EN
2013 U.S. Running Snapshot:
- Females account for 10.8 million finishers nationwide (a record number) and represent the highest percentage ever reported of 57% from event fields. Males in 2013 also set a new high with more than 8 million finishers in U.S. races. Overall, there were 19,025,000 finishers in U.S. running events (another record).
- The number of U.S. race finishers has increased nearly 300% since 1990, and female representation has grown from just 25% to an all-time high of 57% in 2013; see Table 1 below.
- Total number of U.S. running events reached 28,200, another all-time high, and a 7% increase since 2012; see Table 3.
- The half-marathon continues to fuel the growth of the Second Running Boom with an annual increase of 6% finishers (1.96 million, another new high) with an astounding 61% female participation.
- In 2013, the 5K maintained the #1 position of all race distances with 8.3 million finishers (another record number), claiming 43% of all finishers in the U.S., while the half-marathon again held the #2 position with approximately 10% of the finishers, followed by the 10K (7.9%).
- Per our 2014 State of the Sport Part I special report, mud runs, obstacle runs and color-themed runs have grown exponentially in the past few years, and it is estimated that approximately a record 4 million runners participated in these mostly untimed non-traditional, adventure-type races last year.
The following lists, charts and tables provide an overall summary of U.S. races, including demographics.
TABLE 1: U.S. Race Finishers 1990 – 2013
|
TABLE 2: Finishers in 2013 U.S. Running Events |
|||
|
DISTANCE |
2013 Totals |
% of Total |
‘12 – ‘13 Change |
|
5K |
8,300,000 |
43.6% |
34% |
|
Half-Marathon |
1,960,000 |
10.3% |
6% |
|
10K |
1,480,000 |
7.9% |
1% |
|
Marathon |
541,000 |
2.8% |
11% |
|
Others |
6,744,000 |
35.4% |
22% |
|
TOTAL |
19,025,000 |
|
22% |
|
TABLE 3: Number of 2013 U.S. Running Events |
|
||
|
DISTANCE |
# of Events |
% of Total |
|
|
5K |
15,200 |
54% |
|
|
10K |
3,200 |
11% |
|
|
Half-Marathon |
2,100 |
8% |
|
|
8K/5mile |
2,000 |
7% |
|
|
Marathon |
1,100 |
4% |
|
|
Others |
4,600 |
16% |
|
|
TOTAL |
28,200 |
|
|
SOURCE: Running USA powered by Athlinks
Road Race Demographics
The sweet spot of running event participation continues to fall between the ages of 25 and 44 for both genders (57% for women and 48% for men), and overall last year, 53% of all finishers came from between said age bookends.
|
TABLE 4: Age Group Distribution of U.S. Timed Race Finishers 2013 |
||||
|
Age Group |
Female |
Male |
Overall |
|
|
6-17 yrs |
9% |
12% |
10% |
|
|
18-24 yrs |
10% |
8% |
9% |
|
|
25-34 yrs |
30% |
23% |
27% |
|
|
35-44 yrs |
27% |
25% |
26% |
|
|
45-54 yrs |
16% |
19% |
18% |
|
|
55-64 yrs |
6% |
10% |
8% |
|
|
65+ yrs |
2% |
3% |
2% |
|
SOURCE: Running USA powered by Athlinks
|
TABLE 5: Average Age of Timed Race Finishers |
|
|
|
2013 |
|
Timed Road Race Finishers |
36.1 |
|
Female Timed Road Race Finishers |
34.8 |
|
Male Timed Road Race Finishers |
37.3 |
SOURCE: Running USA powered by Athlinks
Per the below, gender distribution, median times and average age are reported for the 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon and Marathon in 2013.
TABLE 6: Race Demographics of Timed Finishers in 2013
|
DISTANCE |
WOMEN |
MEN |
|
|
|
|
|
5K |
58% |
42% |
|
Median Time |
34:53 |
28:46 |
|
Average Age |
33.0 |
33.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
10K |
56% |
44% |
|
Median Time |
1:04:47 |
56:00 |
|
Average Age |
35.7 |
38.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Half-Marathon |
61% |
39% |
|
Median Time |
2:19:49 |
2:01:37 |
|
Average Age |
35.6 |
38.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Marathon |
43% |
57% |
|
Median Time |
4:41:49 |
4:16:37 |
|
Average Age |
36.6 |
40.2 |
SOURCE: Running USA powered by Athlinks
The next Running USA State of the Sport report will feature the largest race lists nationwide for 2013, including Top 100 Timed, World's Largest, Largest Festivals, Largest by State, Largest Women's and Largest Youth Runs.
SOURCE
Running USA = Running USA advances the growth and success of the running industry. State of the Sport reports, comprehensive running data and lists of the largest races from past years can be found on RunningUSA.org in the "Statistics" section.
For other questions about running trends and demographics, contact: ryan@runningusa.org or tracy@runningusa.org
