State of the Sport of Running - Part I
By Running USA's Road Running Information Center

The U.S. Running Industry continues to grow by all measures as the below shows.

RUNNING MERCHANDISE
More Running/Jogging Shoes sold: 40,274,000 (up 4%) - NSGA (2)
More Dollars spent for those shoes: $2,156,733,000 (up 8%) - NSGA (2)
More Female Users of Shoes: 49.2% in '05, 48.1% in '03, 38.4% in '93 - NSGA (2)
More Running Clothing purchased: $656,200,000 (up 2%) - NSGA (2)
More Track Running Shoes sold: 815,000 (up 4%); $40,071,000 (up 7%) - NSGA (2)
More Trail Running Shoes sold: 528,000 (up 5%); $27,324,000 (up 5%) - NSGA (2)
More Running Shoes sold in Specialty Athletic Footwear Stores: 24.5% of dollars - NSGA (2)

RUNNERS
More Runners who ran at least once in 2005: 37,810,000 - ASD (1)
More Runners who ran at least 6 times in 2005: 29,246,000 - NSGA (1)
More Frequent Runners who ran at least 100 days in 2005: 11,583,000 - ASD (1)
More Male Runners in 2005: 21,104,000 - ASD (1); 16,368,000 - NSGA (1)
More Trail Runners as defined by Outdoor Industry Foundation: 40.4 million - OIF (1)
More Hispanic Runners: 48% of surveyed Hispanics run or jog - OIF (2)
More College Students who are Runners: 3,693,000 (students age 18 to 34) - ASD (2)
More College-Educated Runners: 17.3 mil males + 19.7 mil females - NSGA (1)
More Runners with $75,000+ annual household incomes: 16.033 million - ASD (1)

ROAD RACES
More Money Raised for Charities by Running Events: $656 million (up 14%) - USATF
More Road Race Finishers in the U.S. in 2005: 8.1 million - Running USA RRIC
More 5K Finishers in the U.S. in 2005: 3.1 million - Running USA RRIC
More 10K Finishers in the U.S. in 2005: 1.045 million - Running USA RRIC
More Half-Marathon Finishers in the U.S. in 2005: 536,000 - Running USA RRIC
More Marathon Finishers in the U.S. in 2005: 432,000 - Running USA RRIC

Running Bucks the Trend of Declining Participation Noted by SGMA and OIF
In a recent press release describing its 2006 State of the Industry Report, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) reported that wholesale industry sales grew by about 6.8% (to $55.7 billion) in 2005, outperforming the U.S. economy which grew at 4.3%. But there was a word of caution about the industry's future. "Over the past decade, participation in almost all the 100 activities measured by American Sports Data has either decreased or grown more slowly than the overall population itself. While there are a few bright spots in terms of individual sports and fitness activities, the overall picture is one of an increasingly sedentary population."

Running/Jogging has held its own in that context and is one of the small number of sports tracked by American Sports Data since 1987 that had more participants in 2005 than in 1987, 1998 and 2004. The others were Surfing (2.6 million participants in 2005), Cheerleading (4.1 mil), Snowboarding (7.3 mil), Skateboarding (11.3 mil) and Treadmill (47.9 mil). The list of all sports/activities and their participation numbers for the 3 years above can be found in the Sports Participation Topline Report 2006 Edition which can be downloaded for free on SGMA.com.

The Outdoor Recreation Participation Study released this month by the Outdoor Industry Foundation (OIF) also had good news and bad news. While the number of participants in the 22 outdoor activities tracked by the study increased from 2004 to 2005 (159 million Americans age 16 and older in 2004 compared to 161.6 million in 2005), the number of outings decreased by 11%. The study's executive summary noted that "Overnight backpacking's dramatic 22.5% decline in participation over the past eight year period and the significant increase in snowshoeing (83%) and trail running (22%) participation indicate that individuals are looking for less commitment-heavy activities. Activities that can be done occasionally and without great planning effort seem to be on the rise."

See continuation of State of Sport of Running in upcoming Running USA wires:
Part II - Runner Demographic Trends & Part III - Largest Races Lists

Sources
ASD = American Sports Data Inc. (1) = American Sports Data 2005 Superstudy of Sports Participation, Volume I. (2) = American Sports Data 2005 Lifestyle Segmentation Report. To obtain information on sports demographic products and services offered, contact Harvey Lauer at American Sports Data, Inc., 15 Kent Dr, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567; (914) 461-3271 or go to AmericanSportsData.com

NSGA = National Sporting Goods Association. (1) = NSGA Sports Participation Series I for 2005. (2) = NSGA Sporting Goods Market 2006. To obtain information on any of the NSGA products and services email info@nsga.org, phone (847) 296-6742 or go to NSGA.org.

OIF = Outdoor Industry Foundation. (1) = Outdoor Recreation Participant Study, published June 2006. (2) = The Hispanic Community and Outdoor Recreation conducted by UCLA Anderson School of Management, published in March 2006. Information on these reports as well as other useful services for the outdoor industry can be obtained by visiting OutdoorIndustryFoundation.org.

RRIC = Running USA's Road Running Information Center. State of the Sport reports, many types of running data and analysis and lists of the Largest Races from past years can be found on RunningUSA.org in the 'Statistics' section. For other questions about running trends and demographics, contact Ryan Lamppa [ryan@runningusa.org] or Linda Honikman [rric@runningusa.org].

SGMA = Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. For more information on the State of the Industry Report or Sports Participation Topline Report 2006 Edition, go to SGMA.com.

USATF = USA Track & Field. The press release regarding charity fundraising by road races can be found on USATF.org

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New York Road Runners Announces First-Ever NYC Half-Marathon Presented by Nike
Event Sells Out in 24 Hours

NEW YORK - (June 28, 2006) - New York Road Runners has announced the inaugural NYC Half-Marathon presented by Nike will take place on Sunday, August 27, 2006. With a cap of 10,000 runners, registration for the race sold out in one day, making it NYRR's fastest selling race ever.

The race is the most significant addition to the NYRR calendar since the ING New York City Marathon moved to the city streets and all five boroughs in 1976.

Nike, the world's biggest athletic shoe maker, signed a multi-year deal as the race's presenting sponsor and will work with New York Road Runners to help promote the event worldwide and enhance the experience for participants and spectators.

"Every participant in the NYC Half-Marathon presented by NIKE will experience Nike's passion for running firsthand through technical apparel that has been created just for this race and designed to perform for the best athletes in the world. The latest advances in performance footwear, including the new Nike+ experience, will also be available for trial," said Joaquin Hidalgo, vice president of U.S. marketing for Nike.

"We're excited to kick-off the first-ever NYC Half-Marathon with a partner like Nike who has deep roots in running and is dedicated to making this race a great experience for each participant," said NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. "Our every intention is that this event becomes another international sporting event highlighting the very best of New York City."

With a course designed to celebrate New York City, the race will take runners on a loop through Central Park, down Seventh Avenue through Times Square, across 42nd Street and along the expansive West Side Highway to Battery Park in the heart of the city's financial district, finishing with a view of the Statue of Liberty.

For more information, visit: NYRR.org

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Aramco Houston Half Marathon Awarded USA Men's and Women's Championships

INDIANAPOLIS - (June 29, 2006) - The Aramco Houston Half Marathon has been awarded the 2007 and 2008 USA Championships for men and women, featuring a total U.S. prize purse of more than $50,000, USA Track & Field announced on Thursday.

The 2007 USA Half-Marathon Championships will be held in conjunction with the 35th running of the Chevron Houston Marathon on Sunday, January 14, 2007.

The host of the USA Men's Half-Marathon Championships for the last two years, the Aramco Houston Half Marathon has increased their commitment to U.S. long distance running by adding the women's national championship to the schedule for the next two years.

"USATF's selection of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon as the site of the USA Men's and Women's Half-Marathon Championships for the next two years is a reaffirmation of our organizing committee's continuing commitment to American distance running," said Race Director Brant Kotch. "Our flat, fast course and the attention that our committee gives to the elite athletes make our event particularly well-suited to hosting America's finest athletes at the half-marathon distance."

The USA Half-Marathon Championship hosted by the Aramco Houston Half Marathon will offer a total purse of $51,500, with $10,000 for each U.S. champion. The race will also be used to qualify two athletes from the top three U.S. finishers for the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships to be held in Udine, Italy, October 14.

The Chevron Houston Marathon has been repeatedly selected for many world-renowned road racing competitions, including the 2005 and 2006 USA Men's Half-Marathon Championship, the 1998 USA Women's Marathon Championship, the 1992 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials and the 1979 USA Men's and Women's Marathon Championships.

The 2007 USA Half-Marathon Championships will be the first race on the 2007 USA Running Circuit (USARC), a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from 5K to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners, including Olympians Deena Kastor, Meb Keflezighi, Colleen De Reuck and Dan Browne.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $5.5 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

A long-time supporter of USATF long distance running, the Chevron Houston Marathon organization has contributed to the further development of U.S. athletes including signing on as a Silver sponsor of the USA Distance Project in May. The USA Distance Project is a partnership of the Long Distance Running Division of USA Track & Field and major U.S. events and running-related corporations dedicated to sustaining the long-term development of elite USA distance athletes, enabling them to compete successfully in domestic and international competitions and major championship events.

For more information on the 2007 USA Half-Marathon Championships: visit USATF.org

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232
Ryan@RunningUSA.org | www.RunningUSA.org