I've wanted to run this race since I was a kid and finally got the chance in 2019. Although I've never lived in Wheeling or nearby, my entire family is from the area and I've visited probably a hundred times. It has a special place in my heart and probably causes me to rate the race a little higher than I would have otherwise. My review is also heavily influenced by the fact that all of my other races have been large city races with 10,000 runners. This race was a refreshing change from that.

Expo: Not much of an expo to speak of. On the bright side there are no lines and you simply walk in and pick up your bib and t-shirt. The t-shirt was simple cotton, but at least it wasn't pink this year. I'm not one that typically enjoys expos and have yet to get a race shirt that I've actually wanted to wear in public so the expo and shirt did not bother me at all.

Pre-Race: Being used to mega races, I arrived about an hour and a half early which was way too early as I was one of the first runner's there. While laughing at myself, I took a nice long time to stretch and jog along the very peaceful Ohio river bank. It was mostly quiet and I really enjoyed not having to listen to the Rocky theme song blasting through speakers that can be heard for 3 miles in any direction. When it was time to go, everyone just moseyed over to the start line. No fighting for space or people elbowing their way to the front.

Race: Weather at race time was high 60's and sunny. When the race started I quickly fell to the back of the pack to take in some sights that have personal meaning for me.

The first 3 miles are mostly flat and wind through downtown Wheeling. There is no crowding at the start and there is plenty of room to run your race without running over other people or getting run over by them. Crowd support here is minimal here and it's very quiet. I didn't mind that much as I was doing a lot of reflecting anyway. If folks want to see what the physical manifestation of a trade war looks like, have a stroll through downtown Wheeling. "Scenic" might not be the best word to describe it, but there is a certain toughness about the city that is inspiring. It's been to hell and it's not close to coming back, but it's still (barely) standing. "Inspiring" is probably a better word to describe it.

After mile 3 there is the long 29th street hill that leads up to the town of Bethlehem. I strongly encourage anyone doing this race to drive the hill before the race to get a sense of the distance and incline. I did that before the race and it was extremely helpful to mentally prepare. The hill itself is about 2 miles long with 600 feet of elevation gain. It is difficult, but manageable as long pace is managed. There are water stops at the beginning of the hill, at the top and at the bottom of the hill which are perfectly placed in my opinion. Crowd support on either side of the hill is sparse but runners are encouraging each other along the way to make up for it. Oddly, the whole time I was on the hill, I was the only one I saw running. The top of the hill looks like a finish festival with lots of spectators, music and the best aid station on the course. It definitely gives runners a sense of accomplishment. The next 2 miles wind downhill into Elm Grove and allow runners to get back on pace. I set my mile record for the year on the 2nd mile of that downhill, but everyone else seemed to be walking.

The next 1.5 miles are the flattest portion of the course and wind through the town of Elm Grove . Crowd support here is excellent and many spectators set up their own tables with water, sprinklers, snacks etc. The sun was beating down and it was nearly 70 degrees so the crowd support was greatly appreciated.

The next 4 or so miles that start right after the freeway underpass consist of a lot of rolling hills (think 50 ft inclines, quarter mile long) and consistently good crowd support. Along that route I zoned out and reminisced about playing in Wheeling Park as a kid, skipping rocks in Wheeling Creek, and playing pool at TJ's bar and grill.

At mile 11.5 there is another large hill that is much shorter than the big hill. However, the incline is just as steep and it's near the end of the race. Despite being 1/3 as long, I found it harder than the big hill and hit my highest ever recorded heart rate. Again, the race does a good job here putting a water station at the bottom and top of the hill.

The last mile is luckily all downhill into downtown and the finish. You can easily get your breath back after the last hill and sail in. Since there aren't many runners finishing at once, the crowd tends to go wild when they see any kind of footrace which I found myself in at the end. It was my first top 100 finish (okay there were only 350 finishers, but still).

Post Race: There isn't really a finishing chute. You are handed your medal, and a cold towel and can get bananas and water. There were a few food trucks and some places to sit and eat. It was nothing special, but it was nice to be done and just walk away instead of being herded around for another mile like most big races.

Overall: I loved this race and would do it again in a heartbeat. It's definitely one of my top 3 favorite races.

Other
- Tom's review of this race is spot on. He is also correct that this race could be a lot bigger with a little bit more creative marketing from the race. Although I really enjoy the hidden gem aspect of this race, I know the town of Wheeling could use a little bit more tourism and I would love to see the race grow. It can't be stated enough how awesome the crowd support is and how friendly the other runners are.
- The big area the race needs to work on is with mile markers as they are basically non-existent on
the course
- At $40 for entry, this race is an absolute steal