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From David Monti
© 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com
BOSTON (14-Apr) -- The Hansons-Brooks Distance Project announced today that they would offer a $100,000 income guarantee to athletes who joined their Michigan-based training program and achieved certain standards in the 10,000m or the marathon.
"We have had an increase in support from Brooks and added Saturn to what Hansons Running Shops have been funding since 1999," said Kevin Hanson in a prepared statement. "This has allowed us to make a huge leap in making distance running a profession.
The $100,000 income guarantee applies only to U.S. athletes who achieve the following standards while a member of the Hansons' program: Men, sub-28:00 in the 10,000m or sub-2:11 in the marathon; Women, sub-32:00 in the 10,000m or sub-2:31 in the marathon.
In an interview, Keith Hanson explained that athletes who achieved the time standards while in their program would be guaranteed at least $100,000 per year in income for the following two years. He said that he and his brother, Kevin, would make up any running-related income shortfall below the $100,000 mark. Regular race prize money and bonuses plus the bonuses already in place within the Brooks program would contribute to the total, but not the income the athletes may earn working in one of the Hansons' running stores.
"That's out of our own pockets," said Keith Hanson of the program to make sure the $100,000 total was reached for qualifying athletes.
Keith Hanson said that the formal terms of the program were being drawn up by an attorney and would be available, soon.
"We feel this will both increase the number of quality American distance runners that will be involved in group training, as well as allow the public to recognize, that although distance running is a hobby to most of us, it can be financially rewarding career for some," said Keith Hanson.
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