Victoria International Running Society (VIRS)
The Victoria International Running Society (VIRS) is a non-profit society that
presents athletics events and supports the sport of running in Greater Victoria.
The VIRS promotes road and cross-country running, track and field events, as
well as recreational activities, such as jogging and walking for health and fitness.
Over the past 20 years, the VIRS has hosted many events and programmes in
Victoria for athletes of all abilities. These range from the Times Colonist 10K,
Learn to Run clinics, the Victoria International Track Classic,
Run with the Stars track camp, Senior Nationals Track and Field competitions,
including the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Trials.
In 2006, the VIRS was pleased to be able to establish an endowment fund at the
University of Victoria to encourage our athletes to train in Victoria.
The society also established The Athletes to Excellence Fund a complementary
programme to provide travel funding for Victoria’s up-and-coming and elite
road/cross-country athletes to compete at the national and international levels.
100% of the funds generated through our events are channelled back into the
Victoria community to promote the development of the sport, from supporting
our developing and elite athletes to encouraging growth of the sport at the
grass roots and school levels. Currently the majority of these funds are used to
present the Victoria International Track Classic and increasing both our
endowment fund and our Athlete to Excellence Programme.
The VIRS is a proud partner with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada,
working to raise funds by means of a pledge drive during the annual
Times Colonist 10K.
VIRS is also partner to the Regional Athletics Training Centre here in Victoria,
working together to achieve our long-term visions to maintain, encourage and
expand Victoria’s status as the running capital of Canada.