Even in Tragedy, We Have Friends “On The Run”

How To Describe Something Indescribable

Today I should be telling you how amazing the Boston Marathon is:  it’s history over the 117 years, some of the past winners I’ve been lucky enough to meet, and how great it was to watch the last few minutes of the race.  I should be telling you that I ran in 2009 and the feeling of joy racing down Boylston Street to the finish and setting my personal record on a historic course, making me feel like I belonged to the sport I enjoy and am somewhat successful. I should be telling you how proud we should be of our American Runners,  placing 4th and 6th place in BOTH the Men’s and Women’s Elites.

Kris Lawrence Making Strides “On The Run”

I should be telling you about how locally Kris Lawrence and Gina Slaby were so good on Patriot’s day that they finished in the Women’s Top 50, each running in the Two hour and Forty Something marks.  I should be telling you how envious I and thrilled we should be.  I should be telling you that Kris set her personal record yesterday and that we should be looking for more great things to come from these Ladies.

I should be saying how very exciting it is to run the Boston Marathon and giving “shout outs” to our local Running friends.  I should but, that all changed around 3pm yesterday.  I was handling some paperwork and my Mother calls.  “Are You Watching TV- it’s the Boston Marathon.  There was an explosion!”

Watching video after video had me thinking about all my running friends competing that day.  I watched video of the first blast showed Runners disoriented, even falling to the ground.  I saw someone pushing a stroller, like those used by several of the Fundraiser Charities racing to the side of the road for safety.  I looked the the time on the clock: Four Hours and Nine Minutes.  That’s one of the heavy traffic times through the finish for the Marathon.  From a numbers standpoint, more people are trying to break three and four hours than any other time.  I should be seeing Charity Fundraiser Runners at the finish.

My mind started to think about those who were there. I should have been writing about  John Adams, from Norfolk had run 3:10:45, even one of my friends, Thomas Hicks had run 3:14:03.  There was Brenda Kalin,  crossed the finish line Five minutes before the explosion.  First time Boston Marathoner, Trish Jones of Virginia Beach finished in 3:53:08, while her fiance’,  Bill Murray watched like others near the finish.  Our good friend, Sam Wittenberg and Jim Duffy had just finished a few minutes prior prior.  Virginia Beach resident, Lacey Baliet crossed the line in 4:09:34 .  As Chris Rupe was reveling in having finished his first Boston Marathon in 4:09, a loud blast roared behind him thirty seconds later.  He rushed toward the blast but EMTs directed him away to the medical tents.

Trish Jones at the Boston Marathon

Over 9,000 Runners did not finish.  Susan Hagel, the Tidewater Striders Female 2012 Champion and John Price were 3/4 of a mile away, along with famed Boston Marathon Champ and writer for Runners World Magazine, Amby Burfoot.  I remembered David Mick and Dennis Welch, running with Michael Davis from Team Hoyt, all unable to finish amidst the chaos.  As Runners , we train to keep going.  Monday, the finish line had become a crime scene.  I should be writing about how inspirational all these runners are regardless of where they finish.  I should…

Instead, I’m writing about how Runners turned to heroes.  After hearing of the tragedy, Runners went to the Red Cross to offer blood to help.  I’m writing about fans who lined the streets to cheer on their champions, immediately realized the troubles and didn’t run away but, stayed to help those so badly hurt.  Three people, including an eight year old who came to cheer his Dad, paid the ultimate price, while a hundred and forty others  were injured.  Cowardly as it is, no new information is available yet and the healing process will take some time but, yesterday’s race proved that in a celebration of personal achievement, our innocence was lost.   Hopefully, we catch those responsible.   I wish for us all some closure.

Leah Nyfeler, an accomplished writer wrote: “And before we put this beast on trial for punishment, I’d like to see the perpetrator have to run the marathon course so that all can witness what kind of person does this. No hiding behind a backpack, no distance between perpetrator and victim, no intellectual justification. Just 26.2 miles and seeing exactly what a person is made of”.

In the meantime, don’t quit.  Don’t stop Running or planning to run an event.  If  they were looking to test our perseverance, they shouldn’t have chosen Marathoners.  We are millions strong and unified…”On The Run”.

Look for my new Running Blog on WAVY.com soon.  As always, I appreciate the feedback.  See you soon!

Still On The Run!

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

We’re On the Run Again!

Can’t Stop Now- We’ve Got News

A technical glitch had us away last week, so let’s give up some “luv” for those of you who hit the road last week, like the Autism Awareness 5K at Mt Trashmore.   Virginia Beach’s David Kidd was the Overall Champion in 16:24, while Lizzy Vanderbilt blazed the 3.1 mile course in 20:25.

At the Queens Lake 5K, good friend of the Blog, Todd Kessler,  from Newport News, won in17:17.  The real story on the Peninsula has been Mercedes Castillo-D’Amico.  The 55 year young, Newport News Resident, captured thhe Ladies title and set an Age Group Course Record with a swift20:29. Wow!

Can’t Forget My Suffolk Friends-  The Suffolk YMCA Run was fun for all who got out on the 5.66K run.  Also in Suffolk, the Bon Secours Colon Health 5K went to good friend of the Blog, Steve Speirs with a solid 17:28.  There is no stopping him these days… Chesapeake’s Emily Rivet was the Fastest female with a 22:10.  Races are all over the “757!”

A Duathlon combines two activities, this time Biking and Running.  The Va. Duathlon in Surry had plenty of Hampton Roads best, including Virginia Beach’s William Byland, a Top Three Finisher and Chesapeake’s Rachel Jastrebsky, the Winner of the Womens division.  Gotta give the “shout outs” to Courtney Ann Pollman of Virginia Beach, along with Lisa Armistead, who both rocked the 5K run along with the 23 mile Bike Ride.  Well Done, Ladies!

Time to Get Busy This Weekend!

Last week may have been a bit light but, what a weekend it will be!  Take your pick-  all over Hampton Roads, you can find races almost everywhere.     Saturday, the  Monarch Kids Run features a 5K and One Mile in Norfolk.In Newport News, the Earth Day 5K Races away from Newport News City Center, then go to the Southside.

The Dismal Swamp Half Marathon has become a tradition.  Love this race!  Ann Hupp always puts on a good event.  Sadly, work will keep me away this time but, I hear there are a few spots available.  Check out mettleevents.com to get registered.

If you crave more, take a trip to the Outer Banks and you’ll find plenty of Fun with the Flyin’ Pirate Half Marathon.  My good friends, Angelo Celesia and the legend, Dr. Mel Williams will be there.  Be on the lookout for them!

No, we’re not done yet!  Up the road, the Ukrops Monument 10K is always a Big race in Richmond.  Good Luck to all of you taking the trip!

Then, Monday…..   BOSTON!

It All Starts Here!

Many of you will are taking the trip to be part of the “Massachusetts Madness”.  This is one race that you have to have a qualifying time.

From Hopkinton, all the way to Boylston Street, over 26,000 Runners will challenge the famed Heartbreak Hill, while experiencing the worl’d oldest Marthon. There are so many stories, charities, and great people, just “amped up” to get to the starting line.  Having run the event in 2009, I send “best of luck” wishes to all of you going.

Race Director, Dave McGilivray, who is also holds the same duties for the Williamsburg Run For the Dream Half Marathon weekend,  has run the marathon each year since  1973. For 16 years he ran it with all the other runners and since he began working with the race in 1988 he has run  the course afterwards.

Two Years Ago,  I caught up with him and we cghatted a while.  Here’s a look back to give you some of the flavor that is the  Boston Marathon:    Click on this link>>>   On The Run With Boston Marathon Race Director, Dave McGillivray    <<<Click on this link

If I look a bit exhausted, I had just finished the Half Marathon about ten minutes prior. Thanks for checking out the interview!

Here’s to Fast Times a Good Breeze to take you to the Finish!

Also on the Horizon, the Peninsula Track Club will be holding a 24 Hour Run at Sandy Bottom Park in two weeks.   That should be a real challenge.  We’ll try to keep you informed.   We always appreciate the Feedback.  If you have a story idea or just want to drop us a line, please do!

That’s All for this week.  Maybe we’ll catch you soon… “On The Run!”

On the Run With Sportswrap Running Reporter, Jon “Flex” Leiding on WAVY.com.

In less than 24 hours, anonymous pundits typed their fingers raw, calling for the firing of Old Dominion athletic director Dr. Wood Selig after word leaked out Selig had hired Jeff Jones away from American University in Washington, D.C. to replace longtime coach Blaine Taylor who was fired in the midst of Old Dominion’s most miserable season in school history.

Looking back, I must admit I think Dr. Selig made his first mistake by being honest and saying he was looking for a hard working, maybe young coach, who would work hard, knows the area and would bring excitement back to the Ted Constant Center.

So much for honesty. Like other AD’s, Dr. Selig should have just clammed up and said he was looking for the best coach possible. But that is not his style.

His second mistake (and this is only my personal opinion) came when he publicly proclaimed in late February that interim coach Jim Corrigan was not only in the running for the job, but that “another candidate had to come in and beat him.” A great slap on the back for a job well done under difficult circumstances, but nothing I ever believed to be true. Although I am sure Dr. Selig will disagree.

I wonder how ecstatic Monarchs fans would have been if Selig had hired the loyal 54-year old Corrigan who had spent 19 years as an ODU assistant, but had only won three games as a head coach? Not a very sexy hire.

Virginian Pilot reporter Ed Miller, one of the best, and who’s primary beat is ODU basketball, reported the finalists to replace Taylor were down to a handful. Dennis Felton, who left Western Kentucky to move onto Georgia where he was fired in 2009. Kevin Keatts, a promising assistant to Rick Pitino at Louisville, who’s previous job was as a Prep School coach at Hargrave Military Academy. And 56-year old Steve Robinson, Roy Williams’ top assistant at North Carolina, who was fired as head coach at Florida State after five years. Felton has been out of the business for four years, and although Robinson is considered one of the top assistant coaches in basketball he did not fare well in his only shot at being a head coach.

Keatts seems to have the most upside, but there is no guarantee he would be the next Brad Stevens, Shaka Smart or Danny Hurley (my guess to be the next coach at Rutgers, if they can get him).

So who would have drawn cheers had they been introduced today instead of Coach Jones? Alabama’s Anthony Grant would be nice, but his $1.8 million price tag is a little out of ODU’s reach. Seton Hall took a chance with Tommy Amaker, a then young Duke assistant, who left Seton Hall after three short years for a better job at Michigan where he was fired and replaced by Richmond’s John Beilein. Amaker is at Harvard now, where he turned down a $1.1 million a year offer from Miami last year.

Of course, it would have made national news today had Florida Gulf Coast’s Andy Enfield donned a Blue and White Monarchs cap. Dr. Selig had the darling of this year’s NCAA tournament secretly on his radar before March Madness began and had already interviewed Enfield before his team’s unbelievable run in the NCAA tournament two weeks ago. Selig was so interested in Enfield he had a private plane ready to fly down to Ft. Myers to bring Enfield and his wife to Norfolk for a final talk and maybe a final offer. The plane was sent back into the hanger when Enfield instead flew to Los Angeles where he landed a six-year $6 million dollar deal to become the new coach at USC.

But let’s be honest. Let’s say FGC (where is it, again?) had not beaten San Diego St. and Georgetown two weeks ago. Let’s say Enfield had agreed to come to Old Dominion. How many Monarchs fans had him in their coaches search bracket? What would the reaction have been when word leaked out that ODU’s new coach was a former businessman with two years of coaching experience at the school nobody had ever heard of.

“Fire Wood Selig” would have been the rant of the day.

So with Enfield in LA, and all the other finalists with their fair share of question marks, Selig may have taken the safe way out. ESPN college basketball guru Fran Fraschilla, the former coach at St. Johns and New Mexico convinced Dr. Selig that Jeff Jones was the perfect man for the job. A hard worker, a great strategist, well connected in the world of AAU basketball (maybe the most important complement). A coach who can calmly make the kind of adjustments on the fly which is worth two or three wins a year. That can be the difference between making the postseason and being a bubble team bust.

ESPN host Tony Kornheiser pointed out today that Jones’ record at AU was the best in the school’s history and even more impressive considering the private school in the Patriot league with tough academic standards is no Duke. NBA reporter David Aldridge said this morning Jones had taken American U to the NCAA tournament twice, something none of its previous coaches including Gary Williams (Ohio St. and Maryland), Jim Lynam (St. Joseph’s), or Tom Davis (Iowa) was able to do during their coaching stints there.

Aldridge said what impressed him the most, was that Jones stayed at AU for 13 years and did not use it as a stepping stone for a better job. Aldridge said Jones respected the people and fans at American University and appreciated their love of basketball, that he gave the fans there the excitement of having a winning and championship team. When AU beat Colgate in 2008 and made the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history, Jones sat on the bench after the game with a towel over his head and sobbed with joy over what his team had accomplished and what it meant to the fans. He brought respectability and a winning attitude to the program, and the AU fans will forever be grateful for that.

It may not be sexy—but it appeared to be sincere.

Boo Williams, one of the most successful AAU coaches in the nation, who lives in nearby Hampton, told David Teel of the Daily Press today, “They (ODU) needed to get somebody who knows the 757 and North Carolina. Jeff knows the area. I think it’s a good hire.”

But in the age of the web, where every game is on TV, and a totally obscure coach with a hot wife can get a million dollar a year raise by winning two games, fans want flash. You know, Mark Schmidt at St. Bonaventure, Scott Nagy at South Dakota State, Chris Mack at Xavier, Baylor’s Scott Drew. Had Dr. Selig been able to steal away any one of these household names how excited would Monarch fans be tonight?

I pointed out to Dr. Selig today, something he already knew of course, that some ODU fans were disappointed and were wishing for a “sexier” hire.

His response…

“I can understand that but my number one goal is to put ODU basketball in a position to win championships, because I believe championships are sexy. So if ODU is going to win Conference USA championships, if ODU is going to go to the NCAA and compete and make noise in the NCAA Tournament, the position I believed was best suited to put us in a position to accomplish that was Jeff Jones.”

And considering the options, I tend to agree.

We’re Back for More…”On The Run!”

The Calm Before the Storm!     Before we go racing into the BIG Shamrock Sportsfest Weekend, let’s look at the past weekend as so many of you are getting prepped for the big day with other races.  First,  the Cox Falcon 5K  went to Va. Beach’s Caleb Doan on Satruday, with an outstanding 15:45, while the Ladies Champ is a familiar face here and big supporter of our blog,  Renee High with a solid  18:22 for the 3.1 mile course.

This season, we’re adding “Shout Outs”, our way of spotlighting more than just winners.  let’s start with Ben Werve,  11 years old, turning in a terrific  19:07, 60year old, Carolyn Shaheen, who sparkled with her 27:00 effort.  Also in the crowd,  Triathlete,  John Lomogda  from Norfolk  “brought it” with an 18:31,  a big 5 minute PR for  Courtney Pollman , blistering the course in 21:16.     John Dicarlo, 63 of Virginia Beach gets in with a 23:36 and Dolores Ware , 42 years young rocked the  run in 19:47.

We went to the Peninsula Saturday and found  the Jamestown High School Swamp Run 5K.  That’s where 18 year old, Andrew Richards,  from Williamsburg crushed it with a 16:23.  Krissa Loretto, was the Fastest Female in a very swift 19:37.  Keeping our “Shout Outs” going, how about Carol Talley,  who at 58, set the age group course record with a 23:57! Want More?    Check out Karla Havens, also setting an age group record at 51 with a 20:57.  Also, getting into the groove are Williamsburg’s Greg Dawson with a stellar 17:46 and  Men’s Race Walker, the blazing fast Tom Gerhardt, from Chesapeake in 30:06.

Going Strong and Going Long

They all Go “On The Run” this Weekend!

As always,  “Thanks” for checking out On the Run, the Running Blog from the Station and website on your side, WAVY TV and WAVY.com.    Maybe we’ll catch you soon…“On The Run!

On The Run Again!

Keeping the Fire Burning

Glad you could check us out. I hope your training is going well. Here in Hampton Roads, we are lucky enough to have several great Running organizations with races almost every week. That means, if you’ve been wanting to enter a race as part of your New Year’s Resolution (remember them?) you are just an entry form away from competing.

Gotta Get Back in Time!

This past weekend, the Gloucester 8K was in full force with Douglas Marshall leading the way. the Mathews 38 year old won in 30:33; a solid 6:09 pace, while Yorktown’s Kristen Frost was Icy Hot, as the First Female in 34:26.

Gina Slaby rockin’ “On The Run!”

The week before, the Virginia Is For Lovers 14K lured a huge crowd as Ryan Carroll, always a big fan of the blog, crushed the 8.68 mile course in 45:06. That’s an average of 5:11 per mile! Gina Slaby was the Ladies Champion in a strong 51:02. Slaby outlasted Virginia Beach’s Renee High, also an Olympic Marathon Qualifier for 2012. Gina, a Navy Lieutenant is not unaccustomed to running at the front of the pack. At the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon she was the first active duty woman and second woman to finish overall, finishing in 2:45:58. She also won the 2011 Rock and Roll Marathon in San Diego and won last year’s Half Marathon. Nice to have her in the area!

This year, our friends from J & A Racing offered a 6K as well, just shy of 4 miles and Alexey Popov captured the crown in 22:56, while Carrie Atkinson led the Ladies in 26:46. A big shout out to 11 year old, Benjamin Werve, who finished third overall with a powerful effort of 27:13. The future of local Running looks very strong these days!

No Stopping Steve Speirs On The Run!

Many Miles to Go!

We missed the opportunity recently, to boast about Virginia Beach’s Steve Speirs. He went to Huntsville, Texas to participate int he Rocky Raccoon 100 mile Trail Race. Speirs, who never backs down from a distance challenge, finished 3rd overall under 17 hours with a 16:55:48, a new age group record for 100 miles. Most of us don’t even Drive 100 miles in a day! Amazing! one of these days, we will catch him and get an interview with the speedy Mr. Speirs.

All Day, All the Way!

Local Runner, Dennis Wayne Welch, who also coaches, will be lacing ‘em up in September for Team Hoyt’s 24 Hour Fundraiser. Dennis will be on a 24 hour run while pushing an individual in a stroller. Dennis, along with friends and supporters, will have their sights set at not only one, but six total World Records. Details to follow in the future. Great endeavor for a talented Runner. We’ll be keeping you in touch…

Upcoming Races

This Saturday, the Tidewater Striders have their 20K and 30K Shamrock Weekend prep races at the Dismal Swamp Trail. Thats’ 12.4 and 18.6 miles for those of us who aren’t exactly metric.

Sunday, the Colonial Half Marathon in Williamsburg is Back Again! This race ALWAYS beats me but, this is a really challenging 13.1 mile course. My friends from the Colonial Road Runners put on a wonderful event. This is a must do! I will be out of town and miss it but, if you crave a challenge, this is for you!

On the horizon, March 2 means the Ft. Eustis 10K from the Peninsula Track Club and Mettle Events hosts their 15K at the Dismal Swamp Trail.

Feedback!

That’s all this week. Can’t say “Thank You” enough to all of you who read and share the blog here on WAVY..com with your friends. If you have a story idea, drop me a line at astrovp@yahoo.com. Have a great weekend. Maybe I’ll see you soon….”On The Run!”

On the Run with Jon “Flex” Leiding, exclusively on WAVY.com.

On The Run for 2013!

Starting off the Year with a Big Win!

With limited races early in the year, many of you have gone outside the “757″ to find a great race. Virginia Beach’s Renee High went south to defend her 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Champion and came back with another win, a faster time than last year in 2:48:30, and the title of Two Time Disney World Marathon Champ!  We had her interview last Summer at the CHKD run at Town Point Park.  For those of you who missed the interview with the Two-time Olympic Marathon Qualifier, here’s the link: Click here for my On The Run Interview with Renee High!.

Is a “Three-Peat” in Renee High’s Future? We’ll See Next Year…

Make 2013 Your Year!

So many of us make those resolutions to “get fit, eat right, or get organized” for the New Year. If you are NEW to Running, Welcome! Each of us has a starting point. Mine was eight years ago and have enjoyed almost every mile. You’ll find good information along with positive people along the way. We do our very best to share them with you.

More Races in Local Places!

The Frosty 5K at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex two weeks ago went to Nick Scerbo, from Norfolk, with a swift 17:08 for the 3.1 mile course. The Ladies were led by Asia Sorensen with a quick speed of 20:30. Our good friends at Mettle Events had their 6K Mud in your Eye Series recently and Robert Dinterman, of Moyock, captured the title with a strong 22:26. Stephanie Aurel Ingalls won the Ladies title in 24:30.

Whats Up for the Weekend?

This Saturday, weather permitting, the Tidewater Striders have their Distance Seriesplanned for the Dismal Swamp with a 15 and 25K race.  That’s 9.3 miles and 15.5 miles, in case you were wondering.  Mettle Events has their Mud in Your Eye Series 8K race finale set for Virginia Wesleyan Saturday as well.  up in Yorktown, the Knights of Columbus 10-Miler Run for the Heart will also have Runners racing this weekend.  Knowing the weather is calling for some Snow and Ice, it will be a good idea to check each race organizers website for any cancellations.

We’ll catch you “On The Run” Next time!

We always like your input!   Feel free to leave a comment or suggestions.  Keep checking us out weekly for your Running info in South Hampton Roads and we’ll try to catch you or maybe your friends…”On The Run!”  Look for “On The Run here on WAVY.com or archived at ontherunwithflex.wordpress.com.  Happy Running!

Today, Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms and Peter Lukko, the president of Comcast Spectacor, acknowledged they are no longer hopeful a deal can be made with the next week or so to bring a major league sports team to Virginia, that team being the Kings.

“Both parties remain committed to the concept of an arena in Virginia Beach and to continuing discussions with a potential anchor tenant. That said, we have not reached a level of progress that will allow the city to go before the General Assembly to request the necessary funding.”

So, the Kings will not be signing an agreement to come to Virginia Beach.

I spoke with Mayor Sessoms today and asked him if he was disappointed. He said, “Yes, but at the same time looking ahead to the future, and seeing opportunites like this again we know what to be prepared for. One city can’t do this alone in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I think we will have an opportunity like this again, hopefully in the very near future. Based on our experience I believe we will be able to negotiate better, have our partnerships in place with whoever we do this with ahead of time, and get out to the community ahead of time.”

Without that agreement with the Kings, Virginia Beach will not ask state legislators for the 150-million dollars they need to finance the deal.

Thus the Kings, who have never publicly admitted they were considering the move to Virginia, will most likely explore other options. Whether it be selling the team to folks in Seattle, perhaps working a deal to move the team to Anaheim, or just staying put in Sacramento.

There is no way to tell today just how far apart the various parties were from agreeing to a deal–Beach officials were adamant they would not build the arena unless they could guarantee no risk to the taxpayer. And the Kings obviously weren’t going to make the move unless they were convinced it was a good deal for them.

Time has run out, the city needed a deal to take to the state, saying the $150 million was critical to make the project happen.

If there is a positive to the arena talks–it re-energized the entertainment complex planned for the old Dome site at the Oceanfront. That project, to be built by producer Michael Jenkins, using $120 million of his own money, should be finalized soon.

I’ll have more on the Mayor’s arena statement later today, and on WAVY News 10 at 6pm.

Tomorrow, December 11th, the Beach City Council is expected to vote overwhelmingly to continue negotiations on the project giving state leaders the confidence that from a local level, everybody is on board.

For now.

City leaders including Virginia Beach councilman Glenn Davis and the city’s finance director Patti Phillips traveled to Dallas late last week to continue talks with Comcast-Spectacor, along with Kevin Taylor the project manager at consultant HKS, Inc. On it’s website, HKS quoted Sims Hinds, managing director of HKS World Events as saying, “We believe that Virginia Beach and Southeastern Virginia represents the last untapped major sports and entertainment market in the country.”

HKS World Events has been working with the Virginia Beach Development Authority on the arena project for more than two and a half years. HKS designed the new Cowboys Stadium, Dodgers Stadium, along with NBA arenas in Dallas and Indianapolis.

But all the talking in the world is not going to come up with the money needed to build the arena and pay moving expenses for the Kings.

Next up, trying to convince members of both houses of the Virginia General Assembly to kick in $150 million to help with the costs.

The state session begins on January 9th. Because the request for state money came in so late, it was not included in the budget introduced by Gov. Bob McDonnell. So now it is up to local Delegates and Senators to submit a budget amendment to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees. That must be done by Friday, January 4th. Local Senator Frank Wagner is expected to carry the legislation to Richmond but neither he nor Beach Senator Jeff McWaters have yet to endorse it. Delegates Ron Villanueva, Chris Stolle, Sal Iaquinto, and Bob Purkey are believed to have been briefed on the proposal but none of them have made any public comment.

Longtime Delegate Bob Tata, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, was quoted by Aaron Applegate in the Virginian Pilot last month calling the arena concept, “pie in the sky.” But sources say skepticism by the local delegation in Hampton Roads came before they were given details of the proposal.

After the budget amendment has been submitted, it will have to go before a subcommittee, then the House Appropriations Committee, and then to the entire House of Delegates before it can be adopted. When, and in this case (a big) if this happens, the House budget is sent to the Senate for consideration.

One noticeable stumbling point in the state request may be that Virginia Beach wants to use $80 million of the $150 million to pay the owners of the Kings for moving costs, the anticipated 30 million dollars demanded by the other NBA owners in what they call a “relocation fee”, and loss of revenue the team expects to suffer while having to play in smaller arena’s in Virginia during the two years it will take to build the new building at the beach.

Negotiators may be better served finding another way to come up with the $80 million for the team–using the state money instead for construction and other costs.

Asking for state funds to pay the owners of the Kings George and Gavin Maloff, may be a deal breaker, and this deal is fragile enough.

It’s doubtful the arena can be built without help from the state, so the support of local legislators and eventually law makers from around the state are going to be paramount for this to happen.

Next Tuesday, the newly formed Citizen Communications Committee for the proposed project will hold a public Town Hall meeting at the Virginia Beach Convention Center to gather input from citizens.

So while the arena and the relocation of the Kings is far from being a done deal, it will all be over soon one way or another. The state General Assembly session is only 45 days long, meaning it ends February 23rd.

And the many people associated with the project that I have talked to say there does not seem to be a chance the arena can be built without both the state money and without a long term lease signed by the Kings.

Stay tuned.

We’re “On The Run” Again!

Rushing Into The Holidays!

The Month of December is sneaky. We get excited when it first arrives, get caught up in festivities, then before we know it…moves on. We’ll try to keep things interesting here as we look back at the first December weekend with the Jingle Bell 5K in Norfolk, where if you didn’t break 18 minutes, you were left out of the Top Three. Peter Mitchell, speedy at age 18, was the Overall Winner in 17:12, while the Ladies were led by Norfolk’s Nicole Dewey in 19:41.

On the Peninsula, there’s not stopping the action, as the Run With The Son For Haiti 5K produced swift times for both Overall Winner and friend of the Blog, Todd Kessler who rocked the 3.1 minutes in 17:18, while another great Running friend of our blog, Karen Terry sparkled with a stellar 17:30.

While Busch Gardens is all decked out with lights and celebration, last Sunday’s Christmastown 8K Dash, where Brittany Van Nielen won the Women’s Title with a solid 30:56. Men’s Champion, Roger Hopper was the Overall Winner with a 28:36.

What’s On The Horizon?

As the season starts to wind down, you can race around the Base with the Langley 10 miler Saturday around the Langley Air Force Base, or hit the Oceanfront for the Surfin’ Santa Ten Miler. at the Oceanfront.

Want a little change of pace? Try this- Sunday, at First Landing State Parkis the Second Annual Spartyka Warrior Challenge, an adventure race that presents the ultimate in obstacle competitions.

Cudos to a Baaaaaaad Man!

Billy Edwards goes Long and Strong next weekend!

Next weekend, the Seashore 50K rolls through First Landing State Park. That’s 31 miles in case you wondered. That may be enough for most of us “mortals” but, last year’s winner and Big Time Friend of our Blog, Billy Edwardsv will keep on going. And Going. And Going… You see, Edwards, after finishing the race will go back on the course and run longer raising funds for Team4Mil, a great group of experienced endurance military cyclists from around the world. The team promotes wounded warrior participation and you can still help a great cause this holiday season. Check out Billy Edwards on Facebook, or his website, billythekidtriathlete.com, or to learn more about Team4Mil, check them out at team4mil.org. Go Get’em Billy!

That’s the latest for this week. Good Luck to you if you are racing this weekend! I’ll catch you next time…”On The Run!”

You never Know Who You might Find…”On The Run!”

On The Run with Sportswrap Running Reporter, Jon “Flex” Leiding on WAVY.com.