The Latest Running News and Notes around the “757″ from Sportswrap Running Reporter, Jon “Flex” Leiding

Let’s Hear it for the Ladies!

I am always impressed with so many great Runners in the area, but in a pouring rain Saturday, Mettle Events had their 15K leading up to the Dismal Swamp Half Marathon in April. The Ladies owned the Top three spots as DisneyWorld Marathon Champion, Renee High bested the course in 57:01, followed by Courtney Myfanw Chapman with 59:19, and Kristen Lawrence with a 1:00:30.
chesapeake’s Omar Higazi led the guys with a 1:05:00.

Children are the Future

The Youth Running season is underway and with the Shamrock Final Mile next week, the Pembroke Meadows Elementary Mile this past weekend was the perfect tune up as 13 year olds, William Verhappen in 5:41, Josiah Ramsawh with 5:45, and Travis Redmond in 5:53 all broke six minutes. Ryan Carroll of Portsmouth was the Overall Champ in 4:51, while Virginia Beach’s Kiara Jenkins, just 14, was the ladies winner in 6:22.

Shoutout to My Old School!

Granby High School’s 4 X 200 Meter Relay Team of Tyree Wise, Rodney Godfrey, Sidney Fulford and Lawrence Harris
finished third by 1/100 of a second in the Virignia State Indoor Track Meet, qualifying them for the New Balance indoor nationals in New York City, along with standout squads from Hampton and Bethel HS. While the economy is tough these days and funds a bit low, a teacher at Granby HS made a few calls and happened upon Ann Hupp from Mettle Events. Hearing the story and that they had just a few days to raise the money, Mettle Events offered to pay for their trip to NYC! Ann is always doing some great things in the area and a friend “On The Run”. Best wishes to the team and their coach Jordan Crawford. Good Luck to all of our Runners in the Big Apple!

Record Timing
Like many of you, I was looking forward to March 7th. 3pm exactly. My browser was open to the Marine Corps Marathon Webpage, watching as each second was counting down. Friends posted that the clock was moving so slow. I had run the last two Octobers in D.C. and was hoping my wife and I would try it again. With under an hour to go, I left for a chiropracter appointment to get me straightened up for next week’s Shamrock Marathon, then went home. I was reminded to cut the grass, too my daughter to dance class, then went to my office to get us registered right at 6pm. I logged on and…”what hap…” SOLD OUT! 30,000 spots taken in a record time of two hours and forty one minutes.

For those of you that got in, “congratulations”. This was a great race for me last year. The military presence along the course is second to none. You will feel honored to be given a medal from a Marine at this finish. For the rest of us, there are options. You can do fundraising for one of the charity spots, run other races, maybe Richmond, the OBX, or the New Norfolk Freedom Marathon, all in November. There’s also New York and out of town choices.

Ready to Go Racing?

Not everyone has a Marathon or Half Marathon goal in sight, but you might find just the right race this weekend at Jamestown High School with the 11th annual Jamestown High School Swamp Run 5K. It’s an out-and-back race with a One Mile Fun run at 9am, followed by the 5K at 9:30. You can even register the day of the race.

What’s Up with The Shamrock Next Weekend?

Glad you asked! PLENTY! Last year, we were lucky enough to catch up with, now Tidewater Strider Hall of Famer and Race Director, Jerry Frostick. I reposted it here just to refresh your memory:

On The Run with Jon “Flex” Leiding & Jerry Frostick from Jon Leiding on Vimeo.

Next week, the Sportswrap’s Ali Lucia will be at the race, so if you see our cameras…SMILE! I heard we may even do a Live Shot on the scene. WAVY TV 10 and Fox 43 are your plce to get the best Running coverage of the Shamrock Sportsfest, so watch for our coverage. You may see someone you know. I’ll have my interviews coming with a surprise or two as well. Details will be coming nest week. Like we say in TV, “stay tuned”….

Feedback Time!

I can’t do this without the great input of SO many people in Hampton Roads. Your time and efforts towards this great sport make it easy for me to write and talk with people we admire. Keep it coming and I’ll keep going!

Look for On the Run weekly here at WAVY.com Have a Great Weekend!

On The Run with Sprotswrap Running Reporter, Jon “Flex” Leiding