Thanksgiving is a time for friends, family, fellowship, and yes, perhaps the most looked forward to portion of the day—feasting.
Food is a major factor in the Thanksgiving Day celebration, but along with that feasting comes a mass uptick in caloric intake, and a pressing urge to reduce said number of calories. The St. Clairsville Recreation Department has just the thing for those calorie-conscious eaters this holiday season.
Why not start at a calorie deficit? Rise a little early, get in some exercise, and help out a good cause in the process. And then, yes, by all means … feast.
Thanksgiving Day morning at approximately 9 a.m., the rec department will fire the starting gun on its first of what will be an annual 5K Run and Walk. Dubbed the Gobble Till We Wobble 5K Run and Walk, the race is something recreation department director Eric Gay has been wanting to plan for some time.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about doing for a while,” Gay said. “And to be honest, when you’re put in a position, like with my job, where you can help people, you should. We’ve wanted to do this for a while and hope to make it an annual thing so it will benefit a St. Clairsville family in need.
“I’ve participated in one of these before, but not put one on and I thought it’d be a nice thing for the community to get involved and help out this family. Want want to keep this going as long as we can.”
Race registration will begin at 8 a.m. near the amphitheater, which will also serve as the starting location. There will be refreshments compliments of Sheetz and food courtesy of Giacinta’s Gelato & Caffe.
Other businesses like Michael Smith, CPA (also a St. C. city councilman), Whiteside Chevrolet, Allstate Insurance (a Luca Magistro Agency), Evolve Fitness, and Belmont Savings Bank have also donated to the cause.
“They’ve all stepped up as money sponsors that will also us to bring a timing service in for the race because we want this to be a first-class event that people keep coming back to,” Gay said. “But all of the proceeds will go to the family.”
A Family in Need
The Diomedi family of St. Clairsville is the beneficiary of the funds raised by this inaugural race.
O.J. Diomedi is a native son of St. Clairsville and a 2006 graduate of St. Clairsville High School.
Two months before his 2015 wedding to Courtney Stewart of Shadyside, he was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Diomedi began taking chemotherapy pills, which worked, and the couple welcomed two daughters, Evelyn in 2018 and Quinley in 2020.
In August of 2022, however, Diomedi learned that his Leukemia entered into what his wife referred to as a “blast crisis,” the third stage of his Leukemia. He was admitted to the James Cancer Center in Columbus and began a more aggressive treatment so that he might be able to receive a bone marrow transplant.
Fortunately, it worked, and Diomedi underwent that transplant on October 12, but he needs to stay in the hospital for roughly 30 days before another 100 continuous days in Columbus during his recovery.
“I’ve known O.J. for a long time,” Gay said. “He has two little girls who are involved in a lot of activities with (the rec department) and I believe his oldest is in preschool at St. C. Elementary.
“We are in a position to help and and we want to do so any way we can. I can’t imagine what the family is going through, because I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, but we’re going to do all that we can.”
The cost to sign up for either the 5K run or walk is $25 with all the proceeds will go to the Diomedi family.
Race Structure and Course
Gay admitted the hardest part about planning the 5K is getting the race prep started for its inaugural run.
“The hardest thing is starting but, once you’re established and people see that you put out a good product, they will continue to come,” Gay said. “We had to figure out where we’re running the course, how we can divert traffic and (Service Director) Jeremy Greenwood, the Mayor, city council, they have all been so awesome to work with on this and it’s been a team effort.”
Gay is going before City Council later this evening for final official approval and to discuss any logistics.
He also received help by Kevin Timko, who spent a number of years running the Barton 5K. Timko lives next door to Gay’s parents and Gay admitted he picked Timko’s brain about how best to go about getting the race off the ground.
“He’s one of the first people I went to when I got the idea to start this race,” Gay said. “I’ve run in these races, but never knew any thing about the back end.”
The race will begin and end at the amphitheater.
In between runners and walkers will travel behind the visitor’s bleachers at Red Devil Stadium, run up toward the elementary school, past the high school and down onto St. Clair street. Toward the end, they will turn around and head back up the route, finishing going through the stadium grounds and back to the amphitheater.
It’s a chance to get in quite a workout before settling in for turkey, dressing, stuffing, pumpkin pie and the eventual food coma whilst watching pro football.
It’s also a chance to help out a local family in need. Put in a little work, do a little good, and reward yourself with an extra helping of turkey and gravy.
It’s a win-win.
For more information, check out the St. C. Rec Department’s Facebook page or simply visit here to sign up for the race.
