President's Corner
A word from VAS President - Dan Foutz
To all our supporters, athletes, coaches, sponsors, and volunteers,
As I reflected on our autumn newsletter, I was inspired by the beautiful fall foliage that all of us in the Commonwealth are lucky enough to annually witness. The variety and diversity of the colors reflected back in the Virginia mountains reminded me of the unique and vibrant fabric of Virginia Amateur Sports. We have coaches, athletes, volunteers and sponsors from all walks of life and there is a rich diversity reflected in all of our events.
As we enter the season of thanksgiving, I want to personally thank you for your support of all Virginia Amateur Sports events and in particular our signature event: The Virginia Commonwealth Games at Liberty University.
For our individual spotlight this month we are proud to feature Andrew Parkins! Andrew is an avid distance runner and plays an integral part in the Star City races. We count on Andrew to mark our course for accuracy, and he remains a trusted volunteer. Thank you, Andrew!
While the end of the year may be approaching, we aren’t done celebrating the best in Virginia sports in 2023! Mark your calendar for The Star City Half Marathon, 10K and Kid’s Fun Run on Saturday, November 18th at the River’s Edge North off Reserve Ave in Roanoke, Virginia. This race is one of the oldest running events in Roanoke. The post-race activities are a blast with food and refreshment offerings from around the area will give everyone “A Taste of Roanoke.” You still have time to register for this event and become a part of the final leg of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Triple Crown. Visit our website for more information and to register.
As always, we appreciate your support and participation. Continue to train, practice, and prepare - I look forward to seeing you all out there!
Best wishes & Happy Thanksgiving!
Dan Foutz |
Games Information
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Registration is OPEN!
Check our website for Fall Sports and other updates!!
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Be sure to visit the Games Facebook page or use the green button above to check out the THOUSANDS of photos from the 2023 Games! Have photos from the Games you would like to share with us? Email your photos to info@commonwealthgames.org. |
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by Chris Moody - VAS Contributor
Behind every great event are volunteers working to make sure everything goes according to plan. For the Star City Half Marathon and 10k, Andrew Parkins is one of those people.
For about 10 years, Parkins estimates, he has been marking the course, starting when the Star City Striders were in charge of the race. He stayed on as a volunteer when Virginia Amateur Sports took over in 2021. The race starts at River’s Edge and follows the greenway east to Fallon Park where it doubles back. The course has been the same for years, but it still needs to be marked and have mile markers placed. Parkins is happy to be part of the effort.
He was an integral part of registration and social media promotion for the Striders, but VAS has that covered. Course marking is still a need, however, so look for Parkins in the hours leading up to the race to be out there. Posting signs to make sure the runners have the info they need.
“I still promote the race on my own social media. I’m an unofficial ambassador,” he says.
The Star City Half Marathon and 10k will be the morning of Saturday, Nov. 18. Once again there is the option of running the race virtually, although virtual race participants are not eligible for group or overall awards.
Parkins found the Striders when competing in the Star City Half Marathon soon after his 2006 graduation from Roanoke College. An Albemarle County native, the chance to compete for Roanoke College attracted him to the Roanoke Valley, then meeting his future wife, Bridget, kept him here. Bridget is also a runner who competed for the Maroons. (Read More) |
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