Road Runners Club of America
Empowering Everyone to Run
Search
Learn to Become a Member

RunPro Camp

RunPro Camp provides an in-person experience to educate aspiring professional runners.
RunPro Logo.2020

The goal of RunPro Camp is to provide a comprehensive overview of what it takes and what is involved in becoming a professional distance runner, competing on the track, roads, in cross country, and on trails/ultras. 

The interactive camp will provide opportunities to:

  • Get to know other aspiring professional runners.
  • Meet coaches and athletes from professional training centers.
  • Determine what type of representation, if any, would be best.
  • Learn about elite race recruitment and criteria for receiving travel expenses and prize money.
  • Understand USATF rules governing professional running along with opportunities to represent the U.S. in international competition.

Through an application and selection process, the RRCA will provide a travel stipend for 15-20 athletes to attend this unique orientation to the world of professional distance running.  Additional topics that are covered in during  RunPro Camp include: understanding drug testing, community involvement, managing finances and taxes, funding and sponsorship opportunities, and more.

All applications will be reviewed, and you will be notified by mid-June if your travel and lodging will be funded by the RRCA.

icon link arrow left 1Deadline to apply is June 15, 2022.  NCAA eligibility must be completed before the Camp date of July 28 – 30, 2022.

Overview of 2022 Camp

  • Date:  July 28 – 30, 2022
  • Camp Location: Double Tree Crystal City, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22202 icon pin 1
  • Funding: Up to 20 selected athletes will be provided with lodging, meals, and travel reimbursement.
  • Meals: Breakfast and lunch will be provided at the meeting location. Dinner will be provided at selected venues.
  • Travel:  The RRCA will provide a certain level of reimbursement for athletes who travel, train, car.  Details will be provided to invited athletes.

2022 Schedule


Friday, July 29

6:30 AM: Meet to Run

8:30-9:00 AM: Check-in and Breakfast provided by RRCA (DoubleTree Crystal City – Madison Room)

9:00-9:15 AM: Welcome and Overview of RunPro Camp

  • Speaker: Jean Knaack, Executive Director

9:15-10:15 AM:  USA Track & Field and USATF Running Circuit

  • Speaker: Mike Scott, USATF

10:15-10:30 AM: Break

10:30-11:45 AM :Anti-Doping Compliance

  • Speaker: Scott Davern, Education Program Development Coordinator, USADA

11:45 -1:00 PM: Lunch provided by RRCA; Special keynote speaker Kiera D’Amato

1:00-2:00 Taxes & Finances

  • Speaker: Lauren Zangardi Haynes, Spark Financial Advisors

2:00-3:00 PM: Training at a Distance Center

  • Speaker: Chris Lundstrom, Minnesota Distance Elite

3:00 – 4:00 PM:  Agent Representation vs. Self Representation

  • Speaker: Hawi Sports Management

4:00-5:00 PM: Professional Athlete Recruitment and Running for Prize Money

  • Speaker: Bill Orr, Elite Athlete Coordinator, Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run

6:30 PM-9:00 PM VIP Dinner, Potomac View Room at the DoubleTree Crystal City

Saturday, July 17

6:30 AM: Meet to Run

8:30-9:00 AM: Breakfast provided by RRCA (DoubleTree Crystal City – Madison Room)

9:00-10:15 AM: Achieving Success Off-The-Track: Pro Runner Support Initiatives

  • Speaker: Jack Wickens, AthleteBiz & USATF Foundation

10:00-11:15 AM: Taking Care of Your Mental Health Needs

  • Speaker: Benson Langat, CSW, QMHP

11:15-Noon: Marketing Yourself & Building a Brand as a Pro Runner

  • Speaker: Jean Knaack, RRCA Executive Director

RunPro Camp Application

Deadline to apply is June 15, 2022
NCAA eligibility must be completed before the Camp date of July 28 - 30, 2022.
Apply for RunPro Camp

What People Say about RunPro Camp

My success as a professional runner would not have been possible without the knowledge and financial support I received from the RRCA, first by attending RunPro Camp and then as a Roads Scholar.
Katy Jermann
Katy JermannMinnesota Distance Elite
Each year I attend RunPro Camp I am impressed by the campers and their willingness to learn. I then keep an eye on those athletes over the next year and, sure enough, I see many of them applying what they learned to their advantage as they navigate the post-collegiate running world.
Ben Rosario
Ben RosarioHead Coach, HOKA ONE ONE NAZ Elite
Previous
Next

RunPro Camp Alumni

  • Benjamin Allen – Concordia Univ., St. Paul
  • Gabrielle Jennings – Furman Univ.
  • Judi Jones –Univ. of Nebraska
  • Vincent Kiprop – Univ. of Alabama
  • Grace Moore – Temple Univ.
  • Aidan Reed – Southern Utah Univ.
  • Joshua Yeager – South Dakota State Univ.
  • Nadir Yusuf – Minnesota State Univ. Moorehead

RunPro Camp – 2019

  • Colin Abert – Penn State Univ.
  • David Barney – Florida State Univ.
  • Annie Frisbie (Roads Scholar) – Iowa State Univ.
  • Paul Hogan – UMass Lowell
  • Frank Lara (Roads Scholar) – Furman Univ.
  • John Lewis – Clemson Univ.
  • Janelle Noe – Univ. of Toledo
  • Josette Norris – Georgetown Univ.
  • Dhruvil Patel (Roads Scholar) – North Central College
  • Andrea Shine – Univ. of Iowa
  • Jaci Smith – Air Force Academy
  • Rachel Walny – Bowling Green State Univ.
  • Matt Welch – Univ. of Portland

RunPro Camp – 2018

  • Christine Bendzinski – Bucknell Univ.
  • Joey Berriatua – Santa Clara Univ.
  • Colin Bennie – Syracuse Univ.
  • Allie Buchalski – Furman Univ.
  • Jacob Dumford – Univ. of Notre Dame
  • Philo Germano – Syracuse Univ.
  • Alexandria Hackett – Abilene Christian Univ.
  • Michaela Hackett – Abilene Christian Univ.
  • Michelle Howell – Jacksonville Univ.
  • Karis Jochen – Texas A&M Univ.
  • Christopher Marco – Monmouth Univ.
  • Jamie Morrissey – Univ. of Michigan
  • Jaimie Phelan – Univ. of Michigan
  • Quamel Prince – Tennessee State Univ.
  • Chandler Reid – Adams State Univ.
  • Troy Reeder – Furman Univ.
  • Maria Scavuzzo – Miami (Ohio) Univ.
  • Colin Schultz – Liberty Univ.
  • Madeline Strandemo – Univ. of Minnesota
  • Emi Trost – Univ. of Minnesota Duluth

RunPro Camp – 2017

  • Gabrielle Anzalone (Roads Scholar) – Univ. of Wisconsin Madison
  • Kelsey Bruce – Dallas Baptist Univ.
  • Breanna Colbenson – Univ. of Minnesota Duluth
  • Reed Fischer (Roads Scholar) – Drake Univ.
  • Rianna Goins – UC Davis
  • Ian La Mere – Univ. Wisconsin Platville
  • Kevin Lewis – Univ. of Iowa
  • Jennifer Owen – Arizona State Univ.
  • Joel Reichow – South Dakota State Univ.
  • Ryan Rutherford – Illinois State Univ.
  • Rachel Weber – The Ohio State Univ.
  • Futsum Zienasellassie (Roads Scholar) – Northern Arizona Univ.

RunPro Camp – 2016

  • Erika Barr – UC Davis
  • Margaret Connelly – Iowa State University
  • Jeremy Greenwald – Georgia Tech
  • Willie Milam – Gonzaga University
  • Shannon Osika – University of Michigan
  • Timothy Rackers – University of Tulsa
  • Samantha Rivard – University of Minnesota-Duluth
  • Abbabiya Simbassa (Roads Scholar) – University of Oklahoma

RunPro Camp – 2015

  •  Brogan Austin (RunPro Grantee) – Drake University
  •  Christopher Burnett – Wichita State University
  •  Johnny Crain (Roads Scholar) – North Central College
  •  Josh Dedering – University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
  •  Grace Graham-Zamudio – Loyola Marymount University
  •  Katy Moen (Roads Scholar/RunPro Grantee) – Iowa State University
  •  Robert Molke (Roads Scholar) – Syracuse University
  •  Mark Parrish – University of Florida
  •  Tara Richardson – Western State Colorado University
  •  Bethany Sachtleben (RunPro Grantee) – George Mason University

  •  Rachel Sorna – Cornell University

RunPro Camp – 2014

  • Juli Accurso – Ohio University
  • Samantha Bluske (Roads Scholar/RunPro Grantee) – Iowa State University
  • Nicole DeMercurio – University of Georgia
  • Daniel Docherty –  Loyola University Chicago
  • Lindsey Drake – Gonzaga University
  • Emily Gordon – (Roads Scholar) UCLA
  • Katie Hoaldridge – University of Texas
  • Brittni Hutton – Oakland University
  • Olivia Mickle – University of Texas
  • Daniel Quigley – (Roads Scholar) University of Missouri
  • Ethan Shaw – (Roads Scholar) Dartmouth University
  • Sheree Shea – Loyola Marymount University
  • Susanna Sullivan – University of Notre Dame
  • Jeffrey Veiga – Univ. of Massachusetts Lowell

RunPro Camp – 2013

  • Eric Finan – (Roads Scholar)
  • Michael Heller – Kent State University
  • Meghan Nelson – (Roads Scholar) Iowa State Univ
  • Jonathan Peterson – (Roads Scholar) UC Davis
  • Gabriel Proctor – (Roads Scholar) Wes Colorado State
  • Cydney Ross – Duke University
  • Ben Sathre – University of St. Thomas
  • Danielle Stack – Iowa State University
  • Gina Valgoi – Loyola University
  • Amanda Winslow – Florida State University
  • Kristen Findley – Vanderbilt University
  • Cate Westenhover – Baylor University
  • Lara Crofford – Shippensburg University
  • Lauren Kleppin – (Roads Scholar) Western State

RunPro Campers – 2011

  • Sarah Porter
  • Michael Crouch
  • Kaitlin Gregg
  • Devotia Moore
  • Kate Van Buskirk
  • Kristen McGlynn
  • Darryll Oliver
  • Christian Gonzalez
  • Matt Llano (Roads Scholar)
  • Mattie Suver (Roads Scholar)
  • Jonathan Sees
  • Elizabeth Yetzer
  • Colton Tully-Doyle
  • Jon Grey – (Roads Scholar)
  • Mary Cate Quiett
  • Andrew Benford
  • Amy Van Alstine (Roads Scholar)
  • David Adams
  • Lisa Baumert
  • Emily Anderson
  • Alison Parris
  • Jamie Cheever
  • Chris Rombough

Roads Scholar Grants

RunPro Education Resources

Donate to the Roads Scholar Fund

Help support the next generation of great American distance runners
Donate Now

Follow RRCA Supported Elites on Strava

Want to see how RRCA supported elite athletes train? Join our Roads Scholars Strava group and follow along
Join us on Strava
Scroll to Top