T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK And they’re off! Children five and younger give it their all during Saturday’s Tot Trot held during Wellness Weekend.

WHEELING – The Tiny Tot Trot presented by Ziegenfelder made its return Saturday, during the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine. Ziegenfelder, Unified Bank, Outback Steakhouse, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Sam’s Club and the Pittsburgh Pirates all contributed to the race to give children 5 years old and younger an introduction to the running events. While they waited at Heritage Port, they enjoyed games and bubble-blowing.

Brian Schambach of St. Clairsville was cheering on two runners, his grandchildren 20-month-old Sutton and 30-month-old Beau of Colerain, both running for the first time and excited for the chance.

“They’ve been running for an hour, getting ready for it,” he said. “They both have a ton of energy. I think they could run it if it was 32 miles long.”

Brian Schambach said he looks forward to seeing them graduate to running in the main events during the coming years.

Grandmother Callie Schambach said they encourage the children.

“Athletics is a good start to being healthy,” she said.

Their proud parents are Trent and Courtney Schambach.

Derrick McKee of Wheeling, parent of 5-year-old Finn who was racing his first time in the Tot Trot, and his brother, 3-year-old Rory, is a runner himself.

“I’m hoping that they have a blast and will be able to run with me one day,” he said, adding he hopefully made an impression.

Meanwhile, the children were running under superhero aliases.

“Finn’s running as Super Raspberry today – he’s got a cape – and Rory’s Super Paw Patrol, so they brought their alter egos for the race,” he said.

Another runner, Shane Pamphilis of Wheeling, took his 2-year-old daughter Evelyn to her first Tot Trot.

“She’s been talking about it. All week she’s been saying: ‘Evelyn fast! Evelyn fast!’ So she’s been getting ready. Then we walked the 5K, she rode along in the stroller in the 5K with me earlier today,” he said.

“Everything’s great. Her and her little brother, they’ve been playing around in the bubbles and activities before the race, so it’s been a good time

Charlene Triveri of Wheeling was cheering her 4-year-old grandson Clark Triveri of Wheeling.

“This is his first time,” she said, adding there are no other runners in the family. “He is excited. … I think running seems to be his thing. … Looks like they’re going to have great fun.”

Jennifer Compston-Strough, managing editor of The Times Leader and coordinator of the Tiny Tot Trot presented by Ziegenfelder, said she was thrilled with the number of children ages 5 and under who turned out to run the non-competitive race on Saturday morning.

“We had a beautiful day and a beautiful setting for the Tiny Tot Trot at Heritage Port this year,” she said. “We were delighted to provide such a fun, family-friendly activity for everyone who came to Wheeling to enjoy all aspects of our Wellness Weekend.”

She also expressed appreciation for the volunteers and sponsors who made the children’s events so successful.

“Thank you to all my volunteers — my husband, Mike Strough, Kayla Van Dyne, Kyle Lutz, Sheryl Sonk and Lenny Wittenbrook — for all their hard work setting up and tearing down and providing games and entertainment for the kids,” she said. “We also appreciate the help of balloon artist and face painter Jennifer Mull Staley and the support of all our sponsors.”