My Dad Made Me Do It

Many of the entrants in Saturday's Ogden Half Marathon Classic Walk probably had a reason for entering, whether it be to stay in shape or to accomplish a personal goal.

However, one Wheeling family wore their reasons on their sleeves - literally.

Wearing shirts that read "My Dad Made Me Walk This ... Again", Marybeth and Jamie Joseph of Wheeling joined their father, Tom Joseph, as he walked the 13.1-mile course.

"We had a good time last year, so we decided to do it again this year," Tom Joseph said.

This year, the group picked up two additions from outside the family, Zach Aderholt and Jenn Gruber, both of Wheeling. Aderholt wore a shirt with the phrase "My Girlfriend's Dad Made Me Walk This," while Gruber's shirt read "My Best Friend's Dad Made Me Walk This."

Tom Joseph's shirt, naturally, read "I'm The Dad."

"This was something we just decided to do as a family, and it ended up being a lot of fun," he said, adding the group trained together when their schedules permitted. He said not only did the training and race itself allow his family to spend time together, but it allowed them to do it in a way that promoted physical activity.

As for the race, Tom Joseph said the group planned to stick together as much as they could in hopes they could cross the finish line together, the same way they departed when the opening gun sounded.

Their finishing times are as follows: Jamie Joseph, 3:11.19; Zach Aderholt, 3:11.20; Jenn Gruber, 3:11.21; Tom Joseph, 3:14.59; and Marybeth Joseph, 3:15