Do you dream of running the Boston Marathon?
Then it’s time to start thinking about how to become a professional runner and join the ranks of those who have already made their dreams come true!
With enough dedication and hard work, you can make your marathon aspirations come true too.
Following are 10 tips on how to become a professional runner from someone who has done it.
Training, racing, and more: It takes more than talent to become a professional runner.
To be successful at all levels of running, you have to be consistent in your training and dedicated to your sport—even when you don’t feel like it.
The reality is that most runners just aren’t willing to put in as much time and effort as it takes to make it big.
You also need to embrace change, because what got you where you are today isn’t necessarily going to get you where you want to go tomorrow.
For example, many Olympic-caliber runners now incorporate weightlifting into their training routines; something that was previously not considered necessary.
Runners who can adapt and stay open-minded will eventually find themselves among elite company.
How Long Does It Take To Be A Professional Runner?
There is no set amount of time that it takes to be a professional runner.
Some people dedicate their entire lives to running and have had success from day one.
Others take years before they start seeing real results, but once they do, they quickly establish themselves as top competitors in their sport.
The good news is that anyone can become a professional runner if they’re willing to put in enough time and effort—and that with practice and dedication, even those who aren’t naturally gifted can compete at an elite level.
But how long will it take? That depends on your fitness level when you begin and how well you handle training—which is different for everyone.
Be realistic with yourself about what’s possible, learn everything you can about your sport and prepare accordingly; think big picture while keeping focused on short-term goals.
From there, work hard every day to improve your skillset until you’ve perfected them all.
Pick out specific aspects of training that need work or areas where you’d like more improvement (most pros tend to focus on intervals or track workouts).
Understand why these things are important to improving your performance and figure out what you need to do differently in order to see improvement, then adapt accordingly.
A strong core helps a lot with running.
Check the best core exercises for running here.
Can Anyone Become A Professional Runner?
In short, yes, you can.
It will be hard work and it’s probably not something that happens overnight.
But becoming a professional runner is possible with sufficient training and dedication.
It’s important to remember that most professional runners started out as recreational runners who decided to take their passion for running further.
Every year there are thousands of new people who decide to take up running—and many of them never do anything more than train for fun and fitness.
While these are great goals, if you really want to become a competitive runner, you’ll need more ambition than just running from point A to point B in your neighborhood or on an indoor treadmill while watching TV at home.
For most people, changing your lifestyle (including what you eat and how much sleep you get) and committing yourself to consistent training are two of the biggest factors in whether or not you’ll achieve success as a runner.
Along with finding a balance between your personal life, friends, family, and career aspirations, some level of sacrifice is required.
If you’re determined enough to pursue running professionally then make sure you have realistic expectations about what it takes to succeed over time!
You might be disappointed if running becomes such an all-consuming endeavor that it starts taking away from things that bring meaning into your life (like friends and family).
Don’t let yourself get caught up by unrealistic ideas about what professional athletes look like either!
How Much Does A Professional Runner Make?
At its core, most professional running is still an amateur sport.
You do it because you love it and because there’s not much money in it.
The prize money on offer at big races is nothing compared to what’s available in sports like golf or tennis.
That said if you make a living as a runner—either through part-time work or sponsorship deals—the rewards can be worthwhile.
At its highest levels, running can be very profitable.
But unless you break into that upper echelon of performance, there isn’t necessarily a lot of cash on offer.
To have a shot at making money from running, focus more on racing strategically than shaving seconds off your time.
And don’t get too hung up about how fast you’re going; take note of who’s winning (and losing) and try to emulate their strategies.
That way your competition will be so busy worrying about getting beat themselves that they won’t even notice when they’ve been beaten by you!
Can I Become Professional Runner At 30?
Yes! Top professional runners at all levels tend to fall in their late 20s and early 30s, with most achieving their highest level of success between ages 28 and 32.
The reason is that running experience tends to peak somewhere around age 27 or 28.
On average, you’ll take your biggest jump in race times when you’re in your mid-to-late 20s.
However, how big of a leap you make depends on your training history.
If you start as an adult (age 26+), it can be harder to compete against runners who have spent years developing endurance through high school and college cross country programs.
Runners can definitely continue improving into their 30s; they just need to focus more on balance work, increasing mileage slower, and reducing intensity.
Even experienced runners over 35 still see some gains from these kinds of sessions—they just might not be as drastic as what you see from younger athletes.
For example, instead of aiming for 60 miles per week at a 7:30 pace (3:02/mile) when trying to improve your 10K time down to 33 minutes, a 40-year old runner may need something closer to 45 miles per week at 8:00 pace (4:42/mile).
To become elite by age 40? You need to really focus on doing quality work during longer runs rather than cramming in faster miles on tired legs every day.
Are Elite Runners Made Or Are They Born?
Elite runners are not born; they are made.
It takes more than just genetics and talent to become an elite runner, there is work involved as well.
You have to keep at it, push yourself past your limits, and improve yourself over time to be able to compete at that level.
While some elites had other jobs before becoming professional runners, most of them were gifted with natural speed but worked hard to make themselves better at their craft every day.
Regardless of how you came about being good enough to run for cash prizes and shoe deals (and regardless of whether or not you stick with running long-term).
One thing is certain: if you want to continue competing on that level, you need to start training like one today!
No matter what your starting point was going into training – talent alone won’t get you where you want to go.
What Qualifies An Elite Runner?
If you want to become an elite runner, there are two basic qualifications you need to meet.
You must be able to run far, and you must be able to run fast.
It’s that simple; if your run falls under those criteria, you’re at least qualified to have someone take a serious look at your potential.
There are many different training systems that make it possible for runners of all levels and ages to go beyond their current potential by improving their aerobic capacity and speed.
And since running is such an easy sport to pick up and enjoy, it’s also one of the most popular in America – runners aged 10 years or older accounted for about 10 percent of U.S.
10 Tips For Becoming A Better Runner
- Set specific and realistic goals: and then strive to meet them. Whether you’re training for a race or trying to set personal bests, having clearly defined goals will keep you motivated to stay on track. Be sure to write down your goals and refer back to them often.
- Pace yourself: It’s easy to get caught up in setting ambitious running goals—but make sure you pace yourself throughout your training cycle. You’ll learn from past mistakes, get stronger and finish stronger if you build up slowly and consistently instead of sprinting at all times
- Pay attention to what your body is telling you: Running is an activity that requires commitment and regular practice, so make sure to listen to what your body is telling you. This means scheduling rest days as well as physical therapy appointments with an expert such as a PT who knows how running can affect muscles specifically related to knees and hips. Here are some of the best exercises to help you recovery from anterior knee pain, a common injury with running.
- Get enough sleep: Rest days are just as important as workdays; give yourself time off! Getting enough sleep not only allows your body to fully recover between workouts but also boosts energy levels while increasing mental alertness.
- Think small and slow during warm-ups: Warming up is essential, especially before any kind of speed or strength workout. While it may be tempting to do multiple 100-meter sprints when you first arrive at the gym, hold back a bit; focus on warming up using movements like walking lunges and stretches until your heart rate stabilizes.
- Listen to your surroundings: In addition to warm-up sets lasting anywhere from three minutes (if you’re jogging) to 15 minutes (if you’re lifting weights), it’s important for runners and athletes alike to take time away from busy schedules each day by focusing their full attention on their breath and mind. Taking five to 10 minutes every morning before starting your day or right after a long run can help improve concentration, clarity, and balance. Running can play a big part in helping with mental health issues. Read more about my story here.
- Drink more water: Not only does running increase your overall heart rate, but it also increases blood flow throughout your body—which makes proper hydration super important. Aim for half of your weight in ounces each day, including both drinking water and eating hydrating foods like fruits and vegetables that are high in water content to. Supplements like pre workout can help a lot with your training as well, find out more about them here.
- Hydrate immediately after exercise: Making sure you replace fluids quickly after exercising is key to getting rid of aches and pains that might have occurred over time. Plus, a post-workout cool-down period is ideal for stretching and performing gentle exercises.
- Practice your form: The better your posture, form, and footstrike, the longer you’ll be able to run comfortably. A quick trick to check your form is to look straight ahead as you lift one leg slightly behind you and then swing it forward without moving your torso too much; next, do a butt kick side stretch and alternate swinging each leg forward as far as possible while keeping good posture.
- Enjoy running: Remember why you started running in the first place—was it because of a race or other motivating factor? Whatever gets you out there week after week is what works for you! Make sure to enjoy your runs and keep things fun. If you’re struggling, cut back on running or cross-train a little, but don’t stop completely. If you enjoy running but an old knee injury is holding you back. Check the best types of cardio for bad knees!
Running is an important part of your health routine; make it a habit for life.
And remember:
This isn’t meant to be a complete guide to becoming a professional runner; that’s something that takes years of dedication and planning, along with endless research and experimentation.
Good luck! You can do it!
Below is a video I posted to youtube recently showing my experience running in spartan races.
A challenging obstacle course race that comes in a few different length.
I got myself the Trifecta, for completing 3 race lengths in a calender year.
Check out the video now!