COROS has recently announced its NextGen Program, a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) program with the intent of providing the next generation of American distance running with tools and mentorships to help them succeed. COROS has provided MileSplit an in-depth look at their program for never-before-seen access into the world of NIL deals in the running community.

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Athletes signed to the COROS NIL program are provided gear such as the PACE 3, a COROS Heart Rate Monitor and the COROS POD 2. But they are also provided with an athlete manager to help them make informed decisions about their data from the technology.

Those two facets would be helpful for any student-athlete, but then you factor in another key part of their program: Professional athlete mentorship. 

Professional Athlete Mentorship

Athletes in the program have access to monthly virtual meetings with COROS-signed athletes. The professional athletes are world class runners and include the likes of two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, 2019 Indoor 2 Mile National Champion Drew Hunter and 2022 U.S. 10,000m champion Joe Klecker.

COROS helps schedule meetings between student-athletes and professional athletes based on time of the year. For example, if the student-athletes are entering championship season, they structure the call around championship racing.

We caught up with a couple of the pro’s to chat about their thoughts on the program.

“The kids are incredibly enthusiastic about the COROS NIL program,” said Drew Hunter. “They’re excited to be using the same technology as elite athletes and their curiosity about the COROS features and how they can leverage it to improve their training is really inspiring.” 

He continued, “They’re asking smart questions about how to use the data to make adjustments in real-time, and it’s clear that this program is giving them a deeper understanding of what it takes to perform at the next level.

Joe Klecker echoed a lot of Hunter’s sentiments;

“I didn’t even have a GPS watch (in high school), let alone one that could provide insights into my training efforts like COROS offers. Having access to this level of data at the high school level allows athletes to train much smarter, which helps them avoid injuries, continue to improve their careers, and steer clear of burnout.”

“The kids I spoke with in the program were incredibly excited,” he added. “I really enjoy sharing my experiences in hopes of helping them avoid some of the mistakes that I made at their age. I know that when I was in high school, a program like this would have been a dream to be part of.”

Emily Infeld, Courtney Wayment, Des Linden and Reed Fischer are also involved with the COROS NextGen Program.

So What Do The Athletes Have To Give In Return?

NextGen athletes are asked to use COROS products exclusively during training and racing for an agreed upon term. Each contract is structured in a way to protect the student-athlete and represent their best interests. For example, COROS even limits its own use of an athlete’s Name, Image and Likeness for promotional purposes without pre-approval.

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