Minnesota Distance Elite

Minnesota Distance Elite, previously known as Team USA Minnesota, is a long-distance running team based in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The team is designed to support the running careers of post-collegiate athletes, supporting athletes from middle distance to the marathon. Minnesota Distance Elite is recognized as one of the top American running teams.

Runners apply to join the team, who have to be approved by the board of directors after reviewing the athlete's training history. The most important criteria for joining as of 2007 was steady improvement in performance.

Chris Lundstrom has been the coach of Minnesota Distance Elite since 2016. Lundstrom heard the previous coach, Dennis Barker, was retiring and applied for the position.

Various marathons have sponsored Minnesota Distance Elite. Twin Cities in Motion, the organization that produces the Twin Cities Marathon, sponsored Team USA Minnesota at least between 2013 and 2017. This support provided a salary for the coach. As of 2015, the Pittsburgh Marathon was a sponsor of Team USA Minnesota allowing each athlete to earn a minimum of a $500 monthly stipend. As of 2002, the stipends varied from $450 to $850 per month. In 2014, the Houston Marathon Foundation announced it was donating $40,000 for elite athlete development, part of which was used by Team USA Minnesota. In general, participating runners generally need to supplement their income given the modest stipends earned from being part of the team. For example, in 2002 Carrie Tollefson and Katie McGregor worked at Run N Fun running store in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Gabriele Grunewald cited this financial support as being critical to keep going in the sport.

As of 2002, participating athletes could use athletic facilities at the University of Minnesota and Augsburg College.