Dave's Racing Elite
In 2011, Dave's sought to expand its contribution to the running community by creating Dave's Racing Elite. As part of the long established Dave's Racing Team, the new program seeks to support post collegiate athletes with aspirations of reaching the highest levels of our sport.
Why?
While the very top American long distance runners—Olympians, American record holders—earn a healthy living as full time athletes, a male athlete running a 2:20 marathon or a female running 2:45 are in a tougher spot. At this level, the possibility of someday becoming an Olympian or World Championship qualifier is still quite realistic. It will take years of hard work, however, and training for it requires nearly the demand of a full time job.
In 1983, at the peak of the first running boom, 76 Americans broke 2:20 in the Boston Marathon. By 2000, only 9 athletes achieved this same standard in that year's Olympic Trials. Fast forward to 2012, and the second running boom is upon us. Road races are springing up in record numbers and entry lists have never been longer. At the elite level, Americans are hungry again. In this year's Olympic Trials, 50 athletes broke the 2:20 barrier. Americans are winning major races again. High school cross country kids are replacing posters of El Guerrouj and Haile Gebrselassie with Ryan Hall and Dathan Ritzenhein.
Times have changed, but it hasn't gotten much easier. A 2:20 marathon is the same as it was 30 years ago. Thousands of miles, hundreds of hours, year in and year out. That's one thing that will likely never change. For an athlete in their mid-20s, its often simply unrealistic. Bills must be paid, careers are calling, and the time to start a family has arrived. In our uncertain economic times, it’s tougher to pull off than it once was. That's where support groups like the Dave's Racing Team come in.
How?
The athletes that Dave's sponsors are far from making a healthy living at running. Few ever will, in fact. The objective, rather, is to help provide the means to achieve their full athletic potential in the short time allotted. For example, major races can be anywhere in the country. A plane ticket that costs more than a month’s rent is out of the question for most post collegians going at it themselves. Last December, Dave's sent a team of five to the USATF Club Nationals Cross Country championships in Seattle, Washington.
In addition to helping with travel and other costs associated with racing, Dave's Racing Elite provides training gear at free and discounted rates and assists with employment as available throughout the three Dave's Running locations. As the program continues to grow, we look to be able to continue to expand the support provided to our athletes.
