SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A BIT ABOUT THE CLUB

We were formed in 1982 as a club for "non-registered runners", that is people who wanted to participate in fun runs and the like without being members of a competitive athletic club. That continues. More broadly, we actively encourage all fun running, not just within our group.

Visitors are welcome at all of our runs, as many times as you wish.

TAN TIME TRIALS (TTT) are held on the first Saturday of every month, commencing at 7.30 AM, over your choice of one circuit: 4 km or two circuits: 8 km, run clockwise, that is, up the Anderson Street hill. To make the exact distance, there is a dogleg up a gravel path to the King George V statue shortly after Government House Drive.
On change of season months, March, June, September and December, the start is at the Pillars of Wisdom on Alexandra Avenue (Melway 2G A9), about 140 m east of opposite the Swan Street Bridge. All 4 km runners start together. 8 km runners are divided into two grades and are handicapped. A list of handicaps is displayed on a board. A Grade is fast runners, B Grade the rest of us. The scratch starters in both grades start with the 4 km runners.
Please be in time to see the Handicapper for a start time.
Handicap winners who are club members win a "Kevin Browne Trophy".
After the run, there is a breakfast cooked by club volunteers beside the riverbank. It is free to members and $3 for non-members.
The club quarterly magazine "Stride Out" is distributed to members.
On the other months the starting point is at the Malta George Cross Monument, opposite the foyer of the Shrine of Remembrance, on Birdwood Avenue (Melway 2F K11) about 300 m east of Government House Drive corner. These are non-handicap runs with free tea and biscuits.
IMPORTANT When you complete your run, note your clock time on the timing clock and proceed to the timekeepers to record your time.
It costs nothing to run, members and visitors, but gold coin donations are appreciated to help cover our costs. Toss them in the blue bucket. There is no entry form.
Car keys can be left in a red tub. While they are left at your own risk, we have never had trouble. (The ones with the BMW tag are for a '66 Escort.)
RECORDS. Your performance at TTTs and other club runs is recorded in Stride Out and on the club web page.
ON THE WEB The club web site is www.vrr.org.au.
OTHER VRR RUNS. The following other club runs have entry fees. Members pay a discounted entry, except juniors. All juniors pay a low entry fee to encourage participation. There is a junior team discount for groups of 10 or more. The secretary has details.

• We conduct five runs on Sunday mornings through the year at scenic locations spread over Melbourne. Each offers a choice of distances, including two with half marathons. Locations are Yarra Bend Park, Westerfolds Park, Maribyrnong River, Princes Park, Jells Park.
• During daylight saving, a Twilite Tan Time Trial is run on the second Thursday of each month from the Birdswood Avenue start point. Commence at 6.30 PM, running anti-clockwise, i.e., down the Anderson Street hill. All runners pay a nominal $2 entry fee.
• On the morning of New Years Eve, a 4 km and 8 km non-handicap run is held, starting at 7.30 AM from the Pillars of Wisdom. It is followed by a croissant and champagne (and orange juice and soft drink) breakfast.
• The club takes a major role in conducting the Angela Taylor Memorial Run in conjunction with the police Blue Ribbon Foundation.

Stride Out is the club quarterly magazine. As a visitor ask the secretary for a back copy. Contributions are welcome on topics of interest to runners.
CALENDAR The club compiles a calendar of coming fun runs in Victoria, which is on our web site and is printed and distributed at our runs. To compile this, we depend on advice from the organisers. If you know of a run being organised, please ask them to advise details to the secretary. If they supply a poster and entry forms, we will display it and make them available at our runs.
Updated calendars are sent by bcc email to members and also to non-members. To go on the bcc email list, send your email address to vicroadrunners@bigpond.com. There is no charge.
DIARY Members are provided a free log book on request for recording your running activities.
CLOTHING. A range of sport clothing with the club logo is available for purchase at club Saturday morning runs.
MEMBER AWARDS The VRR is not totally performance oriented. We have some high performance members - speed or endurance - and we admire them. But most members are fun runners. We aim for our own best and for enjoyment. So the club is participation oriented and recognises it with the following awards to members.
Tee shirts. Complete every Tan Time Trial from January to December (not including Twilites) and you receive a free printed 12 TTT tee shirt for that year.
50 Tans earns a 50 TTT tee shirt. They do not have to be consecutive or within a set period. 100 earns a plaque for your mantelpiece; 150, another tee shirt; 200 a wall plaque. All plus cheers when they are announced at the Tan.
The points system awards. Every time you run in a club run, except Twilites, you earn points. If you are among the fastest runners, there are bonus points. If you are a helper at a Sunday or NYE run, you earn the same points as a runner. Contributions to Stride Out earn points, with a proviso. You can only earn one set of points per activity.
These points are tallied through the club year, January to December. Recognising that age and gender affect performance, members are divided into age groups from Junior, (under 18) to Super Master, (over 70). The first, second and third male and female in each group receives a trophy at the Presentation Night dinner.
ADMINISTRATION The club is registered under the Associations Act and operates according to their rules, plus the club's own Rules. An Annual General Meeting of members is held which elects a committee of President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President- Running and Secretary, Vice President - Social and Secretary, Handicapper/Statistician and Committee Members. The AGM is held after the April Tan Time Trial.
HELPERS Being a fully voluntary organisation, we depend upon helpers to conduct our activities. You will gradually recognise some familiar faces who are the core helpers, but we also need occasional helpers. If ever a run is coming up and you wish to help instead of run, contact the secretary. Your contribution will be greatly appreciated.
SUGGESTIONS OR PROBLEMS No one, no organisation is perfect, but we are open-minded. Chat with a committee member.
In fact, chat with all the members, before and after runs. Have a tea or coffee and a biscuit or breakfast with us; because we are a friendly, sociable bunch.
Which is why we will be pleased to have you attend our runs.