By Jackie Reau

In preparation for a strategic planning meeting with my colleagues at the Flying Pig Marathon, I reviewed the current 2010 Marathon and State of the Sport Report conducted by Running USA. The report is always presented in a comprehensive and professional manner.

Here’s the full link: http://www.runningusa.org/node/57770

Some of the statistics that caught my eye, may be of no surprise, but are still interesting:

• Marathoning participation grew nearly 10 percent over last year, the largest such growth in 25 years
• Some 467,000 runners/walkers finished a U.S. marathon last year
• In a 30-year span from 1980 to 2009, female participation in marathons has grown 30 percent
• Last year also saw the largest U.S. marathon field ever in New York with 43,660 finishers

Having conducted by first half marathon last year, I am not surprised by these numbers for the 13.1 milers:

• The half marathon distance has been the fastest growing road race distance over the past seven years
• Over the past year, participation in half marathons grew by 24 percent with more than 1.1 million finishers in U.S. races
• Women are leading the way in half-marathon participation by 57 percent over 43 percent in male participation rates
• Of the top 30 largest half marathon fields, 10 of them are within a five-hour drive from Cincinnati with the Flying Pig Half Marathon landing at #24 with 8,600 participants

Why the big jump in road race participation?

• Runners are smart: 79 percent hold a college degree compared with 27 percent of the U.S. population
• Runners have cash: 73 percent are making more than $75,000 per year, above the median U.S. household income of $52,175
• It may be a response to the bad economy: running is something that people can control unlike the economy
• And the no-brainer, it makes you feel better.

Now that you are inspired, take a look at doing the Flying Pig Marathon for May 1, 2011 at www.flyingpigmarathon.com. Registration is open for all races. I look forward to seeing you at the Finish Line.