Built from Indiana Roots

RM Distance Collective was founded on a simple belief: Indiana's young runners deserve more than a one size fits all training plan. They deserve a coach who knows this state's courses, its competition, and what it takes to develop athletes from middle school through college signing day.

Coach Roeder has spent 15 years and over 1,200 athletes figuring out what actually works. Every practice and plan he builds starts with the athlete, not a copy and paste template.

NCAA Division 1 Coach Justin Roeder. Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indiana Distance Collective

Coach Justin Roeder

Head Coach & Founder, Distance Collective

When you hand your child over to a coach, you're trusting them with more than a training plan. You're trusting them with your kid's confidence, safety, and love of the sport. Justin has spent two decades earning that trust, first as a state champion athlete, then as a Division I head coach, and now as the founder of Indiana Distance Collective.
5x Horizon League Individual Champion
188 NCAA Athletes Coached
65 Boston Marathon Qualifiers
3 Horizon League Team Titles Coached

A Proven Track Record

  • Degree in Exercise Science
  • IHSAA Individual State Champion in cross country (2004), Hamilton Southeastern High School
  • 4x IHSAA All-State cross country runner
  • 5x Horizon League Individual Champion (3,000m, 5,000m, 10,000m) at Butler University
  • Member of Butler's historic 14-consecutive Horizon League Championship cross country teams, including three seasons with a perfect team score
  • 2x NCAA Cross Country National Qualifier and 2x NCAA All-Region performer
  • Professional triathlete (2012 to 2015), training at the U.S. Olympic Training Centers in Colorado Springs and Chula Vista alongside future Olympians

A Coach Who Builds Champions

  • Head Coach at IUPUI (Div. I) since July 2022, after serving as top assistant and volunteer assistant
  • Guided IUPUI to Horizon League Cross Country Team Championships in 2019, 2020, and 2021
  • 188 athletes coached to the NCAA level, with 65 runners qualifying for the Boston Marathon
  • Dozens of athletes named First and Second Team All-Horizon League, Freshman of the Year, and Runner of the Meet under his coaching
  • Numerous school records broken across nearly every distance event, year after year
  • Oversees every part of a competitive program, including individualized training, recruiting, academics, and athlete wellbeing, not just workouts

Results in the Classroom, Too

  • His teams earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors nearly every single season
  • Dozens of his athletes have been named to conference Academic Honor Rolls each year
  • Justin's own college career included Dean's List honors and the team's Mental Attitude Award, proof that character and results have always gone hand in hand for him

Why Families Choose Justin

  • He builds individualized training plans. Every athlete's plan is different, because every athlete's body, goals, and life are different
  • He has personally lived the entire journey: state champion, college champion, pro athlete, Division I head coach, so he knows what it takes at every level
  • He prioritizes injury prevention and long-term athlete health over short-term results
  • He's coached runners at every stage, from first-timers to national qualifiers, so no matter where your child is starting from, he knows how to meet them there
  • Above all, Justin builds a team culture rooted in hard work, kindness, and accountability, so your child grows as a person, not just as a runner

Certified & Background Checked

Exercise Science Degree SafeSport Certified USATF Certified USA Triathlon Certified IRONMAN University Certified TrainingPeaks Certified

State champion. Division I head coach. Now building Indiana's next generation of runners.