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

Take Your Mark…

Another crazy week blew through the Hampton Roads area. Parks, streets, trails, and course all got a great pounding from SO many events this past weekend. Big “Congrats” to all of you who got out and pinned on the race number. Starting in Suffolk for the Spring Stride 5K, Quinn Beers laid the 3.1 mile course to waste in 17:33, while the always swift, Pamela Lovett led the Ladies in 18:44.

A few miles away, Chesapeake played host to the Full Bloom 50K and Half Marathon. New to the area, Fairfax’s Ben Apfelbaum blazed the course in 3:54:28 to capture the Thirty-One mile event, with Portsmouth’s Meghan Gebke wasn’t far behind as the ladies Winner in 4:14:02. That’s really strong!

Speaking of Strong, fresh off pacing his wife at the sweltering Boston Marathon last Monday, Virginia Beach’s Steve Speirs won the Half Marathon in 1:26:46, with Melissa Adams, of Wilmington, NC the Top Female with a 1:35:14. As a bonus, the awards were very cool looking.

Up the road for the Walsingham Academy 5K, good friend of the blog, Daniel Shaye took the Overall title with a 17:26. That’s moving but,the big story was Karen Terry, the Newport News native set a new course record of 18:44, best the old record by nearly a minute.

Just a few exits off “64″, Yorktown 16 year old, Dylan Sydnor took the 5k title in 17:06 at the Trot for Teal 5K & 8K. Julie Rose was “Number One” with a 22:19. In the 8K, which I tell friends is a bus length short of five miles, Chesapeake’s Ashley Diette led the Ladies with a 36:05, while the Overall crown went to Newport News’ John Scott, with a strong 30:36.

Across the line, Reston’s John McGreevy was the winner of the First Flight 5k, with a sparkling 17:05. Elizabeth Di Bene was the Ladies Champion with a 21:20. Sunday, the Flyin’ Pirate Half Marathon went off without regard to the weather and Alex Goden,of Brevard, NC took advantage, winning in 1:15:38. Williamsburg’s Masters Speedster, John Piggott was strong with a second place finish in 1:17:35. Kill Devil Hills local, Jessica Witter took the Top spot for the Women in 1:31:31.

That’s all amazing, but my supreme tip of the cap to all who took part in the Relay for Life Cancer Charity 24 hour race at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Newport News. Tommy Neeson, one of the guys I was “hitched” to for the Shamrock Marathon, managed to log 102 miles! I usually get tired driving that far! Congratulations to all-now get some rest!

No Time to Slow Down!

After a great week like that, it’s hard to top it. This weekend offers some more racing gems. Take you pick:
Tabb High School will be hosting it’s May Day 5K,so be ready to race Saturday. Get up early and “lace ‘em up” for the Fort Eustis Wounded Warrior Runs of 5k & 10k. A few miles further in Courtland, the Raider Run 5K takes off.

On the Southside, the Independence MS 5K & 1 Miler goes off with New Tidewater Strider Hall of Famer, Monica Reilly handling the Race Director duties. Should be a good time for all.

Sunday at Newport News City Center, the Dig-In Earth Day 5K will be a great Sunday run. Also, get the kids outside with the Christopher Farms 5K and One Mile Race.

You can learn more about all these races at tidewaterstriders.com, mettleevents.com, penninsulatrackclub.com, and colonialroadrunners.org

Local Ties and News

Saw a note about Billy Edwards, a great Friend of the Blog and accomplished triathlete, who recently coached the Navy Triathlon team to a 2nd place team placement at Collegiate Nationals in Tuscaloosa, Alabama! Billy was raised in Virginia but moved to Colorado in 2007 after serving in the Marines. While in the military, Billy led a platoon in Operation Iraqi Freedom during the initial assault and rebuilding period. He’s currently involved with an 8 man RAAM team named Team4Mil. It is an all military and former military team that is riding to draw awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). In 50 days, this team of triathles will try to cover Three Thousand miles in Five days! Nicknamed “Billy the Kid”, we will be visiting with him closer to the date and wish the team well in their training. You can learn more about the team’s efforts at www.team4mil.org, or www.facebook.com/team4mil. Thanks for the “heads up”, Billy!

Feedback and Stuff

With SO many races going on, it seems like new ones pop up every day. No worries, I am happy to give you all the information. I am human, so if I miss a race, or if you have an idea for a good story, please contact me at astrovp@yahoo.com. Keep the great comments coming and please leave feedback. The staff believes “On The Run” is one of, if not the most popular places visited on WAVY.com. Thanks for checking it each week. Feel free to share with your friends. Unlike races that sellout, we say “the more, the merrier!”

Check with us next week for more on the Running scene in Hampton Roads here at WAVY.com. Maybe, I’ll catch you…”On The Run!”

On the Run, with Sportswrap Running Reporter, Jon “Flex” Leiding