Northern Virginia Running Club (NOVA)
by Erin Masterson
The Northern Virginia Running Club, affectionally known as NOVA by its members, has been a fixture in the DC area running community since the early 1970s. Some of NOVA's current members have been around since the club's inception, and have their ancient team jerseys to prove it. This loyalty is emblematic of the close-knit NOVA community, and the solid friendships that are formed through the club are often the reason many of the NOVA members keep coming back, year after year.
The Northern Virginia Running Club, affectionally known as NOVA by its members, has been a fixture in the DC area running community since the early 1970s. Some of NOVA's current members have been around since the club's inception, and have their ancient team jerseys to prove it. This loyalty is emblematic of the close-knit NOVA community, and the solid friendships that are formed through the club are often the reason many of the NOVA members keep coming back, year after year.
A member of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), NOVA welcomes runners of all levels and ages. The club is a diverse group made up of local elite athletes, former collegiate competitors, top Masters runners, long time members, and new runners training for their first race. NOVA serves to fill an important niche in the running community for serious runners who seek to train under the guidance of a professional coach in the company of a friendly, welcoming community of dedicated runners, all of whom also recognize the importance of balancing running with full professional and personal lives.
The club is best known for their weekly Tuesday track workouts at TC Williams or Wakefield High Schools in Alexandria. This interval workout, which can be tailored to each runner's fitness level, is designed and supervised to help NOVA runners increase strength, endurance, and race fitness. Separate pace groups allow all runners to feel comfortable training at their own speed, but with a healthy level of team support and camaraderie to push themselves out on the track.
NOVA benefits from having a professional, experienced coach to guide the workouts. NOVA Coach Jerry Alexander, a former Division I collegiate Track and Cross Country Coach at American University and the University of the District of Columbia, has been coaching NOVA runners since 2005, and has also guided the elite athletes of the Georgetown Running Club (GRC) since 2010. A dedicated, caring, and responsive coach, Alexander has helped many a NOVA athlete achieve (and often exceed) their running goals. He does this by taking an individualized approach to each runner, and says, "I've learned over the years that coaching is not a one-size-fits-all proposition...the benefit of having a coach is that the coach can determine what works for you, and what does not. I'm experienced enough to know that a realistic assessment of each athlete's strengths and weaknesses greatly increases his or her chances for success." Read more about Coach Alexander here.
NOVA benefits from having a professional, experienced coach to guide the workouts. NOVA Coach Jerry Alexander, a former Division I collegiate Track and Cross Country Coach at American University and the University of the District of Columbia, has been coaching NOVA runners since 2005, and has also guided the elite athletes of the Georgetown Running Club (GRC) since 2010. A dedicated, caring, and responsive coach, Alexander has helped many a NOVA athlete achieve (and often exceed) their running goals. He does this by taking an individualized approach to each runner, and says, "I've learned over the years that coaching is not a one-size-fits-all proposition...the benefit of having a coach is that the coach can determine what works for you, and what does not. I'm experienced enough to know that a realistic assessment of each athlete's strengths and weaknesses greatly increases his or her chances for success." Read more about Coach Alexander here.
NOVA runner Dave Wertz says, "NOVA strikes a nice balance between being competitive and being social and fun, and I have always thought that NOVA is a caring group." More than one relationship and marriage have found their start in the club, and many NOVA members have benefitted from the support of the club through all variety of life transitions; the routine and challenge of a weekly track workout with peers always serving to keep things grounded and moving forward.
In addition to the weekly Tuesday night track workouts, other NOVA activities include Thursday evening tempo runs at Bluemont Park in Arlington and weekend long runs in DC during marathon training season. NOVA also hosts an annual 5k race (this year scheduled for Saturday, September 21), parties and social events, and a monthly happy hour held after Tuesday track practice at Capitol City Brewing Company in Shirlington.
In addition to the weekly Tuesday night track workouts, other NOVA activities include Thursday evening tempo runs at Bluemont Park in Arlington and weekend long runs in DC during marathon training season. NOVA also hosts an annual 5k race (this year scheduled for Saturday, September 21), parties and social events, and a monthly happy hour held after Tuesday track practice at Capitol City Brewing Company in Shirlington.
To show appreciation for the W&OD Trail, where many of the NOVA activities and races are held, NOVA hosts a biannual trail cleanup for the club's sponsored 2 mile portion of the trail, from Columbia Pike to Bluemont Park in Arlington. NOVA members get together to collect trash and beautify the trail, helping to keep the trail and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed clean. See a writeup on the latest cleanup effort here.
Within the greater Washington DC running community, NOVA is active in the team race competition, placing second overall in last December's team division for the Pacers Jingle All the Way 8k, and is planning several team races as well as volunteering opportunities this coming fall.
A dedicated leadership board, led by NOVA President Justin Buenaflor and Vice President Amanda Williams, in addition to a weekly newsletter and active social media presence, help to keep NOVA members updated on team race results, upcoming races, running trends and news of interest, and the latest blog post or featured article by NOVA Social Media Director Erin Masterson.
Interested members can join NOVA for a run or track workout before signing up for membership. Contact NOVA President Justin Buenaflor (justinbuenaflor@hotmail.com) or NOVA Social Media Director Erin Masterson (erincmasterson@gmail.com) for more information.
See NOVA featured in a recent Washington Post article here.
Membership: Annual membership $25, students $20, families $35
Website: www.novarun.com
Blog: http://novarunningclub.blogspot.com
Website: www.novarun.com
Blog: http://novarunningclub.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Northern-Virginia-Running-Club-NOVA/214799064342
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