The Victoria International Running Society (VIRS) is a not-for-profit society that presents athletics events and encourges 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 17 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 both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Trials.
100% of the funds generated through our events are channeled 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.
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 program to provide travel funding for Victoria’s up-and-coming and elite road/cross-country athletes to compete at the national and international levels.
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 vision to maintain, encourage and expand Victoria’s status as the running capital of Canada.