HANSONS OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
 BEGINNING TO PAY DIVIDENDS


Clint Verran formerly of Lake Orion High School and Eastern Michigan
University and now part of the Hanson's Elite Running Program finished
eleventh in the mens Olympic marathon trials in 2:20:45.  The eleventh place
finish is the second highest  Michigan resident marathon trials finish of
all time bettered only by former Boston marathon winner Gregg Meyers' 8th
place finish in the 1984 trials.  Clint at only 24 years of age was the
youngest finisher in the top 15 runners.  It was a great learning experience
and with ideal training conditions Clint has a legitimate chance of making
the 2004 United States Olympic marathon team.



Clint started training with Hansons Running Shop Olympic Development when
the program began in August of 1999.  Hansons' Running Shops  started the
Olympic Developmental program after years of hearing about the many reasons
for the decline of distance running in the United States.  Running has been
very good to us as we own three running specialty shops an have been able to
make a healthy living involved in the greatest sport in the world.  We feel
like we owe our sport, and here is what we have done.



We bought a 5 bedroom house in Rochester Hills with the sole purpose of
allowing top level American distance runners to continue trying to live
their dream.  Runners are provided free housing, free health insurance, free
equipment, free coaching, free travel to all major competitions,elite level
training partners,and employment that works around their running needs.  In
addition to the above perks the runners are paid an hourly rate for the
approximately 30 hours per week they work at Hansons Running Shops.  This
schedule allows the runners the time required to  train at the intensity
needed to compete at a world class level.  A good example of this training
level is the enclosed training excerpt from Clints Olympic trials
marathon buildup.



Although the program has only been in existence for 9 months we are already
starting to  see some results.  Before Clints' impressive marathon trials
finish,  the Hansons racing team finished 5th at the USATF club
championships in December in Long Beach CA and 6th at the world
cross-country 12k trial in February.  Jim Jurcevich will be competing in the
10000 meter at the United States Olympic track and field trials this coming
July in Sacramento, California.  Jim qualified for the Olympic trails with a
28:44. Steve Schell currently finishing up his collegiate career at Michigan
State University will be joining the program following the NCAA
championships.  Steve has also qualified for the United Stated Olympic
trials 10000 meter race with a 28:38 performance.



The Hansons Olympic development program is something the Detroit area
running community and in particular Hansons Running shop customers should
take great pride in.  This program is funded entirely by Hansons Running
Shop and Hansons Running Shop is funded by our loyal customers in
metropolitan Detroit, therefore as a customer of Hansons YOU are helping to
fund this unique Olympic development program.



We have received a lot of interest from the current crop of graduating
college seniors and anticipate adding a few quality individuals to the
Hansons Elite program.  The Hansons system is currently the only  post
collegiate American distance program that offers  comprehensive financial
support to its athletes.  We will keep you updated on the continued
development of the unique Olympic developmental program.



Sneak Peak at Clint Verran's training log leading up to his
11th place finish at the US Olympic Trials for the Marathon



March 13 am 12 miles in 1:08:53 22 miles
pm 10 miles in 1:10:14
March 14 am 11 miles in 1:05:27. Hard up Dutton Hill, 5:50, 5:40 last 2 miles. 21 miles
pm 10 miles in 1:00:15
March 15 am 10.5 hilly miles in 57:48 21 miles
pm 10.5 miles in 57:49
March 16 am 8 miles in 48:00 19 miles
pm 2 miles warmup, 8 mile tempo run in 42:05, 1 mile cooldown.
March 17 am 10 miles in 57:43 20 miles
pm 10 mies in 1:00:02
March 18 am 3.5 miles warmup, 4 x 1600 with 400 recovery in 4:53, 4:50, 4:56, 4:50, 2 miles cooldown. 21 miles
pm 10.5 miles in 1:03:13
March 19 am 16 miles in 1:26:31 with last 2 miles in 10:04 16 miles
pm OFF
Total miles for week: 140



March 20 am 11.5 miles in 1:14:48 19.5 miles
pm 8 miles @ 6:30 pace
March 21 am 8.5 miles in 46:17 18.5 miles
pm 10 miles in 57:27
March 22 am 11.5 miles in 1:07:18 11.5 miles
pm OFF
March 23 am 8.5 miles in 47:55 18.5 miles
pm 1 mile warmup, 8 mile tempo run in 40:17, 1 mile cooldown
March 24 am 8.5 miles in 48:18 17 miles
pm 8.5 miles in 46:12
March 25 am 2.5 miles warmup, 6 x 1600 with 600 recovery in 4:49, 4:48, 4:50, 4:48, 4:48, 4:39, 2 miles cooldown  19 miles
pm 7 miles in 42:00
March 26 am 16.5 miles in 1:36:00 16.5 miles
pm OFF
Total miles for week: 120




Keith and Kevin Hanson
Hansons Olympic Development Program
Hansons Running Shops