Centreville residents Michael and Vanessa Spiller, both 41, are the owners of NVRacing for adventure racers and triathletes in Northern Virginia. From their house in Confederate Ridge they plan and orchestrate training sessions and clinics for serious and casual outdoor sports people.
By day, Michael is a CIO for a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C., and Vanessa is a marketing professor at George Mason University and John Hopkins University.
THIS CLUB is an outdoor sports adventure club, where people train for triathlons, mountain biking, regular biking and swimming. The triathlete racing membership is $160; the adventure racing membership is $150, and the social membership is $40.
"It is a way for like-minded people to train together," said Vanessa, who added that the club's other function is to "introduce people to the sport of adventure racing."
Most training sessions and clinics are on the weekends with some weekday activities. These activities are usually held at various Fairfax County parks and recreation sites such as Burke Lake, Fountainhead and Bull Run Regional Park.
The couple began this business because Vanessa did not like to train by herself. Both Michael and Vanessa always worked out, and Vanessa even joined a boot camp exercise class. This led to their extreme sports background and their interest to start this adventure club.
NORMALLY EACH workout session is attended by eight to 12 participants, and might include mountain biking for 14 miles and a 20-mile trail run.
"Anyone man or woman can participate. It is for ALL levels and interests," said Vanessa. "You can put whatever kind of time you want into it. If you choose to train once a week, then you come out once a week. You will get out of it, what you choose to put into it."
This is an all-year-round club with activities every weekend and most weekdays. There are also three parties held during the year. At this time NV Racing is not directing any races, however Vanessa added, "that is something we plan to do this October."
MARK HARRIS, 33, of Centreville has been a member of NVRacing for one year. The IT Support Specialist for PHR+A in Chantilly joined the club because it is "an environment that keeps you engaged and motivated," he said.
This is his first season of racing and he has scheduled two triathlons, trail running races and some mountain bike races.
"I know that other club members will be at the events to help support, push me along and provide a sense of community," he said.
Mark agreed with the purpose of the club when he stated that "in the name of safety it is nice to be able to go out with a group of people in case you hurt yourself."
Michael is an adventure racer. The usual adventure race involves at least two of the following: orienteering, navigation, cross country running, paddling, mountain bike riding and climbing. These events can last as short as a few hours or as long as 10 days. Vanessa is an experienced triathlete. A triathlon includes three events: swimming, biking and running.
ADVENTURE SPORTS has become a family affair for the Spiller family. "We want to set a great example for our kids so we have incorporated it into our lives with them," said Vanessa.
Michael is doing his first father/son adventure race with their son Cole in April.
Adventure sports "is a way of life for us and we love it and we want to share the passion with others," said Vanessa.
Their sponsors are Superior Paving, Spectrum and IIS Data.
NVRacing's newsletter has information on race schedules and where the races are going to take place. Go to www.nvracing.org.