Coming Events
Return to top / Return to main page

Running USA's State of the Sport Part V: Trends in Youth Running
Growth of youth running in road running events, schools and training programs

The youth component of the sport is healthy and parallels growth and trends of the adult running population in the U.S. In the eighties and nineties, many U.S. road races added kids runs that gave participants a medal, t-shirt and opportunity to feel part of the race day celebration. In those early years, smaller or younger kids were likely to get run over at the start, and at the finish there were often more tears than smiles. To make the events more enjoyable, race directors began emphasizing the non-competitive aspect and added more fun stuff like climbing walls, face painting and random prize drawings. Except for a few "natural runners", the seasonal kids run had little to do with the boring lap completions that students did during PE, at least before PE was eliminated in many areas.

The introduction of charity runs and training groups for adults and school jogathons continued to put the focus on participating at a comfortable pace in order to go the distance. "Races" of all types evolved into "Fun Runs" or goal events like Marathons that just needed to be completed to qualify for a celebration. Today, the fitness goals that help bring adult runners to the streets (see State of the Sport Part II) also bring more youth to events and increase the numbers who are prepared enough to increase the odds of having a positive experience. As Tables 1 and 2 illustrate, the percent of younger runners in road events has stayed about the same over the last 2 decades, but the total pie has grown considerably. For example, in 1992, there were 198,000 5K finishers (or 18% of the overall total) between the ages of 5 and 19 inclusive compared to 616,140 in 2007 (also 18%) or more than a three-fold absolute increase from 1992 to 2007.

Table 1: Younger Age Groups in U.S. Road Running Events
 
Percent of Youth Age 6 to 17 years Race Finishers 2005 2006 2007
Timed Female Road Race Finishers: 6 to 17 yrs (RRIC) 7.5% 8.2% 7.9%
Timed Male Road Race Finishers: 6 to 17 yrs (RRIC) 7.7% 8.6% 8.6%
Percent of College Age Race Finishers 2005 2006 2007
Timed Road Race Female Finishers: 18 to 24 yrs (RRIC) 11.3% 11.3% 11%
Timed Road Race Male Finishers: 18 to 24 yrs (RRIC) 6.8% 7.0% 7.2%
source: Running USA RRIC
Table 2: Youth Road Running Event Participation by Distance
1992 2002 2005 2006 2007
5K      
Timed Road Race Finishers: 5 to 19 yrs (RRIC) 18% 14.1% 17.6% 18.6% 18.0%
10K      
Timed Road Race Finishers: 5 to 19 yrs (RRIC) 6% 8.5% 7.3% 8.6% 8.6%
Half-Marathon      
Timed Road Race Finishers: 5 to 19 yrs (RRIC) n/a 2.3% 2.6% 3.0% 3.1%
Marathon
Timed Road Race Finishers: 5 to 19 yrs (RRIC) 1% 2.1% 1.9% 1.8% 2.0%
   
source: Running USA RRIC

Kids Runs Combine Fun with Fitness and Achievement
The most successful running experiences for young people - those with the most growth - are able to combine fun, fitness and achievement. There are more kids runs than ever before. Many adult events that started with Diaper Dashes, Toddler Trots and half-miles have added miles and 5Ks for kids only. Other kids runs are being added to the local race calendar or increasing participation as the goal event for a certain season and a running-based fitness program. At least half of the Largest Kids Runs compiled by Running USA's Road Running Information Center found at www.runningusa.org/cgi/evbg-youth.pl are the goal event for a training or fitness program. Other youth event trends include a focus on family participation, increased promotions in the schools and fun extras like mascot races.

Running USA has compiled a Youth Running Event Calendar that can be seen at www.RunningRocks.com/events, a new youth resources portal to be officially launched soon. Youth event directors are invited to add their events as dates become known.

Growth of Competitive Running in Secondary Schools
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) compiles athletics participation numbers which show increases in both track and field and cross country through 2007. Over the six year period from Fall 2001 to Spring 2007, Cross Country grew by 14.5% to 183,376 for girls and 13% to 216,085 for boys. The 1-year increase was about 4% for each gender. For Outdoor Track and Field, the six-year increase was 7% to 444,181 for girls and 10% to 544,180 for boys, with a one-year increase of 1% for girls and 2% for boys. Similar to recent years, 46% of high school cross country participants and 45% of outdoor track and field participants are female. See NFHS.org for updated data later in the fall.

The SGMA Insight08 report cautions, however, that the sports industry should not count on continued growth from school team sports. "The key market for most sports equipment, athletic footwear and sports apparel is the group aged 5 to 19 and it is growing slowly. In fact, participation levels in most team sports tend to peak around age 11. Team sports participation was buoyed in the 1990s by a flood of girls getting into sports for the first time. While girls will continue to play, high school data suggests that the number of women athletes is now increasing no faster than the number of boy athletes." Cross country may or may not continue to have annual growth but regardless, potential numbers of younger competitive sports participants are much smaller than potential fitness participants - especially given that the obesity crisis has caught the attention of most parents and school districts in America.

Training Programs Proliferating
Training or running-based fitness programs for youth are taking root all over the country and increasing the number of youth runs and / or youth divisions of existing events. Some of the more established programs that have been identified as "models" by Running USA, are expanding into other states. In celebration of New York Road Runner's 50th Anniversary, for example, the NYRR Foundation has a goal of assisting groups in all 50 states with the development of a new program this school year. Just Run's extensive online resources, developed by the Big Sur International Marathon with the help of Active.com have enabled new programs to flourish in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Many of the programs that started with a few elementary schools are adding more school districts as well as older grades this fall.

The original successful model for training non-running high school students has been and still is Students Run LA which began in 1989. Their mission is "to challenge at-risk secondary students to experience the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health by providing them with a truly life-changing experience - training for and the completion of the City of Los Angeles Marathon." In 2007, 450 teachers and coaches worked with 3,500 students and almost 3,000 of the program's participants achieved their goal. Students Run LA and Students Run Oakland helped 3,078 youth 19 and under (or 15% of the overall race total) finish the 2007 marathon compared to 2,178 (or 11%) of the 2004 marathon field. Typical marathons have only 1% of the under-20 age group. Because the goals are ambitious and the need for qualified mentors is great there have been few programs like Students Run LA, but a "Tool Kit" developed with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has assisted the establishment of similar programs in Philadelphia, Poughkeepsie, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Maine, Arizona and about a dozen other places.

To keep up with the expansion of running based programs, check out the Programs Directory on the new portal RunningRocks.com.

Return to top / Return to main page

Spirit of the Marathon Dashes onto DVD October 7
Jon Dunham's critically-acclaimed documentary captures the journey, triumph and inspiration of the marathon; pre-order September 8

CHATSWORTH, Calif. - (September 2, 2008) - On Tuesday, October 7, Image Entertainment debuts on DVD the internationally-acclaimed documentary, Spirit of the Marathon. Four years in the making, the film is the collaborative effort of between Producer and three time Academy Award® winner Mark Jonathan Harris (Best Short Documentary, The Redwoods, 1968; Best Feature Length Documentary, The Long Way Home, 1997; Best Feature Length Documentary, Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport, 2000), Director Jon Dunham and Producer Gwendolen Twist.

Filmed on four continents and in five countries, the movie brings together a diverse cast of amateur athletes and marathon luminaries, including Team Running USA's Deena Kastor (2004 Olympic bronze medalist), Daniel Njenga (world class marathoner), Frank Shorter (1972 Olympic gold and 1976 Olympic silver medalist), Paul Tergat (former World Record holder in the marathon), Dick Beardsley, Paula Radcliffe, Bill Rodgers, Kathrine Switzer, Joan Benoit Samuelson and Grete Waitz. As the six unique stories unfold, each runner prepares for and ultimately faces the challenge of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

More than a sports movie, Spirit of the Marathon is an inspirational journey of perseverance and personal triumph; a spectacle that will be embraced by runners and non-runners alike. Bonus features include the featurette Marathon in the Making: Behind the Making of Spirit of the Marathon. The film, which was a sell-out success in theaters nationwide and which won the Audience Award at the 2007 Chicago International Film Festival and Best Picture at the 2007 Mammoth Film Festival, will be available for $27.98.

Spirit of the Marathon, directed by Jon Dunham, was produced by Mark Jonathan Harris, Gwendolen Twist and Jon Dunham.

BASICS
DVD: $27.98
Street Date: October 7, 2008
Order Date: September 9, 2008
Pre-Order available on www.marathonmovie.com starting September 8, 2008
Running Time: Approximately 102 minutes

Return to top / Return to main page

Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon Announces New Course for 2008
Course modifications include new trek through downtown Grandview Heights

COLUMBUS, Ohio - For the first time in nine years, the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon will feature a new and improved course for its 29th edition on Sunday, October 19.

Known among the running and walking community for its flat, fast course that is great for beginners and those trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon, the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon race organizers have taken action this year to create a new and improved route. It will still include favorite neighborhoods such as Bexley, Olde Town East, German Village, Ohio State University, Upper Arlington, Victorian Village and the Arena District, and this year will also include another Columbus favorite, Grandview Heights.

"The course has been one of our greatest assets over the past 29 years," said Scott Weaver, executive race director. "The changes we are making are merely in response to comments and suggestions provided by past participants, volunteers and spectators for ways to make the course even better."

These changes are more comprehensive than previous course changes, which involved the same course, but in a reverse direction. The first change runners will notice is the new start line. Instead of starting at Broad and High St., this year's course will start one block east at Third and Broad.

Another big change athletes will notice is that the ½ marathoners will be with the marathoners until they break off on Nationwide Blvd. to go to the finish. In the past, those participating in the ½ marathon were separated from the full marathoners and reunited with them later on the course. The finish line for both will remain on Nationwide Boulevard next to Nationwide Arena.

For more information on the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon and ½ Marathon, or to take a look at this year's new and improved course, visit ColumbusMarathon.com or contact the race office at (614) 421-RUNN (7866).

The Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon, according to Running USA, was one of the 25 largest marathons in the United States in 2007. Approximately 15 percent of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon. The 2007 event featured a sold out field of 10,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes; 1,500 volunteers and tens of thousands of spectators. For more information or to register, visit: ColumbusMarathon.com

Return to top / Return to main page

T-Bone to Appear at the Boise St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration 5K

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - (August 30, 2008) - Tim "T-Bone" Arem, America's Health & Fitness Ambassador, will be performing his awarding winning stage show "T-Bone's Healthy Adventure" on September 18 and 19 as part of the St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration in Boise, Idaho.

The St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration is a three-day event encompassing a two-day Women's Show and a 5K Run, Walk and Stroll for women of all ages and abilities. The 5K, with more than 11,000 participants, is the country's largest women-only road race.

For more information on the St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration or T-Bone, visit: CelebrateAll.org or TBoneRun.com

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