Minneapolis – April 29, 2011 - In addition to being the coach for the Team USA Minnesota Distance Training Center, Dennis Barker has taken on the responsibility of coordinating the new RunPro Camp, which will be held in Minneapolis from July 14-17. Applications are being accepted now through May 14 from distance runners who are graduating this spring and considering a professional running career. The interactive camp will cover a number of topics designed to assist athletes through the collegiate to professional transition.

Explain how the RunPro Camp will be different from what most people think of when they hear “running camp”?

Dennis: This isn’t a camp to learn how to run or how to run better, although we’ll certainly schedule runs to start each day. It’s a camp to give promising U.S. distance runners the knowledge, tools and support they need to pursue a professional running career. It’s also an opportunity for them to meet and talk with many people already in the professional running community such as coaches, agents and sponsors. And it takes place in a Hilton Hotel (no actual camping) in an atmosphere similar to what athletes would experience if they were invited to an elite road race. We are also providing good travel and lodging assistance to qualified runners.

What types of athletes should consider applying for the camp?

Dennis: We’re looking for 800 up through 10,000 meter runners who have completed their NCAA eligibility. The goal is to increase the number of U.S. middle distance and distance runners who continue to train at a high level after college with the eventual outcome of improving U.S. performances in these events in international competition, and improving the domestic professional running atmosphere (visibility, competition, prize money, etc.). The purpose of the RunPro Camp is to encourage and support promising collegiate runners make the transition to professional runners....