Photo by Joselyn King
Matthew DaVille of Pittsburgh pumps before running the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon on Saturday.
WHEELING – Matthew DaVille might sometimes feel like he is about to take flight when he runs, but it appears that running actually keeps him grounded.
DaVille, a native of Louisiana, said he has been working in the Wheeling area for more than a decade now in the oil and gas industry. He resides in Pittsburgh.
He isn’t a newcomer to the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic.
“That (work) brought me about here 13 years ago, and I’ve been running this race since 2023,” he said. “I’m not new to it.”
In addition to the race in Wheeling, he runs other half marathons in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.
“Running is a very therapeutic thing I do for me,” he explained. “I am 41 years old, and it’s a great way to get out, unwind and relieve some stress. It helps you stay healthy, stay fit, and it helps your mind, your body, and your soul.”
DaVille prepares for each race by just doing a steady routine of “casual running.”
“I run with my buddies a lot, and I go to Planet Fitness a lot in Moundsville,” he continued. “I train over there. I’ve been doing it for a few years now, and a lot of it is just muscle memory. You have a good time and you run.”
And what does he say this Memorial Day weekend about having the freedom to run?
“God bless America,” DaVille said.
