SVR Winter Series

PLEASE RENEW YOUR SVR MEMBERSHIP BEFORE SIGNING UP FOR THE 2026-27 WINTER SERIES!

Go here first: SVR membership renewal: https://runsignup.com/MemberOrg/ShenandoahValleyRunners/Info

Welcome to the Winter Series Race Info Page! 

Winter is around the corner and its time for the full series of eight races that make up SVR's annual get outside and get moving Winter Series challenge. We guarantee frosty mornings, icy winds, and, if we’re lucky, snow, so unpack your furriest hats, get out your warmest running jacket, and find those wool socks. Join us as we tackle the winter months and show Old Man Winter who is boss. If you meet the challenge and make it to every race, we will reward you with perfect attendance because we know how tough it is to make every race!

We also give out Winter Series overall and age group awards at our annual SVR Club Banquet in April 2027. Please be sure to read the Winter Series rules below and understand how the Winter Series is scored for those awards.

New for this year: we are happy to announce that the SVR Crew volunteer program has arrived, making it even easier to volunteer and help make the Winter Series a success. Other than timing services, the Winter Series is 100% volunteer managed. We cannot continue to offer the Winter Series unless we have members to help. We need you. Join us and our SVR Crew volunteers as we put on another great Winter Series.

Volunteers are needed before, during and after each race. Many volunteer slots do not overlap with a race, so it is possible to volunteer and still compete. Questions? Contact Gary at [email protected]

(Please note: we will not be offering individual race entries this year.) 

General Summary

We are happy to announce that we are keeping Winter Series pricing the same as last year:

• Individuals - $60
• Student (up to age 23) and seniors (65+) - $40
• Family (up to 4 family members) - $140

Registration for the full Winter Series can only be completed through RunSignup and is only available to active club members. Winter Series participants must have a 2027 club membership established before February 1, 2027 to be eligible for a Winter Series awards. Please renew your membership now before registering for the Winter Series!  Go here https://runsignup.com/MemberOrg/ShenandoahValleyRunners/Info

As a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) affiliated club, we agree to follow their race guidelines which state that no headphones, animals, or strollers are allowed at SVR events. Please note: because the South Berkeley Christmas 5k has its own guidelines, dogs and strollers are welcome at that race only.

Event Information

• Winter Series #1 South Berkeley Christmas 5k starts on Sunday Dec. 6 at 2:00pm.
  • You will use a SB5k bib only for this race.
  • Dogs and strollers are allowed at this race only. At all other races, they are not allowed.
• Winter Series races #2-8 start on Saturdays at 9:30am.
  • For WS #2-8, you will be assigned a timing chip to use for the rest of the Winter Series.
  • You will use the same timing chip for every race
  • Attach the chip securely to your shoe. 
  • CAUTION: Don’t lose your chip! Lost shoe chips cost $20 per chip to replace.
  • At the end of the Winter Series, return the chip to us so they can be re-used next year.
  • Chip pickup will be at the Berryville Turkey Trot and the Thanksgiving Day 5k in Stephens City, and at Winter Series #1. We may have other chip pickup opportunities which we will post on Facebook. Please pick your chip up as soon as possible before the start of the Winter Series.

 

Race Dates and Locations

 

Dec 06, 2026, Event #1 - South Berkeley Christmas 5K, Inwood, WV
Dec 19, 2026, Event #2 - Jingle Bell 5K, Blandy Arboretum, Boyce, VA
Jan 09, 2027, Event #3 - Wags at West Oaks Farm Market, Winchester, VA
Jan 23, 2027, Event #4 - 60 Minutes at Sherando Park, Stephens City, VA
Feb 6, 2027, Event #5 - Gambler 5K, Third Winchester Battlefield Park, Winchester, VA
Feb 13, 2027, Event #6 - Heart & Soles 5K,  Middletown, VA
Feb 27, 2027, Event #7 - 4 Miles at Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV
Mar 13, 2027, Event #8 - Ram Run 5K @ Strasburg High School, Strasburg, VA

SVR reserves the right to alter the race schedule at any point. 

Details about the races including information on parking and the race course will be posted on the SVR website, SVR Facebook page, and on the SVR Facebook event pages. We also send out emails to the Winter Series registrants. Look for more details as they become available.

Swag

Runners who register for the full Winter Series will receive a gym bag with the SVR logo and a Winter Series 26-27 colorful decal!

Swag is only guaranteed for the first 700 runners who check-in and get their timing chips for the Winter Series, so check in early and get your chip before the first race day!

Series Points & Awards 

Participants must be registered for the full Winter Series and have a 2027 club membership established before February 1, 2027 to be eligible for a Winter Series award. Renew your membership before registering for the Winter Series http://svrunners.org/join-svr/ 

There will be no awards presented at any race (other than race #1). This is a series event, with points given after each race, and accumulated through the series.

After each race, runners are given points based on their overall finish and their age group finish (ranked against other runners of the same listed gender). In most cases, runners will have unique scores in each category. Runners can receive up to 500 points for each race in each category. The first-place runner receives 500 points, second place receives 499 points, third place 498, etc. A runner's cumulative score will reflect their top 6 finishes in the series thus the maximum score any runner can achieve in each category at the end of the series is 3000. Runners must complete at least 5 races to be eligible for awards though the required number of races may decrease with cancellations. 

If it is necessary to cancel one race (see inclement weather statement below), and it cannot be rescheduled, a runner's cumulative score will reflect their top 6 out of 7 finishes with a maximum series score of 3000. Runners must complete at least 5 races to be eligible for an award.

If it is necessary to cancel two races, and they cannot be rescheduled, a runner's cumulative score will reflect their top 5 out of 6 finishes with a maximum series score of 2500. Runners must complete at least 4 races to be eligible for an award.

Awards will be given in the following categories.

Top five males & females overall
Top three males & females in the following age groups: 10 & under, 11-13, 14-16, 17-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & over 
*Age groups are calculated based on the runners age on December 31, 2025
**SVR reserves the right to combine age groups if there are insufficient runners in an age group to make it competitive
***There will be no duplication of overall and age group awards.
****Ties in age group points will be recognized. There will be no tie-breaker events. 
A Perfect Attendance award will be presented to each SVR Member who attends all scheduled events.

Awards will be presented at the SVR Club Banquet on April 4, 2027 at the Millwood Station Banquet Hall, 252 Costello Dr, Winchester, VA 22602. 

Inclement Weather

This is the Winter Series. We run in the cold, sleet, and (maybe) snow. Weather varies widely in the Shenandoah Valley so the decision to hold a race or not is based on the race’s location.

HOWEVER, YOU ARE THE BEST JUDGE OF WHETHER OR NOT IT IS SAFE TO TRAVEL TO/FROM AND RUN IN AN EVENT!

If the Race Director decides that an event must be canceled, all efforts will be made to quickly communicate the change in status. The SVR page on Facebook and email blasts will be the best source of current information. 

If an event is cancelled, we will try to reschedule it for the following weekend. Rescheduling is dependent upon many variables including staff, venue, and event permit availability.

Use #SVRuns when posting your photos. 

Any questions? Contact Winter Series Coordinator Duane at [email protected] or Colleen at [email protected]