Each day at the Jim Ryun Running Camp is carefully scripted for maximum impact. It's a culture that encourages excellence and challenges young runners to change their paradigms from what most of their peers are doing to how elite runners think and train. It's what drives us as a Camp to select the right coaches, lecturers and staff each summer.  

Over 50 years ago, Jim became the last American to set the World Mile Record with a time of 3:51.1 As a young boy, Jim tried many athletic sports and was cut from every team he tried out for. That is until he found the sport of cross country. He eve…

Over 50 years ago, Jim became the last American to set the World Mile Record with a time of 3:51.1 As a young boy, Jim tried many athletic sports and was cut from every team he tried out for. That is until he found the sport of cross country. He eventually earned a spot on the cross country team winning a letter from East High School, Wichita, KS. After less than two years of running, he became the first high school boy to run a mile in less than four minutes. As a junior in high school, he became the youngest distance runner to ever become a member of an Olympic team when he qualified for the 1964 United States Olympic Team at the distance of 1,500 meters. He would eventually represent the USA in two more Olympics competing on the world’s largest stage. He won a Silver Medal in the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. ESPN would name him High School Athlete of the Century in front of golfer,Tiger Woods, and basketball great, Lebron James. He would be named 1967 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, set World Records in the Mile, 880 yds, 800 meter and 1,500 meters and appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine seven times. A meaningful milestone Jim and Anne share is their marriage of 50 years celebrated on January 25, 2019. They attribute the longevity of their marriage to God’s grace and love, His sense of humor and lots of forgiving moments. Bring your questions and expectations this summer to the Jim Ryun Running Camp and give the staff the opportunity to help develop and realize your dreams.

Meet our staff!

Jim and Anne Ryun

Since 1975 Jim and Anne Ryun, co-founders of the Jim Ryun Running Camps, have been hosting and attending Camp sharing Jim’s expertise of nearly 60 years of running. They will return this summer to spend a week with eager young runners desiring to learn how to best fulfill their God given talent of running, who want to develop the character to succeed in life and who love to make friends with fellow runners from every corner of the world. Jim and Anne share many life experiences as during the week of Camp - the highlight being becoming Christians together on May 18, 1972. Anne graduated from “the other school in Kansas” - Kansas State University where she spent four of the best years of her life. Highlights at KSU included being a Division I cheerleader and being an honorary member of Light Brigade (a support organization to Army ROTC). Anne’s professional career began as a wife and public school teacher and evolved into a stay at home mother who with Jim educated their four children at home in rural Lawrence, KS. Anne volunteers her time and talents as administrator and sponsor director for the Jim Ryun Running Camps (www.ryunrunning.com) held each summer at: Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA and at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. She has authored and co-authored: “In Quest of Gold, The Jim Ryun Story,” “The Courage to Run,” and “Chariots of Fire, A Christian Message for Today” as well as contributed articles for “The Family Book of Prayers,” “Daily Guideposts” and Focus on the Family magazine. Currently Jim and Anne live in Washington, DC when they are not traveling the country speaking at various events or visiting their 13 grandchildren!For speaking engagements you may contact Jim Ryun at jimryunrunningcamp@gmail.com.

Since 1975 Jim and Anne Ryun, co-founders of the Jim Ryun Running Camps, have been hosting and attending Camp sharing Jim’s expertise of nearly 60 years of running. They will return this summer to spend a week with eager young runners desiring to learn how to best fulfill their God given talent of running, who want to develop the character to succeed in life and who love to make friends with fellow runners from every corner of the world. Jim and Anne share many life experiences as during the week of Camp - the highlight being becoming Christians together on May 18, 1972. Anne graduated from “the other school in Kansas” - Kansas State University where she spent four of the best years of her life. Highlights at KSU included being a Division I cheerleader and being an honorary member of Light Brigade (a support organization to Army ROTC). Anne’s professional career began as a wife and public school teacher and evolved into a stay at home mother who with Jim educated their four children at home in rural Lawrence, KS. Anne volunteers her time and talents as administrator and sponsor director for the Jim Ryun Running Camps (www.ryunrunning.com) held each summer at: Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA and at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. She has authored and co-authored: “In Quest of Gold, The Jim Ryun Story,” “The Courage to Run,” and “Chariots of Fire, A Christian Message for Today” as well as contributed articles for “The Family Book of Prayers,” “Daily Guideposts” and Focus on the Family magazine. Currently Jim and Anne live in Tampa, FL when they are not traveling the country speaking at various events or visiting their 13 grandchildren!

For speaking engagements you may contact Jim Ryun at jimryunrunningcamp@gmail.com.

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Catharine Ryun

Catharine Ryun is our new Camp Director of Development. She has been attending Jim Ryun Running Camp since she was a baby.

Catharine currently lives and works in Tampa, FL and has recently become a foster mom to a newborn.

While she has participated in the sport of triathlon and completed an IRONMAN 70.3, her true love is running!! Daily she looks forward to getting out and running along Hillsborough River in Tampa.

Her mantra is “be a blessing to each person you meet!” which is reflected in her favorite Bible verse, ”May the Lord bless you and keep. May He make His face shine upon you and give you peace.” Number 6:24-26

Camp is for Catharine the BEST week of her year.

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Emily Hanenburg

Emily Hanenburg is currently a HS Spanish teacher an HS track coach in Colorado Springs, CO. After running in high school, Emily was given the opportunity to run in college and continues to compete in local trail races in Colorado. Emily first attended JRRC as a camper and has had the joy of counseling at Camp for the last 7 years! Her goal is always to encourage runners to know the Lord and His faithfulness that they in turn would love Him through their lives and running.

Aaron Yoder

Aaron Yoder is in his 12th season at Bethany College with the Swedes track and field program. He is in his 7th season as head track and field coach and is in his 8th season as the head cross country coach. During his time as a Coach at Bethany the Swedes have broken 40 school records. Currently Coach Yoder is specifically coaching the throwing events, pole vault, high jump while designing the weights and conditioning program for all teams.

A 2009 graduate of Fort Hays State University, Yoder majored in health and human performance with an emphasis in health promotions and wellness and minored in business administration. He also completed his Masters in Sport and Movement Studies while at Fort Hays. While at Fort Hays, Yoder competed in cross country and track for the Tigers. During this time, he earned multiple All- Conference honors in Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track (Steeple, 5k, 10k) and was 3A State Mile Champion in high school. Recently Coach Yoder has broken 3 Guinness World Records in backwards running events; the mile (5;54), the 1,000m (3:22) and 200m (31.4) and won 7 World Titles in World Championships meets in Europe.

Coach Yoder has also filled in as a pastor for Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Peabody, KS and other local churches. He speaks frequently for various school events and organizations. Coach Yoder is in his 2nd year as the Bethany College FCA sponsor.

Noah Tindale was a two-time camper at the Virginia location of the Jim Ryun Running Camp & has since been a counselor with the camp for the last three summers. A former high-school standout middle-distance athlete & Division 1 runner at Liberty Unive

Noah Tindale

Noah Tindale was a two-time camper at the Virginia location of the Jim Ryun Running Camp & has since been a counselor with the Camp for the last three summers. A former high-school standout middle-distance athlete & Division 1 runner at Liberty University, Noah has a passion for building up the next generation of athletes to become disciplined, motivated, and faithful as teammates, friends, and disciples of Jesus. He graduated from Liberty in 2022 with a degree in Biblical Studies and looks to help Campers develop a biblical worldview around their sport. His favorite part about Camp has always been watching the lightbulb go off in the students' minds as they learn new tactics to take with them on the course and/or track!

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Trisha Kroll

Trisha Kroll will be joining the staff of Jim Ryun Running Camp this summer. After playing Division I volleyball at the University of Kansas and coaching for nearly 20 years, Trisha knows that the mental component of competition is crucial to an athlete’s success. She has put together a presentation for athletes that is engaging, fast paced, and easy to apply. Trisha mentors individual athletes and has conducted mental toughness workshops for athletes in track/cross country, volleyball, football, soccer, softball, rodeo, golf basketball, and baseball. Trisha and her husband, Alan, own and operate “The Difference Maker,” a non-profit organization that desires to make a difference in the lives of youth through sports.

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Anna Tankersley

Anna Tankersley is a senior at Union University, which is in Jackson, TN. She’s majoring in Elementary Education and running for Union Women’s Cross Country team. This will be her 8th year returning to Camp and 2nd year as a counselor. Camp has always been the highlight of her year and she’s grown as an individual and daughter of Christ because of Camp relationships.

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Nathan Nohr

Nathan Nohr is a senior studying electrical engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Nathan runs with MRun the U of M club team; where he focuses on training for the 800 and 1600. In his free time he enjoys disc golf, spikeball, and ping pong. This will be his second year as counselor. Nathan’s favorite parts of camp have been the lasting friendships and Jack Daniels’ talks on running. His number one piece of advice for the week is “stay hydrated”.

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Work hard

We'll start each day with a different running workout and end the week with a long run. There will also be a cross training opportunity each afternoon with instruction on water running, weight lifting and drills to improve form and foot speed.

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play hard

We love to play. Whether it's our round robin frisbee tournament that goes throughout the week, team trivia and talent night, or board games, basketball, swimming, or volleyball during free time, come prepared to squeeze out every drop of the day. Never thrown a frisbee? Can't catch a basketball if your life depended on it? Really not into board games? No worries. We have something for everyone.  

Sample daily camp schedule -

6:15AM Camper Wake-up

6:30-8:00 AM  Workout 

8:15-8:45AM Breakfast

9:00-9:45AM Shower/ Clean Room

10:00-10:30AM Camp Devotional

10:30-11:10AM Lecture

11:10-11:25AM Free Time sign-up

11:25-12:00AM  Lecture

12:00-12:45PM  Lunch

1:00-2:30PM FOB

2:45-3:45PM Workout

4:00-5:15PM Ultimate Frisbee

5:30-6:00PM Dinner

6:15-7:25PM FREE TIME

7:25-7:50PM Showers

8:00-9:00PM All Camp Meeting

9:10-9:40PM Huddle Groups 

10:00 PM Lights Out

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