WVJS is a USATF registered running club (number 117) that provides a number of running oriented activities including fielding teams for the annual Pacific Association USATF Championships. This year we are fielding Men's and Women's Open Teams, Men's and Women's Masters (40+) Team, Men's and Women's Seniors (50+) Teams, Men's Super Seniors (60+) Team, and a Men's Veteran (70+) Team. Our Men's Masters, Seniors, Super Seniors, and Veterans Teams have traditionally been among the top in PA/USATF. See the history page for more information.
There are about 150 club members of varying ages, running interest, and talent. Annual dues are $20 ($30/family). A newsletter is published every 3 months with schedules and results of workouts and races of all club members.
We meet at the
On the West Valley College Track at 5:30 PM we run 3 miles of intervals. The interval distances are rotated weekly: 12x 400 (start one every 3 minutes, 6 x 800 (start one every 6 minutes), 4 x 1200 (start one every 9 minutes), and 3 x 1600 (start one every 12 minutes). Then the cycle repeats.
A couple of semi-regular long runs are available to those interested. One group leaves from the West Valley College Track area at 7:00 AM. They usually run 7-20 miles at 6:30 - 8:00 pace. Check with Walt VanZant.
The club regularly fields Men's and Women's teams to compete
in the PA/USATF annual LDR and Cross Country competitions. Our team number is 117.
LDR PA/USATF Championship races are generally held at most common distances
from 1 mile to the marathon. Races are held at various locations throughout
Northern California and
Cross Country races are usually in the 4-6K range and are held in the extended San Francisco Bay Area.
Club members are catagorized into one of six divisions depending on their ability. The Elite Division consists of runners who can run a 10K in under 37:00 or those runners so designated by "the committee"; A Division runners can run under 40:00; B Division runners can run under 42:30; C Division runners can run under 45:00; D Division runners run under 49:00; and E Division runners run a 10K at 49:00 and over.
A number of races are designated "Racer of the Year" events. The competition is held in these events within each division. The individual in each division with the best time in that event scores 25 points, the 2nd best time scores 24 points, etc. Each individual's best 8 events for the year count toward the competition.
"Racer of the Year" events consist of a number of road races at distances from 5K to Half Marathon as selected by vote of club members each year, and the WVJS Halloween Relays, the fastest Saturday morning Farwell course run of the year, the fastest marathon of the year, the fastest Saturday morning track mile (scheduled twice each year), the fastest total of the six Saturday morning races.
Within each division the runner with the lowest overall total of their best time in each of the six Saturday race courses wins the award.
Each club member earns 1 point for every mile run through the year and 20 points for showing up at a Saturday workout. Those earning 2,000 points get a bronze certificate, those earning 3,000 points get a silver certificate, and those earning 4,000 points get a gold certificate.
An Awards Dinner-Dance is usually held in January featuring serious annual awards from the above contests as well as some less-than-serious awards.
Most years some club members go back to run the Boston Marathon and gather for war stories and dinner after the race.
Every year the club sponsors and runs the Holy City Race, a
9.1 mile race run in the
Every summer the club has a 3+ mile race for members that is handicapped to give everyone an equal chance of winning. The event is held on a Saturday morning followed by a breakfast prepared by Rich and Judy Collins. See past results/history.
On a Saturday near Valentine's day we hold a team race, consisting of fairly equal 4-man teams. The placing of the teams is based upon the total of the finishing places of the members of each team. The top teams receive boxes of Valentine candy as their awards.
The
club usually puts together multiple teams for this annual race held at