An Amazing Seven Days!

Great efforts were all over the “757″ over that last few days. When we go “On The Run”, we go everywhere! Where to start? Chesapeake, Hampton, Williamsburg, Norfolk, Kentucky or Boston? Let’s start first with the ongoing story of John Price, who’s been “On the Run” since Valentines Day, running back from California. His latest efforts had him in Kentucky, primed for a big return to Hampton Roads very soon. You can follow his blog, with some great pictures of this beautiful land we call home at http://runvb2vb.com/blog/.

In Norfolk, the Lion’s Journey for Sight 5K & One Mile Run Saturday had a new venue in Norview High School, but speed was on display. Drew Midland won the 5K in 16:47, followed by Masters great, John Lomogda in 17:33. Inessa Corney, 13, from Australia, was the fastest female in 21:23 and she was the First Female in the Mile at 6:25. Liam Arocho blazed the One mile for the Overall victory in 4:35.

Williamsburg was also the setting for sub 16′s at the Duke of Gloucester 5K. Williamsburg’s Ed Moran sizzled thru the 3.1 mile course in 14:38, with the next three finishers all breaking 16:00! Jennifer Quarles led the Ladies in 19:19.

Since we’re on the Peninsula, a huge “THANK YOU” to all who participated in the 24 hour Run for Cancer at Sandy Bottom Nature Park. Among the fundraisers, Virginia Beach’s Tommy Neeson logged 86 miles. Running for a charity is a wonderful thing to embrace, at least once. To all of you, a hearty “Congratulations!”

The TS Gates 5K in Poquoson Saturday with Brandon MacPherson as the Overall Winner and Meghan Foley was the Ladies champ.

All this and Still, Not Done!

Kale Running brought the big guns for the Dismal Swamp Half Marathon Saturday and were not disappointed. The out and back course along the Dismal Swamp was the perfect setting for Virginia Beach’s George Towett, who was First to the line in 1:05:32 . New York’s Salome Kosgei was the Ladies Winner in 1:15:56. The Field also featured Fourth overall and Masters Champion, Dennis Simonaitus. The 48 year old from Utah ran an amazing 1:10:56. He is also the only Masters Runner (40 years old and above) to run a 5K in under 15 minutes. Hampton Roads had two other friends in the Top Ten; Chesapeake’s David Hryvniak and big friend of the blog, John Piggott, of Williamsburg. Congratulations to all finishers!

Boston!

It’s the oldest and most famous Marathon in America. 27,000 people toed the line Monday and great efforts were aplenty. If you didn’t see the highlights, Course records were set by winner, Geoffrey Mutai in 2:03:02, while American, Ryan Hall set an American course record in 2:04:58, finishing Fourth. In 2010, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot set a Boston course record of 2:05:52. That would have landed him in Fifth this year. For the Ladies, two seconds was all that kept Desiree Davilla from being the first American Woman to win the race since 1985. With less than a quarter mile to go, Kenya’s Caroline Kilel outkicked Davilla to win in 2:22:36.

While those are amazing results, Hampton Roads also was treated to some real “Dragon Slayers” on this course. Virginia Beach’s Steve Speirs, 44, bested his previous Boston efforts, turning in an epic 2:45:22, running “negative splits” for the second half. Suffolk’s Billy Chorey, 30, was not far behind with another stellar effort, 2:46:05. Williamsburg’s Christopher Gutridge, 26, crossed the line in 2:49:27, followed by Matthew Lynch of Norfolk, in 2:51:55, while 20 year old, Thomas Gounley, from Newport News, rounded out the Hampton Roads connection for Runners under three hours! In a word…”AMAZING!”

Back to the Future!

No Delorean or Time Machine needed as this weekend offers several races. Saturday, the Suffolk YMCA 5K & One Miler, the One Life Fitness Bunny Hop 5K and One Mile Thumper Run in Chesapeake. At Oyster Point Park in Newport News, the Race for Teal 5K takes off on Saturday morning, while in Williamsburg, the New Quarter Park 5K and One Mile race get going as well. You can always get registered or find out more at kalerunning.com, tidewaterstriders.com, peninsulatrackclub.com, or colonialroadrunners.org.

What’s New With the Blog?

Saw some old friends of the Blog over the weekend. It’s wonderful how many people read our Running Blog and have some ideas we are working on. Some interviews are in the works as well. If you have an idea for a story or suggestion, please feel free to email me at astrovp@yahoo.com. You can always catch up with my archived Blogposts at ontherunwithflex.wordpress.com, or weekly here at WAVY.com.

Be on the lookout for me this weekend, whether you’re out for an easy run, or racing with the pack. I might just catch you… “On The Run!”

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

See You "On the Run!"

About 200 military members were matched with families like these from around Hampton Roads. The matching went off without a hitch, thanks to the great efforts and coordination of the USO. So, what did we do all day? Just chilled! My son is the age of the guys and Kevin had the latest video game hook-ups. They were in hog heaven ’til it was time for football.  CLICK! Hello Patriots/Lions, Cowboys/Saints!  But the fellas didn’t hide behind the goal posts all day. They kept popping in the kitchen to check on me and my wife (and the turkeys) – offering to help out with dinner preps. We talked everything – from football, military, what to do ’round the Peninsula, and simply – livin’ life in general – here and back in their hometowns. We found plenty of common ground. Two of the soldiers are parents. All are athletic. None liked the REDSKINS (for the record, we do!) One soldier thought a couple of South Carolina high school football teams were better than Phoebus and Hampton. I asked him what was he smokin’.  One soldier is about to be stationed in KOREA, (my brother and uncle were there) another headed to GERMANY. The others may eventually do time in Afghanistan -keeping our choppers flying or delivering supplies to the frontliners. Their enthusiasm for serving our country was wonderful to hear. 

We fortified them with a home cooked meal and a lot of confidence in knowing that we are thankful for their service and support them 100%.  So, again, John P., Chandler V., Kyle K., and John H., thank YOU for a great Thanksgiving.

This month, the Bryant family is focusing their thanks on the men and women who lost their lives or were hurt when terrorists blew a hole in the side of USS Cole while it was refueling in Yemen.  That attack happened 10 years ago, Tuesday.

The Bryant’s front yard is now a shrine to the Cole sailors.

On every handmade tombstone is the name of each sailor who died on USS Cole in that attack on October 12, 2000.

On their front porch, banners of thanks and remembrance proudly hang.

Remembrance Banner

While they honor the 17 sailors who lost their lives and the dozens who were hurt on that tragic day, the Bryants also took the time to honor those in all branches of the military, past and present.

My job allows me to meet extraordinary people every day.  I was lucky to meet the Bryants…a family who wants to do more than just say thank you.

I arrived at the Coast Guard base about 7:45a and was immediately asked if anyone told me to pack my lunch (of course they didn’t!) and informed that it was going to be a ”long day”. After a quick stop at the exchange where I purchased enough snacks to get me through the day, I met the Commander (CDR Bruyere) and Co-pilot (Lt. Davis) of my flight. We boarded the HC-130J Hercules aircraft, and after a few routine checks, we were on our way. The flight began about 9am and we started heading south towards Wilmington, NC. 

Our "ride" for the day!

Once we arrived in the Wilmington area and positioned ourselves about 100 miles of the coast, AMT2 Brandon Kelly began transmitting the Urgent Marine Information Broadcast every 15 minutes on VHF-FM channel 16, the marine band radio emergency channel.  The warning stated that Tropical Storm Danny was about 24 hours away from the East Coast of the United States and included wind speeds, direction and speed at which TS Danny was traveling.     

My view from the flight deck/cockpit!

From Wilmington we headed straight up the East Coast to New York. When we arrived in New York, I thought to myself that this flight was a “piece of cake.” Little did I know that we were only HALFWAY through our SEVEN (yes 7!) hour flight and that we still had to go all the way back down to Wilmington. Now, one would think that being in a plane that big, motion sickness, dizziness and headaches wouldn’t be a problem… well think again! After 5 hours of being in flight(and flying through numerous thunderstorms), motion sickness got the best of me (no I didn’t get sick [THANK GOODNESS], but I did have a MASSIVE headache). When I told the crew members what was wrong, they assured me that if I put on the oxygen mask then it would solve most, if not all, of my problems, boy were they right! (I guess these guys haven’t been in the Coast Guard this long without learning a few “tricks of the trade”!)

Nice mask, huh?!?!?

In all, we didn’t see many boats on the water (only about 15 along the East Coast). The Coast Guard feels like their mission was a success. Commander Bruyere stated that he was happy that most of the mariners took the precautions necessary for the upcoming storm and stayed off the water for the day.

We landed back at the Elizabeth City Coast Guard base around 4pm on Friday afternoon. During my 45 minute drive back to the station, I couldn’t help but think that a 7 hour flight would have me halfway to Europe or already on the West Coast of the United States (and laying on the beach) or almost in Hawaii.  BUT I figured I can’t complain too much, but home wasn’t such a bad place to land!  (Let’s be honest, by that time, I was just happy to be on the ground!)

The crew of flight 2001 was wonderful. CDR Bruyere and Lt. Davis, were very hospitable and great in answering all of my questions. The guys in the crew made sure that I understood what was going on and took time to explain everything to me! I can’t thank them enough for their warm welcome… they even let me check out the view from the co-pilot’s chair (actually I snuck in while he was “stretching his legs”!!!!)

I got to sit in Lt. Davis' seat!

Thanks guys!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Suffolk Education Foundation awarded a grant for the materials to make the knit caps.

The Kings Fork Middle schoolers are going to mail them on Friday, March 20.  What a great way to say thank you to the men and women in the Armed Forces working so hard to keep us all safe!

Thank you Ms. Addair, Ms. English, and “Mommy” (Ms. Livas) for sending us this story!

http://www.spsk12.net/schools/kfms/index.htm

Norfolk’s International Azalea Festival is gearing up for a week long schedule of events from April 27 to May 3.  This will be the 56th International NATO Azalea Festival. This year celebrates the Czech Republic and  Representing her country and serving as queen of the festival is Captain Magdalena Dvorakova.

Magdalena Dvorakova

Magda is a resident of Prague, Czech Republic, and currently works in the Military Office of Mr. Vaclav Klaus, the President of the Czech Republic. Her military career also has taken her abroad to Kosovo, and to Texas, Michigan, Missouri and Maryland for training.

At age 17, Magda left home for a year to be a  foreign exchange student in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. She later graduated from the Military University of Ground Forces in Vyskov, Czech Republic.

Captain Dvorakova is the second active duty Queen in the history of the Festival, following in the steps of Captain Mariola Kasemier, a Royal Netherlands army officer, who served as Queen in 2008. A film about Captain Kasemier, produced for the 2008 Azalea Festival, later won the International Military Film Festival in Barriciano, Italy.

While on her first visit to Norfolk last week, Captain Dvorakova visited St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children and met with all of the Historic Norfolk Unit Troops from the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast.

I had the pleasure of meeting her at a special reception at the Chrysler Museum.

Join us April 27 – May 3 when Captain Magdalena Dvorakova, Queen Azalea LVI, returns to Norfolk for Festival Week.

Visit http://azaleafestival.org/events.asp for a complete list of events.

I was taking part in the blogging and tweeting on Facebook and Twitter and now here on www.wavy.com.   It was nice to see the t.v. networks and local stations show so many different sides of this story.  It was great to see civil rights heroes and former political leaders arrive in the V.I.P. section.   It was rude to hear how some people greeted President Bush as he walked out into the inaugural celebration.  You’d think if people went through all of the trouble to make the trip to Washington and beat the crowds, they would behave a little bit better. It’s tough to cover politics as a journalist and not have someone accuse you of being liberal or unbalanced and biased.   I purposely try to  present the issues and the facts.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I wish my grandparents, my godfather, and other relatives who have passed on could have witnessed this day in history.  Mainly because of the stories they told me about the hardship they faced- just because the color of their skin.  I’m sure they hoped for, but weren’t certain we’d ever have a President with African ancestry this soon.   In honor of my family members  who have gone before me- both black and non-black,  I am hopeful people will continue to move forward and work hand in hand with the same enthusiasm they’ve had over the past year.  No matter what your race, gender, or political affiliation is- this is the perfect opportunity to reflect on our past, our present and our future.  Take advantage of it!