RunPro - Roads Scholars Program

Our Programs & Services

RunPRO : Roads Scholar Program

Since the early 1960's, the RRCA has had a long history of supporting the development of elite runners seeking to represent the U.S. at national and international events. Through our RunPro and Roads Scholar programs we seek to support and engage emerging elites in the mission of the RRCA.

RunPro.com

The purpose of RunPro.com and RunPro Camp is to assist promising young distance runners in making the transition from collegiate to professional running. The intent is to provide athletes with a comprehensive overview of what it takes and what is involved in becoming a professional distance runner - competing on the track, the roads, and in cross country.

RunPro Camp

The purpose of the RunPro Camp is to personally connect aspiring professional runners with the resources necessary to pursue a professional running career. The next RunPro Camp will be held in July 2017 in Arlington, VA. Application information can be found on RunPro.com and 15-20 athletes will be funded to attend this special orientation to professional running. Athletes interested in running distance events on the track and on the roads professionally are encourage to apply.

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Roads Scholar® Program

Since 1996, the Road Runners Club of America has awarded 118 grants totaling $565,000 through its Roads Scholar program to assist American post-collegiate road runners who show great promise to develop into national and world class road running athletes. As of 2016, over 60% of the grantees (60 total) have gone on to run at the Olympic Trials after receiving the grant in either the Marathon or distance events for Track. Three grantees, Deena (Drossin) Kastor, Amy (Yoder) Begley, and Alexi Pappas (for Greece) earned spots on Olympic Teams.

Grants in the amount of $5,000.00 per year have been awarded to four to six athletes annually since the program’s inception. The program was created to improve the state of long distance running in the United States.

The program is directed towards runners who:

Are U.S. citizens
Have recently graduated from college (or whose class has graduated)
Plan to pursue elite distance running as a career
Expect to earn less than $35,000 from all sources during the calendar year

The deadline to apply for a 2017-18 Roads Scholar grant is September 1, 2017. Attendees to the RunPro Camp are strongly encouraged to apply, however attendance at RunPro Camp is not a requirement for receiving a Roads Scholar grant.