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.
RunPro Camp is currently on hiatus as we work to update the program
Overview of 2025 Camp
- Date: July 10 – 12, 2025
- Camp Location: Double Tree Crystal City, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22202
- 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.
2024 RunPro Camp Schedule
2025 Schedule
Friday, July 12
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 : Sponsorships and Working with Brands
Speaker: Julie Culley, 2012 Olympian, Former Sports Marketing Manager, Brooks
11:45 -12:30 PM: Lunch provided by RRCA
12:30-1:30 Training at a Distance Center
Speaker: Chris Lundstrom, Minnesota Distance Elite
1:30-2:30 PM: Building Your Personal Running Brand
Speakers: Liam Fayle and Ashley Henderson, Full Circle Management
2:30 – 3:30 PM: Agent Representation
Speaker: Samantha Hanson, Hawi Management
3:30-4:30 PM: Anti Doping Compliance
Speaker: Scott Davern, Education Program Development Coordinator, USADA
4:30-5:30 PM: Working with an Elite Recruiter
Speaker: Bill Orr, Elite Ahtlete Coordinator, Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Miler
6:30 PM-9:00 PM Group Dinner, Matchbox Pentagon City
Saturday, July 13
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: Big Changes Looming In Our Sport – Can I Make A Living?
Speaker: Jack Wickens, AthleteBiz & USATF Foundation
10:15-11:30 AM: Taking Care of Your Mental Health Needs
Speaker: Benson Langat, CSW, QMHP
11:30-Noon: Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
Speaker: Jean Knaack, RRCA Executive Director, Marcus Grunewald, Executive Director, Dallas Marathon
RunPro Camp Application
RunPro Camp Alumni
2021 - 2024 RunPro Campers
RunPro Camp
– 2024
- Rachel Anderson – Southern Illinois Univ.
- Braxton Bruer – Minnesota State – Moorehead
- Dana Feyen – Iowa State
- Taigen Hunter-Galvin – Rice Univ.
- Kevin Kirk – Weber State
- Tanner Maier – Minnesota State – Mankato
- Adam Swanson – Eastern Illinois
- Makenna Thurston – Minnesota State – Mankato
- Andrew Whitinger – IUPUI
– 2023
- Clayton Duchatschek– Wichita State
- Merga Gemeda – Univ. of South Dakota
- Parley Hannan – Ithaca College
- Billie Hatch – Weber State
- Cailie Logue – Iowa State
- Joseph Minor – South Dakota State
- Amanda Montplaisir – Minnesota State – Mankato
- Cailee Peterson – Univ. of Minnesota – Duluth
- Christian Ricketts – California Baptist
- Titus Winders – Iowa State
RunPro Camp – 2022
- Owen Hoeft – Univ. of Minnesota
- Jacob Klemz – Univ. of Portland
- Brent Leber –Furman
- Melissa Menghini – Univ. of Missouri
- Riley Osen – Univ. of Portland
- Jeralyn Poe – Michigan State
- Nick Randazzo – Univ. of California, Santa Barbara
- Stephanie Sherman – Univ. of Toledo
- Cole Shugart– Univ. of Portland
- Brody Smith – Syracuse
RunPro Camp – 2021
- Benjamin Allen – Concordia Univ., St. Paul
- Gabrielle Jennings – Furman
- Judi Jones –Univ. of Nebraska
- Vincent Kiprop – Alabama
- Grace Moore – Temple
- Aidan Reed – Southern Utah
- Joshua Yeager – South Dakota State
- Nadir Yusuf – Minnesota State – Moorehead
2011-2019 RunPro Campers
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