SMITH: Half-marathon takes you through Parkersburg

June 4, 2022

Racing in the News and Sentinel Half Marathon means that you will cover much of Parkersburg on foot on Aug. 20. The race course offers a little of everything as you travel in and out of the City of Parkersburg. The starting line is on Juliana Street near the Court House, your race starts when you cross the black plastic starting mat and your time officially begins to register. You will make your way up a slight hill right from the start, passing our offices at 519 Juliana St. in the first quarter mile. Here is a tip. This is a great place to park, you will be parked one block ...

Two-mile race is perfect for family

May 28, 2022

Looking for something a little less intense than a half marathon? Sign up for the News and Sentinel Two-Mile Race. Historically the News and Sentinel Half Marathon gets a lot of attention in August. It’s big, takes up the whole town and it is truly inspirational to watch. It’s also hard, in a good way. If you are looking to be part of a great event but not ready to take 30,000 steps to do so, sign up for the Two-Mile Race. Both the half and two-mile events start and stop at the same spot. A few minutes after the half racers get on their way on Aug. 20, the two-mile racers ...

You can do this: Finishing half marathon is a solid goal

May 25, 2022

For years, you may have wondered if you could run a half marathon. I used to have the same thought. After years of watching others cover 13.1 miles I decided to see if I could in fact, finish such a distance. I will not sugar coat it, doing a half marathon is hard. Hard in a good way, hard in a way that if you plan for it, most people can complete it and most will find joy in the fact that they did. People run long distances for a variety of reasons, for me it was a medical reason to drop a few pounds. Preparing to take part in a half marathon was the motivation that I needed to push ...

After years of near misses, Marietta College men finally reach promised land

March 16, 2022

The camera was live. The microphones were hot. But a silence hung in the air as Marietta head coach Jon VanderWal reflected on what Saturday evening’s advancement to the team’s first Final Four meant for the program. “Obviously, before the game you come out and you see all the people and the environment, and you think back to 14 years ago when there was 5 people in the stands,” VanderWal said. “I just take solace in looking around and thinking no matter what happens, this is really special.” Special indeed. After an incredible decade of being one of the nation’s most ...

If you don’t care, may as well root for the Bengals

February 12, 2022

Sunday marks the 30th anniversary the last time my favorite team the Washington R- no, Football T- wait, Commanders (still not sold on that) played in the Super Bowl. Eventually, I decided to help other people in the same boat by suggesting who to root for in the big game if you just don’t care. It might be a little easier this year since a team from Ohio, with a quarterback from Ohio, will be taking the field, although I think we can all be forgiven if we didn’t see that coming. But maybe the Cincinnati Bengals beat your team on their improbable run or there’s some other ...

Warren basketball great Evan French recalls going head-to-head with Joe Burrow

February 11, 2022

Former Warren Warrior two-time All-Ohio basketball player Evan French remembers his very first impression of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow when the two faced off with their respective teams in the Division II Regional semi-final at the Convocation Center on the campus of Ohio University back in February of 2013. French had heard all about Burrow’s prowess on the football field but his abilities on the basketball court had been somewhat under estimated. “I could tell right away that he was a real-time hooper and that he was a complete player,” said French of Burrow ...