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Contact: Ryan Lamppa, (805) 696-6232; ryan@runningusa.org

RRIC Annual Marathon Report 2007
Record number of U.S. marathons with 1,000 finishers or more; ING New York City again largest ever; Record 19 marathons worldwide with over 10,000 finishers

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - (April 16, 2008) - Running USA's Road Running Information Center presents its annual marathon report, and the snapshot of the 26.2 mile distance for 2007 shows more records set in several categories, but overall growth and median times slowed in the U.S. due to unseasonably warm weather last October as the following stat filled tables and breakdowns indicate.

Gender and Age Group Breakdown
1980
1995
2000
2005
2006
2007
Women 10.5% 26% 38% 41% 40% 40%
Men 89.5% 74% 62% 59% 60% 60%
Masters (40 yrs+) 26% 41% 44% 44% 46% 46%
Open (20 to 39 yrs) 69% 57% 54% 54% 52% 52%
Juniors (under 20) 5% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Median Age
1980
1995
2000
2005
2006
2007
(Mean)
Males 34 38 38 40 40
40
(40.3 yrs)
Females 31.3 35 35 35 35
36
(36.4 yrs)
Median Age Overall 37 38 38
38
(38.8 yrs)
Median Times for U.S. Marathon Finishers
1980 1995 2002
2005
2006
2007
Males 3:32:17 3:54:00 4:20:01
4:20:29
4:15:34
4:20:04
Females 4:03:39 4:15:00 4:56:46
4:51:19
4:46:40
4:49:48

2007 Marathon Snapshot

In the U.S., there was a slight decrease (less than 1%) in finishers for the same 187 marathons for 2006 and 2007, while outside the United States, the same 148 marathons in both years showed a 2.4% increase. The U.S. finisher decrease in the same marathons can be mainly attributed to the warm weather impacts at large U.S. marathons such as LaSalle Bank Chicago and Medtronic Twin Cities (see the number and percent decreases further below).

Overall, in the U.S., however, there was a small increase in the estimated number of marathon finishers (412,000) as more than 20 U.S. marathons debuted in 2007 led by the ING Georgia Marathon with 4,344 finishers.

Year Estimated U.S. Marathon Finisher Total
1976 25,000
1980 143,000
1990 224,000
1995 293,000
2000 353,000
2003 365,000
2004 386,000
2005 395,000
2006 410,000
2007 412,000

Record number of U.S. marathons with more than 1,000 finishers
Last year in the U.S., a record 71 marathons had at least 1,000 finishers. The previous record was 61 U.S. marathons in 2006. Just ten years ago, there were 33 U.S. marathons with 1,000 finishers or more.

 
2007 U.S. Marathons (> 1000 finishers) with the…
… Greatest Weather Related Decrease in Finishers Compared to 2006
2007
LaSalle Bank Chicago
- 8112
 (down 24%)
Medtronic Twin Cities
- 969
 (down 12%)
 
… Greatest Increase in Finishers Compared to 2006
2007
California International
+ 920
 (up 24%)
Walt Disney World
+ 900
 (up 9%)
 
… Fastest Median Times
1995 2004 2005
2006
2007
U.S. Men's Olympic Trials
2:23:29
2:22:34
Boston 4:19:42 3:53:03
3:44:47
3:48:40
Wirefly National
4:01:38
4:01:36
Steamtown 3:54:29 3:55:36
3:54:24
4:03:05
American Express Philadelphia 3:41:47 4:04:38 4:02:57
4:01:18
4:03:35
 
… Slowest Median Times
1995 2004 2005
2006
2007
Bataan Memorial March
7:45:52
7:38:57
Honolulu 5:50:19 5:42:41 5:39:40
5:43:29
5:50:11
City of Los Angeles 4:50:30 5:53:01 5:26:49
5:23:45
5:36:57
 
… Most <4 Hour Finishers
1995
2004
2005
2006
2007
Boston
6467 (68%)
5490 (33%)
10260 (59%)
13341 (68%)
12996 (64%)
ING New York City
10750 (34%)
8270 (22%)
12168 (32%)
11959 (31%)
LaSalle Bank Chicago
4286 (50%)
8868 (27%)
10740 (33%)
11608 (35%)
3643 (14%)
Philadelphia
2770 (45%)
3149 (47%)
 
… Most >6 Hour Finishers
2006
2007
Honolulu
10428 (42%)
9450 (45%)
City of Los Angeles
6764 (33%)
7881 (39%)
LaSalle Bank Chicago
8499 (25%)
1749 (7%)
Bataan Memorial March
1528 (85%)
1587 (80%)
 
…. Earliest Last Finish Time
2006
2007
Napa
5:30:00
5:30:00
Big Sur
6:07:00
6:04:00
 
… Most Finishers in certain Age Groups
Event
2007 Subtotals
Female Juniors
City of Los Angeles
1279
Male Juniors
City of Los Angeles
1799
Females 20-29
LaSalle Bank Chicago
3670
Males 20-29
LaSalle Bank Chicago
3194
Females 30-39
ING New York City
4438
Males 30-39
ING New York City
8206
Female Masters 40+
ING New York City
5507
Male Masters 40+
ING New York City
14911
Females 50+
Honolulu
1895
Males 60+
Honolulu
1516
Males & Females 80*
Honolulu
30
 
… Highest Percent Women
2005 2006 2007
Nike Women's 91.3% 94.0% 93.0%
Portland 55.5% 56.5% 54.0%
Rock 'n Roll San Diego 53.2% 53.3% 52.0%
 
… Highest Percent Men
2005 2006 2007
Rocket City 73.0% 72.0% 71.0%
ING New York City 67.3% 67.5% 68.0%
Steamtown 68.6% 69.0% 65.0%
Rite Aid Cleveland 69.7% 66.4% 65.0%
 
… Highest Percent Masters (40+ yrs)
2005 2006 2007 (Mean Age)
Steamtown 58.9% 54.8% 57.0% (41.6 yrs)
Boston 54.8% 55.4% 55.0% (40.7 yrs)
Napa 50.0% 48.0% 54.0% (40.9 yrs)
 
… Lowest Percent Masters (40+ yrs)
2005 2006 2007 (Mean Age)
Nike Women's 27.6% 33.1% 33.0% (35.7 yrs)
Rock 'n Roll San Diego 35.0% 34.3% 33.0% (35.9 yrs)
Denver 36.0% (36.6 yrs)

Record 19 marathons worldwide with more than 10,000 finishers in 2007
The ING New York City Marathon kept its title as the world's largest marathon based on finishers with 38,607 in 2007 - that total also broke its record as the world's largest ever (37,866 finishers in 2006). For the first time ever, 10 marathons worldwide had more than 20,000 finishers in 2007 (see the listing below), while a record 19 marathons surpassed the 10,000 finisher total in the same year. In 2007, the Tokyo International Marathon became a mass people's race and was the 6th largest marathon in the world with 25,102 finishers. The U.S. again had 7 of the 15 largest marathons in the world.

2007
World's Largest Marathons (finishers):
1) ING New York City, NY 38,607 (largest ever)
2) Flora London, GBR 35,701
3) real,- Berlin, GER 32,533
4) Paris, FRA 26,880
5) LaSalle Bank Chicago, IL 25,523
6) Tokyo International, JPN 25,102
7) Honolulu, HI 23,284
8) Marine Corps, DC 20,622
9) Boston, MA 20,338
10) City of Los Angeles, CA 20,120
11) Conenergy Hamburg, GER 16,461
12) Rock 'n' Roll, CA 15,946
13) Naha, JPN 15,090
14) Chosunilbo Chuncheon, KOR 12,670
15) Stockholm, SWE 12,370
U.S. Largest Marathons (finishers):
1) ING New York City, NY 38,607 (largest ever)
2) LaSalle Bank Chicago, IL 25,523
3) Honolulu, HI 23,284
4) Marine Corps, DC 20,622
5) Boston, MA 20,338
6) City of Los Angeles, CA 20,120
7) Rock 'n' Roll, CA 15,946
8) Walt Disney World, FL 11,058
9) Portland, OR 7,759
10) Medtronic Twin Cities, MN 7,227
11) Grandma's, MN 6,967
12) P.F. Chang’s Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 6,942
13) Philadelphia, PA 6,912
14) Chevron Houston, TX 5,303
15) St. George, UT 5,153
16) Country Music, TN 4,796
17) California International, CA 4,740
18) Nike Women’s, CA 4,673
19) AT&T Austin, TX 4,553
20) ING Georgia, GA 4,344 (inaugural)
Source: Running USA Road Running Information Center

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Boston Athletic Association and Principal Sponsor John Hancock Announce Record Prize Purse for 112th Boston Marathon
Top finishers to receive $796,000; Open race champions $150,000 each; largest increase since prize money introduction in 1986

BOSTON - (April 15, 2008) - The Boston Athletic Association has announced that the prize purse for the 112th Boston Marathon has been increased by more than 38%, climbing from $575,000 to $796,000. The purse, funded by principal sponsor John Hancock Financial, will be the largest in the history of the race. The world's oldest annual marathon first began offering prize money in 1986 when John Hancock became the race's primary sponsor.

"For more than 20 years, John Hancock has partnered with the B.A.A. to ensure that the Boston Marathon holds its status as one of the elite marathons in the world," said Guy Morse, B.A.A. Executive Director. "With more than $11 million in prize money awarded since 1986, John Hancock's commitment to the Boston Marathon and the sport has been unwavering."

Prize money is awarded to the top Open division finishers, as well as the top masters and push-rim wheelchair division finishers. Under the new prize structure, money has been added to the top five overall finishers in each class.

The men's and women's Open division victor will each receive $150,000, a record level for guaranteed prize money among individual race winners from the World Marathon Majors events, which - besides Boston - includes the Flora London Marathon; Bank of America Chicago Marathon; real,- Berlin Marathon and ING New York City Marathon.

"John Hancock is proud of its long history of supporting the Boston Marathon, ensuring that it remains one of the world's premier road races," said John D. DesPrez III, President and Chief Executive Officer of John Hancock Financial. "As we celebrate our 23rd year of fulfilling our promise to the city of Boston and surrounding communities to support this great race, we have also made a commitment to attract and reward the top runners in the world that participate in this global event."

Catherine Ndereba leads all athletes in prize winnings from the Boston Marathon, having collected $392,000 in total earnings. With his win in the 2007 Boston Marathon, Robert K. Cheruiyot became the all-time men's prize leader with $319,000 earned.

The 112th Boston Marathon will be held next Monday, April 21, 2008, Patriots' Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The historic race follows a 26.2-mile point-to-point route from the town of Hopkinton, Mass. to Boston's Back Bay. The wheelchair division begins at 9:25am ET; the Elite Women start at 9:35am ET and the first wave of entrants, including the Elite Men, commences at 10:00am ET.

Additional information about the Boston Marathon including the complete prize money breakdown and the Boston Athletic Association, can be found online at: BAA.org

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Wardian, Smith Win USA 100K Titles at Mad City
From Jim Estes, USATF

MADISON, Wis. - (April 12, 2008) - Michael Wardian (Arlington, Va.), made his first appearance at the USA 100K Championships on Saturday, running 6 hours, 56 minutes, 57 seconds to win his second ultrarunning title of the year at the Mad City 100K in Madison. The national championships were hosted for the second time by the Mad City 100K.

Wardian, who also won the USA 50K championships last month, was content to let Steve Stowers (Berkeley, Calif.) and Adam Lint (Patton, Pa.) handle the pace work for the first 40K before moving into the lead before the 50K mark (31 miles). Over the last 50K, Wardian continued to build his lead and by the time he hit the tape, had recorded a win of 17:37 over Stowers. Lint would finish third in 7:19:06.

Leading the women's field was Carolyn Smith (Milwaukee, Wis.), taking the national crown in 8:25:26 for a 26:41 win over Connie Gardner (Medina, Ohio). Former 2-time national champion Ann Heaslett (Madison, Wis.) was third in 9:40:37.

In addition to pocketing $2000 each for their victories, Wardian and Smith earned spots on the U.S. team going to 100K World Cup race in Tuscania, Italy, on Saturday, November 8, 2008.

Mad City 100K: USA Championships
Madison, WI, Saturday, April 12, 2008

MEN
1) Michael Wardian (VA), 6:56:57, $2000
2) Steve Stowers (CA), 7:14:34, $1000
3) Adam Lint (PA), 7:19:06, $750
4) Mark Godale (OH), 7:36:31, $500
5) Zach Gingerich (IL), 8:19:20, $250

WOMEN
1) Carolyn Smith (WI), 8:25:26, $2000
2) Connie Gardner (OH), 8:52:07, $1000
3) Ann Heaslett (WI), 9:40:37, $750

For complete results, go to: MadCity100K.com and for more information on the 2008 MUT circuit, visit: USATF.org

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Adidas and MarathonGuide.com Join Forces with WCSN.com to Provide Free Webcast of 112th Boston Marathon
Live and on-demand webcast available worldwide on Monday, April 21

LOS ANGELES - (April 16, 2008) - World Championship Sports Network (WCSN), the premier destination of Olympic and lifestyle sports, has announced that it is joining forces with adidas and MarathonGuide.com to provide a free, first-ever global webcast of the 112th Boston Marathon. Through this partnership, fans worldwide can logon to WCSN.com to watch the live and on-demand webcast on Monday, April 21, beginning at 9:25am EST.

"We're excited to partner with adidas and MarathonGuide.com in offering this free webcast and to help foster worldwide awareness for this major race," said Carlos Silva, president and COO of WCSN. "Now, for the first time global road racing fans will have unprecedented coverage to see the top marathoners square off in one of the world's most prestigious sporting events."

On WCSN.com, running fans can also access Marathon Madness, a special editorial package that features original content, articles from road racing experts, interactive maps, results, highlights and more. Furthermore, WCSN.com will be offering special commentary from running legend and four-time Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers.

"Adidas is proud to join WCSN.com in providing a free internet broadcast of the 112th Boston Marathon," said Spencer Nel, head of global sports marketing for running and track and field at adidas. "As a Boston Marathon sponsor, adidas is especially pleased to help bring the oldest continuing annual marathon in the world to as many viewers as possible in every corner of the world. With its proven track record WCSN.com is the ideal partner to make that happen."

"Since 2000, MarathonGuide.com's mission has been to promote the sport by providing comprehensive coverage of and information about marathons and distance running. As part of that mission, we are proud to work with WCSN.com and adidas to ensure that the Boston Marathon broadcast will be available at no cost and can be enjoyed by as many marathon enthusiasts as possible," said John Elliott, founder and president of MarathonGuide.com.

Deemed one of the world's most prestigious and oldest annual road racing events, the Boston Marathon is the second stop on the World Marathon Majors, a marathon series offering a $1 million prize purse to be split between the leading male and female marathoners in the world.

WCSN.com is the home of the 2008 World Marathon Majors with complete coverage of the London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York City races. Marathon fans around the globe can catch the action on WCSN.com where they can be part of the more than 500,000 spectators anticipated to be cheering on the runners as they dash through the streets of rural Hopkinton to the beautiful Boston Back Bay finish line at Copley Square. Fans will also have access to complete live and on-demand video footage plus free access to news, race results, photo galleries, behind-the-scenes features and more.

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