2011 RunPro Camp Review
The goal of the RunPro Camp is to encourage, support and provide the tools for more top collegiate distance runners to stay in the sport, pursue a professional running career, and train at a high level so that U.S. performances will continue to improve nationally and internationally.
The first RunPro Camp was held in July 2011. Twenty-one distance runners, who recently graduated from colleges and universities throughout the country, were selected to attend. A key strategy was to personally connect the athletes with people who are already part of professional U.S. distance running. Fifteen speakers made presentations and an elite athlete panel talked about their experiences and fielded questions.
Camp participants were excited about getting started on a professional running career. They were encouraged by the range of opportunities to train and race, the amount of support that is already in place, and the number of resources available – including a network of training centers.
The evaluations were overwhelmingly positive in their enthusiasm for the quantity and quality of the information they received during the interactive camp, the people they met (both athletes and speakers), and the value of the experience. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the highest mark, all attendees rated the camp as a 1. Comments included:
“Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to attend the RunPro Camp. Despite my best efforts to search around the Internet, I was pretty clueless before this. The camp was very helpful! It was really great to be surrounded by runners in the same situation as me and listening to the already pro runners. The different speakers also made me realize I have a lot of room for improvement in myself, not only when it comes to running but how I am perceived by others. Another big thing for me was understanding the finances of a runner’s life which was always a question in my mind.” Amy Van Alstine, University of Richmond
“I just want to thank you for all of the energy you put into the RunPro Camp. I think I can speak for all of the athletes that we felt so special, learned a lot, and were all very encouraged and motivated to persevere with our training.” Elizabeth Yetzer, University of Minnesota
Other attendees said the RunPro Camp: “Met expectations and then far exceeded them – I feel so much more prepared to be a professional runner.” “It was a great experience. I met lots of good people and good contacts.” “I expected to learn a lot, but I learned things I didn’t even know I needed to know.” “I hope to have made friends for a lifetime as we all pursue our careers. This has really been so much fun and incredibly informative.”
The next RunPro Camp will be held in July 2013. Applications will be due in May. Runners who complete their NCAA eligibility in 2013 are encouraged to apply.
2011 Run Pro Camp Review
The goal of the RunPro Camp is to encourage, support and provide the tools for more top collegiate distance runners to stay in the sport, pursue a professional running career, and train at a high level so that U.S. performances will continue to improve nationally and internationally.
The first RunPro Camp was held in July 2011. Twenty-one distance runners, who recently graduated from colleges and universities throughout the country, were selected to attend. A key strategy was to personally connect the athletes with people who are already part of professional U.S. distance running. Fifteen speakers made presentations and an elite athlete panel talked about their experiences and fielded questions.
Camp participants were excited about getting started on a professional running career. They were encouraged by the range of opportunities to train and race, the amount of support that is already in place, and the number of resources available – including a network of training centers.
The evaluations were overwhelmingly positive in their enthusiasm for the quantity and quality of the information they received during the interactive camp, the people they met (both athletes and speakers), and the value of the experience. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the highest mark, all attendees rated the camp as a 1. Comments included:
“Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to attend the RunPro Camp. Despite my best efforts to search around the Internet, I was pretty clueless before this. The camp was very helpful! It was really great to be surrounded by runners in the same situation as me and listening to the already pro runners. The different speakers also made me realize I have a lot of room for improvement in myself, not only when it comes to running but how I am perceived by others. Another big thing for me was understanding the finances of a runner’s life which was always a question in my mind.” Amy Van Alstine, University of Richmond
“I just want to thank you for all of the energy you put into the RunPro Camp. I think I can speak for all of the athletes that we felt so special, learned a lot, and were all very encouraged and motivated to persevere with our training.” Elizabeth Yetzer, University of Minnesota
Other attendees said the RunPro Camp: “Met expectations and then far exceeded them – I feel so much more prepared to be a professional runner.” “It was a great experience. I met lots of good people and good contacts.” “I expected to learn a lot, but I learned things I didn’t even know I needed to know.” “I hope to have made friends for a lifetime as we all pursue our careers. This has really been so much fun and incredibly informative.”
The next RunPro Camp will be held in July 2012 in Minneapolis. Applications will be due in May. Runners who complete their NCAA eligibility in 2012 are encouraged to apply.
