ZAP Fitness Foundation (ZAP), founded in 2001, is a non-profit training center for post-collegiate, Olympic hopeful distance runners. Its founders Andy Palmer and his wife Zika developed the program as a way to give back to the sport of distance running, a sport that played a significant role in both their lives.
Objectives of the ZAP Fitness Foundation:
- Financially support 8-10 post-collegiate distance runners in their efforts to make World Championship and Olympic Teams
- Develop the physical talent necessary for success in a competitive environment
- Teach mental and emotional skills necessary for success in a competitive environment
- Develop individual professional skills for benefit in post-competitive years
- Provide role models for America's youth by promoting an active healthy lifestyle as well as promote achievement
- Provide an environment for achievement in running for all levels of runners
Our goal is to develop World Class American distance runners by providing them with the support necessary to allow them to train like Olympians.
Flotrack video highlighting a typical day at Zap
ZAP a Success:
ZAP’s doors have now been open for 8 years, and in that time ZAP’s elite athlete program as well as its educational camps have been overwhelming successes.
ZAP’s Resident Elite Athletes have seen success on every level and in every event from the 1,500m to the Marathon. ZAP qualified five athletes for the 2004 Olympic Trials in both the marathon and track & field and nine for the 2008 Olympic Trials including founder Zika who has taken herself from a 18:00 college 5k runner to 2nd place at the 2005 US Marathon Championships in a time of 2:41. Four ZAP men qualified for the World Cross Country Team in the last 6 years, another made the World ½ Marathon Team, and four ZAP women have run on the US Ekiden Relay Teams in Japan and Korea. ZAP won the US Cross Country Team Title in 2006 & 2007 and two ZAP athletes made the final of the 5,000m event at the 2008 Olympic Trials.
ZAP camps have been equally as successful. 2009 marks the 8th year of ZAP adult running camps and in that time ZAP has hosted more than 600 campers from virtually every state in the US and many international countries. From fitness beginners to seasoned marathoners, ZAP continues to focus on educating each and every runner about how to maximize their potential.
Donate To the ZAP Fitness Foundation
Performance Standards:
| |
Men |
|
Women |
|
| Distance: |
Elite |
Regional |
Elite |
Regional |
| 1500 |
3:42 |
3:45 |
4:22 |
4:30 |
| Steeple |
8:42 |
8:48 |
10:05 |
10:15 |
| 3,000 |
8:00 |
8:05 |
9:22 |
9:35 |
| 5,000 |
14:00 |
14:20 |
16:05 |
16:30 |
| 10,000 |
29:10 |
30:00 |
33:30 |
34:30 |
| Half Marathon |
1:04 |
1:06 |
1:14 |
1:18 |
| Marathon |
2:20 |
2:22 |
2:39 |
2:45 |
Athletes in the ZAP program who have met our "Elite" standard receive:
- Room and board at the ZAP Fitness Facility
- Coaching
- Monthly stipend of $500.00
- Health insurance after 6 months
- Travel expenses including: airfare, hotel, meet entry, and incidental expenses
- Physiological testing and sports psychology consultation
- Training and racing gear from Reebok
- Massage therapy
- Financial bonuses based on time tier and Championships placing
- 6-8 week Winter training camp
Athletes who have met the "Regional" Standard receive:
- Coaching
- Gear from Reebok
- Use of the ZAP Facility
- Physiological Testing and Sport Psychology Counsultation
- Assistance in finding part time jobs
- Small annual travel budget
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