The High Performance Distance Academy starts at 11:00 AM on July 13, 2026, in Blacksburg, Virginia, giving traveling athletes a reasonable window to arrive the morning of the event without requiring an early dawn departure. Hosted at Virginia Tech, this distance-focused academy costs $75.00 to enter. The event is designed for runners and endurance athletes looking to sharpen their skills in a structured setting. Check the venue website for specific course details, terrain information, and what to expect from the academy format so you can prepare appropriately for the Virginia summer conditions.
From the Race Organizer
The 2026 Camp is sold out. The 2026 High-Performance Distance Academy is scheduled for July 13th to the 18th, 2026. The focus of the camp is training and is recommended for motivated runners. All abilities are welcome; the only requirement is the desire to be better. Camp Website: www.CrossCountryRunningCamp.com HOUSING AND DINING | All campers will eat, sleep, and live in the same manner as a student-athlete at Virginia Tech. Campers will be housed in an on-campus air-conditioned Tech dormitory located close to training facilities. On-campus dining facilities will feed our campers and are only a short walk from both the dorms and athletic fields. Meals are all-you-can-eat and have an impressive variety of culinary styles and options to choose from. Virginia Tech’s Dining Facilities have been ranked #1 in the nation for college campuses for several years! TRAINING WEEK | Training will be based on individual experience. Our goal is a motivating and meaningful week of camp without injuries or over-training. Most days of camp will incle two-a-day runs, but each run provides athletes with a choice between three distances and or often an option for yoga instead of running. Campers will also complete a pool workout, circuits, plyometrics, and daily strength training. Run routes throughout the week include time on the Virginia Tech Cross Country Course, Jefferson National Forest, and a vast network of trails surrounding Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech campus. There will also be plenty of free time to rest and hang out with new friends or jump into games of beach volleyball, ultimate frisbee, or pick-up basketball. Additional camp-wide activities in the past have included Mt. Lake recreation area, river tubing, hiking to the picturesque Cascades waterfall, and a day on the beach at Claytor Lake. ELIGIBILITY & COST | Girls and boys entering grades 8th – 12th are eligible to come to camp, whether you are new to the sport of running or a seasoned veteran. We also allow graduating high school seniors entering their freshman year of college to attend camp, as long as the participant is under the age of 19 when camp starts. Middle school-age campers can attend camp but are strongly urged to have an adequate training base before attending. A $75.00 deposit is paid when registering and then the remainder is due when you receive your packet in late June. The cost of attendance is as follows (the deposit is subtracted from the total). So the prices below include the deposit. Athlete - $775.00 ($760.00 for 5 or more of the same team, $745.00 for 10 or more!) Commuter Athlete – $625.00 (includes breakfast, lunch & dinner/ NO room) Sunday early drop off (July 12th) - $160 additional fee; includes lunch, dinner, campus room, and chaperone coverage. Coaches – $705.00 ** Coach free with six athletes and assigned camp position. Another coach can also come with 12 athletes. Commuter Coach- $550.00 (includes breakfast/lunch/dinner/ No room) ** ATHLETES CHALLENGED | The goal of the Academy is to challenge each athlete and get them started off on the right foot for the summer. We don’t do 100-mile weeks, but we do train smart. With the help of the counselors, athletes choose both which runs to do and how far to go during each run. Given all of the options, a typical week of camp accommodates around 18 miles for beginners and up to 60 or more for experienced athletes. The campers will run with some of the best distance runners in the country and learn to train their way. we want everyone to leave the Academy motivated, excited, healthy, and ready for a great season. STAFF | The High-Performance Staff is one of the best groups of any camp out there in terms of ability, experience, enthusiasm, and excitement for the sport of running. Past editions have included Olympians, NCAA National Champions, NCAA and High School All-Americans, Footlocker and NXN finalists, and experienced and successful college and high school coaches. With a counselor-to-athlete ratio of just over 1:10, athletes truly get an unbeatable level of time commitment and guidance they deserve from an incredible staff. INDIVIDUAL GUIDANCE | A hallmark of High Performance is the individuality provided to each of our campers. With our high counselor-to-athlete ratio, athletes can spend a lot of time getting to know their counselor and often continue to be mentored long after the conclusion of camp. Many of our counselors also return year after year and can continue guiding their past campers on an even more individualized basis. The week is capped off with a one-on-one meeting discussing each athlete’s specific goals and offering advice not only in the sport of running, but also in academics, recruiting, and life in general. Typically ranging from 30 minutes to over two hours apiece, these meetings allow campers to bridge what they’ve learned at camp to their own lives. Athletes leave camp with a personal evaluation of their physical skills (running form, general strength,
