2007 State of the Sport Part II: U.S. Runner Demographics

Runner demographics for the last five years can be summed in one word – consistency. There were no dramatic changes compared to prior years and since the sport and activity of running are growing (see Part I and upcoming Part III), this is good news for the industry. SGMA’s Insight07 State of the Industry report, however, cautions that recent declines seen for many other sports might continue and expand due to changes in the population. “The key market for most sports equipment, athletic footwear and sports apparel is the group aged 5 to 19, and it is growing slowly… Between 2000 and 2020, the population aged 45 and older will have increased 42%, while the number aged 5 to 19 will be only 8% larger. This should help the fitness industry, but mean slow growth for team sports.”  Because of running’s reach into the competitive, recreational and fitness worlds and renewed calls for a fitter society, an alert running industry should be able to attract a broad spectrum of customers and participants in the future.

Runner’s World Study Profiles a Very Affluent and Well Educated Group

Runner’s World magazine has surveyed its subscribers and published useful runner demographics over the last twenty years. Excerpts from the latest RW Subscriber Study are provided below. The RRIC believes that the RW demographics provide a more realistic view of road runners who also buy running shoes and enter running events compared to the more general population of runners and joggers described by NSGA and ASD. The surveyed populations of the latter include many kids who run as part of their PE class.

Runner Profile Highlights from 2006 RW Subscriber Study

Gender: Women 47.4% / Men 52.6%
Median Age:  44.0 years old
College Educated:  93%
Graduated College+:  74%
Married:  74.4%
Number of people in household:  2.9 people
2005 individual employment income before taxes, average:  $74,100  [$63,600 median]
2005 household employment income before taxes, average:  $139,000  [$113,000 median]
2005 household net worth, average:  $943,000  [$500,000 median]
From 2006 Runner's World Sub Study, Erdos and Morgan Click here for full report.

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Contact: Jason / Beryl Wolfe, Wolfe PR (520) 399-5097 / 5770

Top Runners in the World, New England and Maine Gather for Saturday's TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K
Nearly $60,000 in prize money and $10,000 to each race champion for 10th edition

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - (July 30, 2007) - The 10th running of the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K on Saturday morning, August 4 will again feature the top road racers in Maine, New England and around the globe.

The professional athletes will share the stunning seaside course in Cape Elizabeth with thousands of recreational runners who are cheered on by as many as 10,000 spectators, confirming the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon's reputation as a top world class event with a special small-town charm.

Nearly $60,000 in prize money is at stake, including $10,000 for each race champion. A $2500 bonus is available for an Open course record and $500 for a course record in the Maine category, providing added incentive in a race that is consistently among the fastest and most competitive 10Ks in the world.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the popular race, every runner will receive a commemorative medal at the finish. This year's field of 5,500 includes runners from 23 countries and more than 40 U.S. states.

Top U.S. Runner Looking to Unseat Men's Champ; Women's Race Wide Open
Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi, arguably the U.S.'s top distance runner, will try to unseat returning champ Thomas Nyariki of Kenya on Saturday in his first TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon.

But as the two men found out this past weekend in Davenport, Iowa, they have more than each other to contend with. Duncan Kibet of Kenya overpowered both men in winning the Quad-City Times Bix 7 Mile on July 28 in 32:15, the second fastest time there since 1998.

Kibet, presently ranked #5 in the world by Running Times magazine, now wears the hat as the favorite in Saturday's Beach to Beacon. He finished five seconds ahead of runner up Nyariki at Bix. Meb, who holds the U.S. record at 10,000m, placed fourth.

Nyariki is hoping that his experience on the Cape Elizabeth course counts for something. He won the 2006 race (27:48) and placed third in 2005, which marked his return to international racing after a 2003 carjacking episode left the former Olympian without sight in his right eye. He also is more familiar with Kibet, whom he had never run against before Bix.

Meb, who surprised the running world with a silver medal in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Games, is gearing up for the Olympic Marathon Trials in November and the Team Running USA athlete would like nothing better than to break the tape first in Saturday's race.

"Duncan is one of the world's top half-marathoners and he proved at Bix that he's in a special class in the 10K as well," said Larry Barthlow, the elite athlete coordinator. "I know Meb is excited to be here and is determined to do well, and Tom runs the Beach to Beacon course as well as anyone. It's going to be quite a battle."

Kenyans William Chebon, who finished fifth at Bix, and Evans Cheryiout, one of the few runners to ever break 60:00 in the half-marathon, also should contend.

A similar scenario is unfolding on the women's side. Susan Chepkemei of Kenya, the 2004 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon champ and one of the most decorated half-marathoners ever, is determined to regain her crown after finishing a disappointing fourth last year. Over the weekend, she finished third in a half-marathon in Bogotá, Colombia after fighting through severe leg cramps.

When she arrives in Maine, one of the hottest runners on the circuit will be here to greet her. Wude Ayalew Yamir, a 20-year-old Ethiopian who is quickly establishing herself on the American road race circuit, followed up a huge win at the Peachtree 10K earlier in July with a victory at the Bix 7 over the weekend.

Luminita Talpos of Romania, who placed third at the 2006 Beach to Beacon, also is back for her fourth race. Her second place finish at Bix means she is ready to take a run at the title on Saturday. Other contenders include Diribe Alemu and Genet Getaneh of Ethiopia, who finished third and seventh, respectively, at Bix in their first races on American soil. Russia's Galina Alexandrova took fifth at Bix and should be in the hunt and Nataliya Berkut, a 2004 Olympian from the Ukraine, is a wildcard who could surprise.

"Wude is at the top of the heap right now, but Susan is a real fighter, as she proved in Bogotá, so I expect good things from her," Barthlow said. "Luminita always runs well here, and Diribe and Genet are going to be even more comfortable in our race. Nataliya is someone to keep an eye on. The women's field is as deep as it's ever been, which is great."

10th Year for "Special" Race
The word "special" has become synonymous with the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race. Maybe it's the gorgeous course. Or perhaps it's the local hospitality, the invariable blue skies, the tireless volunteers, the generous sponsors, the seemingly flawless operation of the race or founder Joan Benoit Samuelson's involvement. Whatever it is, it's special.

The event attracts more than 800 volunteers and brings out an extraordinary effort on the part of the town of Cape Elizabeth. TD Banknorth is the lead sponsor of the race founded by Joan Benoit Samuelson, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist and Maine's most admired athlete. She serves as a spokesperson for the bank's "Shining the Light for Maine Youth" program.

The race director is Dave McGillivray, president of DMSE, Inc., a nationally recognized event management company. McGillivray also serves as the race director of the BAA Boston Marathon.

This year's race beneficiary is STRIVE, a South Portland-based non-profit organization designed to address the many issues faced by developmentally disabled youth. For more info, visit www.pslstrive.org. TD Banknorth, through the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation, will provide a cash donation of $30,000, plus STRIVE will benefit from fundraising activities and publicity.

"The key to the success of the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon for 10 years now has been the hard work of all involved, from the tireless volunteers to the dedicated runners to the welcoming Town of Cape Elizabeth to the talented race organizers," said Larry Wold, president of TD Banknorth Maine who will lace up his running shoes Saturday for his 10th Beach to Beacon. "Hats off to everyone who make this such a special event."

The wheelchair entrants begin at 8:00am at the start line on Route 77 near Crescent Beach State Park and the race starts at 8:10. The ocean-hugging course ends 6.2 miles later in Fort Williams Park at Portland Head, the most photographed lighthouse in the world.

For more information about the race, go to Beach2Beacon.org or call the race hotline at (888) 480-6940.

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2007 ING Miami Marathon Generated $15.8 Million Economic Impact for Miami-Dade County
Post-event study of 12,000 local and visiting runners shows impact on tourism, business and community wellness

MIAMI - (July 26, 2007) - Sport Tourism Event Research Network (STERN) was selected by PR Racing Inc. to perform a detailed study regarding visitor spending in Miami as a result of the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon® events held the weekend of January 26-28, 2007. Weekend events included a 5K, marathon, half-marathon and health and fitness expo that drew a combined 30,000 visitors over the weekend to Miami and Miami Beach.

Research concluded that indirect benefit to Miami-Dade County generated as a result of both participant and spectator spending generated an estimated $15.8 million impact on the county in 2007. Research was conducted on the field of 11,656 marathon and half-marathon runners, 57% of which came from outside of Miami-Dade County.

Survey results showed that the direct benefit of participants to Miami-Dade County was $4.27 million while spectators accounted for a direct benefit of an additional $6.29 million. The indirect benefit of spending attributed to both of these groups resulted in an estimated benefit of $15.84 million to Miami-Dade County including expenditures in the lodging, food and beverage, retail, transportation, entertainment and other sectors.

Of the total economic impact, 32 percent was spent on lodging, 23 percent on food and beverage and 20 percent on retail. Additional research indicated that 59% of non-locals, or "visitors", went sight-seeing and 72% of visitors reported they were likely or very likely to return to Miami for a vacation due to satisfaction with their experience during the event.

Of the 11,656 participants in the marathon and half-marathon, STERN conducted a post-event e-mail survey to 9,500 runners. A total of 36 percent responded giving information on actual money spent on the different sectors as well as what they did while in the area and sentiments towards Miami, the race and running. In contrast to previous research, this post-event approach offers more pragmatic figures.

Some of the pertinent results of the research identified these important factors related to tourism and local business:
* 57% of the 11,656 participants are not from Miami-Dade County.
* 68% of non-local participants came in a group of 2-4 people.
* 72% of non-local participants stayed in hotels for an average of 2.5 nights.
* 63% of non-local participants came to Miami primarily for the event.
* 72% of non-local participants are likely to return to Miami for a vacation.
* U.S. visitors on average spent $540 in lodging, $380 in food and beverages and $200 in retail sectors during their stay.
* International visitors on average spent $805 in lodging, $570 in food and beverages and $945 in retail sectors during their stay.

Additional details regarding the economic impact of the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon Event are available. STERN intends to return for the 2008 race event to gather additional details regarding impact on economy, tourism and runner habits.

NOTE TO PRESS: The executive summary of the study is available directly from STERN. Please contact Jeremy Jordan (below) if you wish to have an e-mailed copy or if you need additional details.

Contact:
STERN - Jeremy Jordan (University of Miami), jsjordan@miami.edu, (305) 284-8345
PR Racing - Danny Elfenbein (Public Relations Director), dannye@prracingevents.com, (305) 278-8668

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Contact: Beth Johnson, Public Relations Coordinator, (703) 432-1165

Marine Corps Marathon Announces Transfer and Deferment Policies

QUANTICO, Va. - (July 31, 2007) - The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) has announced the return of the transfer policy. The transfer policy will allow registered runners unable to participate in the sold-out October 28 marathon to transfer their bib number to another runner seeking entry. The program is available from August 1 through September 21.

"This change is in direct response to runner feedback," said Rick Nealis, race director. "Runners asked for the MCM to allow transfers again in 2007 and we responded!"

To transfer a bib number, registered runners must complete and mail in the MCM transfer form available at MarineMarathon.com. The two-part form requires the personal information of both, the registered runner and the transfer recipient. It also serves as the new runner's application. The form must be completed and returned, along with the $20 transfer fee, by September 21.

Registered runners can also defer their 2007 run for a guaranteed spot in the 2008 MCM. By deferring an entry, runners convey the registration fee to 2008. The deferment request form is located at MarineMarathon.com and must be returned along with a $20 deferment fee by October 5.

"Things happen - injuries, business trips, even deployments for those runners who are also members of the Armed Forces, and the deferment and transfer policies allow runners to delay a year or give someone else the chance to run in their place," says Nealis. "These policies offer as many runners as possible the opportunity to be a part of the Marine Corps Marathon."

Voted "Best Marathon for Families", the Marine Corps Marathon continues a combined tradition of dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism. Runners from all walks of life have participated in the world's largest marathon to not offer prize money, deservingly earning the nickname "The People's Marathon." The 32nd Marine Corps Marathon to be held on Sunday, October 28, 2007 in Arlington, VA is presented by USAA, Brooks Sports, Inc. and CVS / Caremark.

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