is taking a step forward next year, as the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk will become a half marathon event.
The new race will be known as the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic Run and Walk, Race Director Robert "Scat" Scatterday said.
The change is being made, in part, because half marathon events are more popular than their 20K counterparts, Scatterday added.
"Our research has shown that when a half marathon replaces a 20K race, participation went up by a minimum of 30 percent and as high as 48 percent," Scatterday said. "That's amazing to me."
"The half marathon classification puts us in a bigger national category of road races. The half marathon has a much bigger network of runners than a 20K and receives much more national exposure. Also, by going to a half marathon, we allow those running in our race to be able to compare themselves with others running a similar distance."
Scatterday said the reclassification of the Ogden race, which is entering its 35th year in 2011, has been in the works for the past few years.
"Even though participation for the 20K has been steady for the past four years, we anticipate this change will have a big impact on bringing new runners to the distance race. This really cements the future of the race," he said.
The current race course is 12.4 miles long, or 20 kilometers. As a half-marathon event, the course would be 13.1 miles long.
Scatterday said the additional .7 miles needed to lengthen the 2011 course will come in South Wheeling, before runners take on the first of the race's two major climbs - 29th Street Hill.
"We are asking the runners to go a little further - .7 miles or 3,696 feet, to be exact - so there will be a small increase in the challenge for both distance and time," he said. "The area where the course will be lengthened is relatively flat, so it shouldn't be all that much of an additional burden. Other than a few extra blocks in South Wheeling, the race course will remain exactly the same."
Most details of the annual race - set for May 27-28 - will not change, as the start time will remain 7:30 a.m. May 28 for the half marathon walk and 8 a.m. for the run. The 5K Run and Walk for Health also will remain as a Saturday morning event.
The race will keep its current Hall of Fame, course records and history, as well as the Ogden Ironmen, a group of men that have competed in each of the 34 previous races.
The Friday events - the Veterans' Torch Relay, the OV Parent Tiny Tot Trot, Ogden Fun Run and Ogden Mile - also will remain the same, Scatterday said.
Article Photos
Photo by Andy Lloyd
Standing along what will now be known as the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic Run and Walk course are, kneeling, Tara Scatterday, and, standing from left, Chuck Scatterday, Ted Rouse —Ironman 34, Ogden Half Marathon Race Director Robert “Scat” Scatterday, Pat Cronin —Ironman 34 and Steve Habursky — Ironman 34.