WHEELING — The Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan has, in just five years, become one of the crown jewels of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine. Scores of people in each of those years have tackled the course, which incorporates so much of what makes Wheeling special.

One of the most popular aspects of the event, according to race organizer Eric Anderson, the publisher of the Green Tab, Tyler Star News and Wetzel Chronicle, is that urban warriors never face the exact same course twice. There’s always something new tucked within the obstacles that have become old favorites.

It will be more of the same May 25, when the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan kicks off once again at noon.

“We like to change it up a little bit every year,” Anderson said, “just to keep people guessing and on their feet about what may be around the next corner.”

There are 22 obstacles set for the five-mile course. There are plenty of classics on the list – the Stairway to Heaven sponsored by the City of Wheeling, the Industrial Maze sponsored by Ogden Newspapers and the Slot Machines sponsored by Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, just to name a few. But there are some new obstacles that are taking advantage of a new structure in downtown Wheeling.

The new Market Street Garage, which opened this past November will be home to two obstacles on the course. Get To The Top sponsored by Oglebay Park will have urban warriors climbing the new garage’s stairs. Once they reach the top, they’ll have another obstacle waiting for them, the Contractor’s Carry sponsored by Bridgeport Equipment.

Other obstacles will continue to use elements of other city structures and pieces of what has made Wheeling famous in its history.

“We try to pay homage to some of the history of Wheeling and utilize a number of the city’s historical areas,” Anderson said.

Other obstacles on the course will be Tired Yet sponsored by the Wheeling Nailers and RED, Balance Beam sponsored by Engineered Foundation, Floating Bridge sponsored by ICR, Feel the Burn Rope Climb sponsored by Liberty Distributors, ThrIVe Hurdle sponsored by ThrIVe, Wall Climb sponsored by WTRF, Corporate Ladder sponsored by the National Guard, Pyramid sponsored by Mid Atlantic, the Crawl, Monkey Bar Mania sponsored by West Virginia Northern Community College, Lumber Yard, Paper Trail, Bucket of Nails Foam Bath sponsored by Rite Car Wash, Step Up sponsored by The Health Plan, Slip N Slide sponsored by Dean’s Water, Market Hurdle sponsored by Ashley Furniture and Walls of Fort Henry sponsored by the U.S. Air Force.

Anderson admits that he and the other organizers of the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan get a kick out of devising obstacles to put participants’ athleticism to the test. They look for ways to challenge those on the course in both their physical and mental endurance, while making them work all their muscle groups through climbing, running, lifting and crawling.

Yet as much as they enjoy crafting those plans, they enjoy the response they get from the participants even more.

“With last year’s course, people were raving after they completed about how much fun it was,” Anderson said. “We feel this year’s course is going to be as much of a joy.”

Jim Spanner, general manager of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, said he expects this year’s Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan to be another edition of a fun and special event.

“The Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan is such a unique experience for those who run the course,” he said. “It’s such a great combination of testing your endurance and learning a little about the history of Wheeling during a high-octane workout. I can’t wait for people to see what’s in store for them after they leave the starting area.”

To register for all the events of the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine, visit ogdenwellnessweekend.com.