Running USA wire 57, July 21, 2011
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In this edition:
Running USA's 2011 State of the Sport - Part III: U.S. Road Race Trends
Syracuse Festival of Races Announces AnyRunner Prize Money™ Times
Kathrine Switzer to Emcee Inaugural Empire State Marathon
ZOOMA Women's Race Series, Satya Jewelry Partner

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join Running USA today and have your event listed here, as well as on www.RunningUSA.org
Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage, Blaine, WA, July 22
La Sportiva Vail Half Marathon, Vail, CO, July 24
Quad-City Times Bix 7, Davenport, IA, July 30
Challenge Cancer 5K, St. Paul, MN, July 30
Burning River 100 Mile, Cleveland, OH, July 30-31
USA 100 Mile Trail Championships
San Francisco Marathon, CA, July 31
TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K, Cape Elizabeth, ME, Aug 6
Atlanta's Finest 5K, GA, August 6
Salinas Valley Half Marathon, Salinas, CA, August 6
Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Providence Half-Marathon, RI, August 7
Twins TC 4K, Minneapolis, MN, August 7
Step Up for Cancer, Denver, CO, August 7
La Sportiva 10K @ 10,000 Feet & 5K, Vail, CO, August 7
New Balance Falmouth Mile, Falmouth, MA, August 13
Grand Finale 5K, Atlanta, GA, August 13
Panerathon 5K & 10K, Colorado Springs, CO, August 13
New Balance Falmouth Road Race, Falmouth, MA, August 14
The Hottest Half & 10K, Dallas, TX, August 14



Running USA's 2011 State of the Sport - Part III: U.S. Road Race Trends

Road race participation - with more female and male finishers, more races - has more record growth



COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (July 21, 2011) - The Second Running Boom, despite the slow U.S. economy, continued in 2010 with an estimated 13 million finishers nationwide, an all-time high, and the largest percent increase (10%) in road race finishers that Running USA has ever reported to-date. Fueling this growth is the increase in half-marathon, 5K and marathon finishers, female finishers, the increase in charity running and a growing interest in the sport from the general population.



Put simply, more and more Americans are finding that running is an inexpensive, convenient, social sport to help them stay healthy and to tackle a new challenge or goal. As Running USA's National Runner Survey reported, today's runners are motivated to stay in shape, stay healthy, have fun and relieve stress. As new and returning runners enter the sport and road races, we will continue to see a tremendous amount of growth in overall finisher totals, as experienced in the last two years.

2010 U.S. Road Running Snapshot:


* 2010 had the highest percent increase in overall finisher totals (10%) in nearly three decades. Growth such as this hasn't been seen since the pre-Second Running Boom in 1992 (9.2%) and recently, 2009 (9.0%), and based on preliminary totals, 2011 should also show above average growth as well in this country.

* Females now account for nearly 6.9 million finishers nationwide (a record number) and represent 53% of event fields, compared to only 25% in 1990 which had 4.15 million overall finishers, while males in 2010 also set a new high with more than 6.1 million finishers in U.S. road races.

* Total U.S. running events exceeded 22,800, an all-time record high.

* 2010 produced a record annual increase (tie with 2009) in total finishers for the Half-Marathon (24%) and nearly a 9% increase in Marathon finishers, which is the second largest percent increase for the classic distance in the past 25 years.
* For the first time ever, the Half-Marathon now claims more finishers than the 10K, ranking #2 next to the 5K in finishers. Females continue to dominate the Half-Marathon race field with 59% representation.

* The 5K is still handily the road race "King of the Hill" with nearly 4.7 million finishers (yes, another record) and had 36% of all finishers in 2010; the universal 3.1 mile distance has been #1 in the U.S. since 1994 when it surpassed the 10K.



For the rest of Part III on U.S. Road Race Trends, CLICK here.






Syracuse Festival of Races Announces AnyRunner Prize Money Times

$2400 up for grabs in first-ever, performance-based prize money for middle-of-the-pack and back-of-the-pack runners at 19th edition on Sunday, October 2, 2011



SYRACUSE, N.Y. - (July 20, 2011) - The Syracuse Festival of Races (SFoR) has announced the twenty-four 5K finishing times that runners from throughout the U.S. will be aiming for at the world's first performance-based prize money race for middle-of-the-pack and back-of-the-pack runners. The new AnyRunner Prize Money™ will debut in conjunction with the Men's 5K and Women's 5K at the 19th SFoR on Sunday, October 2.



"As the name implies, AnyRunner Prize Money™ is intended to give runners finishing throughout a broad range of times the opportunity to enjoy the experience of racing for-and winning-prize money," says Dave Oja, founder and race director of the SFoR. "Nearly every runner in our 5K fields will be capable of running one of the twenty-four AnyRunner Prize Money™ times, and we expect that scores of them will hit those times."



The key to winning a share of the $2400 prize purse, however, is to be the first to finish in one of the twenty-four AnyRunner Prize Money™ times. In the Men's 5K, the twelve AnyRunner Prize Money™ times for 2011 are: 15:19, 17:19, 19:19, 21:19, 23:19, 25:19, 27:19, 29:19, 31:19, 33:19, 35:19 and 37:19. In the Women's 5K, the twelve AnyRunner Prize Money™ times for 2011 are: 17:19, 19:19, 21:19, 23:19, 25:19, 27:19, 29:19, 31:19, 33:19, 35:19, 37:19 and 39:19.



With entries already received from thirteen states, and a limit of 800 in each of the two 5K races, Oja expects the Festival's 5K race fields to fill completely. "How cool is it for runners who've never even won an age group award to have a chance to win $100?" he asks.



In addition to the Men's 5K and Women's 5K, SFoR events include the MVP Health Care 3K Fun & Fitness Run, the Tops Friendly Markets Community Walk and the Fitness Forum / Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists Joint Replacement Run & Walk. Participants in the various SFoR events range from area pre-school children and their families to world class age-group athletes as old as 93 competing in the 2011 USA Masters 5K Championship.



Additional information regarding the 19th Syracuse Festival of Races, including an AnyRunner Prize Money™ Questions & Answers page, is available at: www.festivalofraces.com






Kathrine Switzer to Emcee Inaugural Empire State Marathon

History-making runner, women's running advocate, commentator and author will also speak at Driver's Village New York State Health and Wellness Expo



SYRACUSE, N.Y. - (July 19, 2011) - Achieve Fitness, LLC has announced that Kathrine Switzer will serve as the emcee for the Inaugural Empire State Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011.



Perhaps best known as the first woman to officially (although controversially) enter the Boston Marathon in 1967 while she was still a student at Syracuse University, Switzer went on to run 38 marathons and won the 1974 New York City Marathon. She was named by Runner's World magazine as one of running's "Four Visionaries of the 20th Century" for her work in women's equality in the sport and leading the drive to secure the women's marathon as an Olympic event.



"We're honored to have Kathrine Switzer involved with our marathon-particularly our inaugural one," said Brian Collins, principle owner of Achieve Fitness, LLC, management company for the Empire State Marathon and Half Marathon. "She is the First Lady of women's running since she broke the gender barrier and paved the way for others. She remains a recognized leader in the running world not only for creating opportunities but also as a TV broadcaster and author."



Switzer will also serve as the keynote speaker at the Driver's Village New York State Health and Wellness Expo on Oct 14-15.



"It is always tremendously exciting to be on board for an inaugural event like this," said Switzer. "Syracuse has long needed a 'signature' marathon. The Empire State Marathon looks poised to bring visitors, excitement and excellent performances to the area, to say nothing of positive economic impact and visibility."



During the weekend of Sept. 30, 2011, Switzer will be inducted into The National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, N.Y., not for her athletic achievements, but for activating positive social change. She is already a member of the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.



On Oct. 16, 2011, the Empire State Marathon and Half Marathon will give runners an up-close view of Central New York's rolling landscape and vibrant autumn colors. The USATF-certified course, which begins and ends at Alliance Bank Ball Park Stadium, travels through the cities of Syracuse, Liverpool and Baldwinsville. A pre-race health a fitness expo will be held on Oct. 14-15 and feature vendors from the running and fitness industries. Additional event information is available at: www.empirestatemarathon.com






ZOOMA Women's Race Series, Satya Jewelry Partner

One-of-a-kind commemorative piece of jewelry for race finishers



NEW YORK - (July 15, 2011) - ZOOMA Women's Race Series has announced its partnership with Satya Jewelry. In lieu of a medal, the ZOOMA series provides finishers with a commemorative piece of jewelry, which will be provided by Satya Jewelry for the remainder of the 2011 race season.



The necklace features a flame, symbolizing internal fire, passion and will. A symbol of endurance and strength, it is meant to remind the recipients of the hard work and sense of accomplishment that went into training for and completing the race.



"Finishing a three or four month training program amid the chaos of a modern woman's life is the real accomplishment," said Brae Blackley, ZOOMA's Founder and Executive Director. "Crossing the finish line and receiving an awesome piece of jewelry is just the icing on the cake."



Personal details and touches are central to both ZOOMA and Satya Jewelry, which made for an organic partnership. ZOOMA limits races to no more than 5,000 entrants, which creates an intimate and personal atmosphere for runners. After the race, participants enjoy post-race parties with massages, wine, live music and celebration.



All Satya Jewelry pieces incorporate ancient symbols and sacred stones into the designs, providing the wearer with a personal connection to each piece. Satya Scainetti, Designer and Co-Founder of Satya Jewelry, hopes that ZOOMA runners will forge a similar connection to the commemorative piece she has created for them.

"Empowering women and being a part of their journey is one of the most rewarding things about being a designer," said Scainetti, a runner and yogi. "I'm thrilled to honor the ZOOMA women with this piece."



Two races remain this year - Saturday, October 22 at the Abbey Resort in Fontana, WI, outside Chicago and Milwaukee, and Saturday, November 26 at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Atlanta.



ZOOMA Women's Race Series is a national series of women's half-marathon races designed to deliver a social, supportive and celebratory experience that inspires women to live happier and healthier lives. More information is available at: www.zoomarun.com

Satya Jewelry, a New York-based jewelry brand, creates pieces that are as beautiful as they are meaningful. Satya Jewelry celebrates the adventures of lives lived fearlessly. For more information, go to: www.satyajewelry.com







Contact Information


Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director, ryan@runningusa.org, (805) 696-6232




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