U.S. Marathon Numbers Rebound from Post-9/11 Effect
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - (April 23, 2003) - With the spring marathon season in full bloom, it is time for USATF Road Running Information Center's annual marathon report on the estimated number of finishers, trends, demographics and largest marathon lists.

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Posted Wednesday, 23 April, 2003

Women's Participation Reaches a Record 40%

After a slight decline in 2001 U.S. marathon finishers due to the post-9/11 effect, the marathon numbers rebounded to an estimated 450,000 finishers compared to 424,500 in 2001. More specifically, for the same 181 U.S. marathons for 2001 and 2002, there was a 5.4% increase in finishers (289,663 in 2001 compared to 305,294 in 2002). The bulk of the increase came from the largest 2002 fall marathons that were affected by 9/11: New York City (up 8,170) and Honolulu (7,241).

Outside the U.S., there was similar overall growth as for the same 56 marathons, the numbers increased by 6.1% (232,804 finishers in 2001 vs. 246,923 in 2002).

In the U.S., the trend of new marathons continued in 2002 as four marathons debuted with over 1,000 finishers: Washington DC (4,295 - 8th largest debut all-time), Anthem Kentucky Derby (1,067), Lakeshore, IL (1049) and Des Moines, IA (1,014). And like last year, 55 U.S. marathons reported over 1,000 finishers to the tie the 2001 record.

Speaking of records, in 2002, a record 40% of U.S. marathon finishers were women. By 2002, there were one-and-a-half times more female finishers (180,000) in U.S. marathons than the total number of U.S. marathon finishers in 1980 (120,000) during the first running boom.

Last year's median marathon times reflect a continued non-competitive approach to the distance. In 1995 the median men's time was 3:54:00, while by 2002 it hit 4:20:01 and for women, median times slowed from 4:15:00 to 4:56:46 for the same two years. The slower trend may be leveling off a little as illustrated by slightly faster median times in about 40% of the 2002 events compared to 2000.

For the first time in history, three marathons in 2002 - London, New York
City and Chicago - reported over 30,000 finishers. The Flora London Marathon
kept its #1 position in the world with 32,899 finishers in 2002, while New
York City regained its #1 U.S. position with 31,834 finishers edging LaSalle
Bank Chicago (31,106). In 2002, the U.S. had 7 of the 15 largest marathons in
the world.

For more marathon statistics and data, see the tables and lists below.

U.S. Marathon Growth

YEAR Estimated # of Finishers
1976 25,000
1980 120,000
1990 260,000
1995 347,000
1996 396,000 (Boston's 100th)
1997 396,000
1998 419,000
1999 435,000
2000 451,000
2001 424,500
2002 450,000

DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
1980 1995 1998 1999 2000 2002
Women 10.5% 26% 34% 36% 38% 40%
Masters 26% 41% 40% 42% 44% 43%
Juniors 5% 2% 1% 1% 2% 2%

MEDIAN TIMES
1980 1995 2002
Males 3:32:17 3:54:00 4:20:01
Females 4:03:39 4:15:00 4:56:46

MEDIAN AGE
1980 1995 1998 2000 2002
Males 34 38 38 38 39
Females 31.3 35 34 35 34
Median Age Overall 37 37 37

2002
World's Largest Marathons (finishers):

1) Flora London, GBR 32,899
2) New York City, NY 31,834
3) LaSalle Bank Chicago, IL 31,106
4) Honolulu, HI 26,477
5) real Berlin, GER 25,223
6) Paris, FRA 24,025
7) City of Los Angeles, CA 18,737
8) Hansaplast Hamburg, GER 17,083
9) Joongangilbo Seoul, KOR 16,800E
10) Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll, CA 16,136
11) Boston, MA 14,573
12) Ford Cologne, GER 14,173
13) Marine Corps, DC 14,058
14) Naha, JPN 10,733
15) Stockholm, SWE 10,722
E = estimated total

2002
U.S. Largest Marathons (finishers):

1) New York City, NY 31,834
2) LaSalle Bank Chicago, IL 31,106
3) Honolulu, HI 26,477
4) City of Los Angeles, CA 18,737
5) Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll, CA 16,136
6) Boston, MA 14,573
7) Marine Corps, DC 14,058
8) Walt Disney World, FL 7,950
9) Portland, OR 7,091
10) Grandma's, MN 6,836
11) Twin Cities, MN 6,641
12) Motorola Austin, TX 5,393
13) Philadelphia, PA 4,535
14) Compaq Houston, TX 4,412
15) Washington DC, DC 4,295
16) St. George, UT 4,227
17) Cincinnati Flying Pig, OH 3,886
18) Country Music, TN 3,465
19) Dallas White Rock, TX 3,375
20) Columbus, OH 3,340

Source: USA Track & Field Road Running Information Center - www.runningusa.org

# # #

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services
USATF Road Running Information Center
5522 Camino Cerralvo
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252
http://www.runningusa.org
http://www.usaldr.org

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