New Web-Site to Help Budding Professionals

Want to make it as a professional distance runner?

Now, thanks to Team USA Minnesota and USA Track and Field, there's a web-site to help you do exactly that -- provided, of course, you can contribute the talent and dedication.

Yesterday, the Twin Cities-based elite long distance training group launched the web-site www.runpro.com, which it developed with the support of a 2010 Excellence Challenge Grant from USA Track & Field. The site aims to put in one place all the pertinent information aspiring elite athletes need to become professional distance runners.

Work on the site began last fall with design and content provided by Team USA Minnesota athletes and board members. A companion four-day camp for selected recent graduates will be held in Minneapolis this summer.

"Our intent is to provide promising collegiate distance runners with a comprehensive overview of what it takes and what is involved in becoming a professional runner," Team USA Minnesota president Pat Goodwin said in a media release.

"If we can attract more talented runners to the sport - from the 800-meters up through the marathon - the U.S. will continue its re-emergence toward competitive excellence in long distance running both nationally and internationally."

Sections on the site include information about training centers, agents, elite competitions in track, cross country and the roads, financial and health support, anti-doping, and USATF, among other topics. The site plans to post interviews with runners and others in the distance running field, as well as news and announcements.

The target audience for the web site and camp is collegiate distance runners, coaches and parents/families with secondary audiences of training centers, current athletes, future elite runners, elite recruiters, agents, and anyone else interested in the sport of distance running.

USATF's Excellence Challenge Grants support the advancement of performance excellence in five areas including long distance running. The 2010 awards were announced last July.