Running USA wire 57, July 14, 2009

Part I - Running Industry Expected to Place Well in U.S. Recession Marathon

The results are in. Considering that just about every running related stat is up, Americans have provided evidence with their feet and credit cards that running – as an industry, a fitness activity and a competitive sport – is indeed recession resistant.

Modest Declines Seen by Majority of Sport Related Companies

The 2008 wholesale figures for U.S. sporting goods provided by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) are not bad considering that was a year when the stock market dropped 33.8%.  Compared to 2007, the total wholesale dollars shipped were down only 3.2% to $66.3 billion, the sports apparel component was down 2% to $28.9 billion and athletic footwear shipments dropped 4.6% to $12.4 billion. NSGA’s “Sporting Goods Market Report Historical Data” offers a similar view of recent declines and provides a 28-year context. In 1998, sporting goods retail sales totaled $69.83 billion dollars in the U.S. After peaking in 2007 at $91.4 billion, NSGA’s estimate decreased to $79.6 billion in 2008 and is projected at $72.1 billion for 2009. Footwear sales also peaked in 2007 but is predicted to stay at the same level for 2009. Sports apparel, on the other hand, has been flat for the last five years and in 2008 with $10.6 billion in sales, was considerably lower than the 1998 total of $12.85 billion. 

But Running Products and Services Fared Well

In contrast to the overall sports industry, the growth seen in many areas of the running world from shoe sales to road race participation was impressive, especially in the context of the economy. NSGA’s “Sporting Goods Market in 2009” reports that retail sales dollars of the running/jogging category of footwear were up 5% (to $2.3 billion), numbers of running shoe units were up 2% and running apparel increased 1%. The larger corporations like Nike, adidas and Finish Line had their financial difficulties, but it was not due to their running products declining in popularity. And in the case of Runner’s World magazine which saw a decline of 0.8% in dollars and 6% in number of pages after strong growth in recent years, significant ad revenue disappeared from non-running entities like the auto industry.

Table 1: Jogging & Running Footwear Sales in U.S. (NSGA - 1)

Running Specialty Stores

The 713 U.S. running specialty stores represented  by Leisure Trends Group retail sales tracking reported $649 million (a 5% increase) in sales for the rolling year ending in March of 2009. This compares very favorably to other industries tracked for the same time period – all outdoor retail (up 1%), specialty outdoor (down 4%), all snow retail (down 4%) and snow specialty (down 8%). The heart of the running specialty stores – running shoes – showed an even healthier record of 10% growth for the 12-months ending in March 2009. The apparel sales were down 12.3% for the same period. Running specialty stores are helped by the relatively small percent of apparel (16%) compared to shoes (70%). The best sellers were stability road running shoes, casual shoes, bra tops, insoles and socks. Leisure Trends predicts possible trouble ahead, because stores have decreased inventory.

Millions of Americans Running Away from Troubles

One reason the industry is healthy is that there has been a parallel increase in the running population. NSGA estimates that the total running population in 2008 was 35,904,000 – an increase of 18.2% over 2007! The Outdoor Industry’s estimate for number of U.S. trail runners in 2008 was 4,857,000, an increase of 15.2%.

Table 2: U.S. Running Participation Numbers for 2008

Stories with headlines like “Sales of Marathon Goods Still Strong” (by Shira Springer, Boston Globe, April 20, 2009), “Running for Lean Times” (by Cameron Stracher, Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2009) and “Fast Times for Jobless Runners” (by Reed Albergotti, wsj.com, July 8, 2009), have helped promote the cost effective physical and mental health benefits of running to new audiences. The authors have observed strong interest in running products, event participation and training in spite and in some cases a result of the recession. Running is described by Albergotti as a way for the unemployed to run through their stress, get in shape with more regular training time and train for a cause that makes them feel that they can still be productive.

Upcoming State of the Sport 2009 reports will examine runner demographics, trends in race participation and the Largest Races in the world and U.S.

Sources for Part I

SGMA = Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. = 2008 SGMA Sports Research Partnership (with other trade groups - National Golf Foundation, SnowSports Industries, Tennis Industry Association and Outdoor Industry). Online survey was given sample of 40,174 people who represent the U.S. population. For more information, go to: SGMA.com

NSGA = National Sporting Goods Association. (1) = “NSGA Sporting Goods Market in 2009” and the Sporting Goods Market with Historical Data CD, based on retail sales in the U.S. projected from consumer interviews, (2) = NSGA Sports Participation in 2008, Series I. To obtain information on any of the NSGA products and services, email: info@nsga.org, phone (847) 296-6742 or go to: NSGA.org

OIF = Outdoor Industry Foundation. “Outdoor Recreation Participation 2009 Topline Report”. For more information visit www.outdoorfoundation.org.

Leisure Trends = Running Specialty Store Retail Sales Tracking as reviewed in webinar “How Healthy is Running Specialty?” by Elisabeth Stahura, Retail Analyst. For more information go to www.leisuretrends.com. To participate in the specialty store panel and have access to complete details during the year, contact Greg Shoenfeld at gshoenfeld@leisuretrends.com.

RunningUSA.org = State of the Sport reports, many types of 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 Lamppa [ryan@runningusa.org].

Top trio to meet for only fourth time in their careers on Sunday, August 16

NEW YORK - (July 14, 2009) - Three of the history's most dominant women's long-distance runners, defending champion and two-time Olympic medalist Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, CA, and half-marathon world record-holder Lornah Kiplagat of The Netherlands, will meet in New York on Sunday, August 16, to headline the NYC Half-Marathon, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.

It will be only the fourth time in their illustrious careers that the three will run against one another and the first showdown since the ING New York City Marathon 2006. Among them, the three have won three Olympic medals, 12 World Championship medals and 11 World Marathon Majors races, and have set eight world records.

"It's always a privilege to bring headliners to NYC," said Wittenberg. "Three of our sport's best ever will join us for this year's NYC Half. That's like hitting a home run before the game begins. We welcome Catherine, Deena and Lornah with open arms."

U.S. marathon record holder and three-time Olympian Kastor, 36, will make her first return to New York since she could not compete in the NYRR New York Mini 10K in June due to inflammation in the same foot that she broke during the 2008 Olympic marathon in Beijing. The injury was a momentary setback to a strong 2009 comeback season for Kastor, who scored victories in the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle in March and the BUPA Great Edinburgh 10K Run in May.

"It is always exciting to return to New York and race against a competitive field of women," said Kastor. "The NYC Half-Marathon is renowned among elite athletes wishing to compete at this distance, and this year it will showcase another stellar field in which I'm anxious to compete."

A specialist on the road and track, the Kenyan-born Kiplagat, 35, who now represents The Netherlands, is coming back from a knee injury that has sidelined her since the World's Best 10K in Puerto Rico on March 1 and also forced her out of the NYRR New York Mini 10K. Kiplagat currently holds the women's world record for the half-marathon distance in 1 hour, 6 minutes and 25 seconds, which she ran in Udine, Italy, in 2007.

"I am very excited to run in the NYC Half-Marathon, as it will be my first half-marathon in the United States," said Kiplagat. "New York City feels like home and it's always nice to race at home. I'm also looking forward to the strong competition."

Ndereba, who will turn 37 on July 21, represents Kenya and lives in Nairobi. She will be seeking her third NYC Half-Marathon title, after winning the inaugural race in 2006 and reclaiming the title last year. A two-time Olympic marathon silver medalist and a two-time marathon world champion, Ndereba will return to New York after finishing fourth at the NYRR New York Mini 10K in June.

"It is always very exciting to be back in New York, and I love the course of the NYC Half-Marathon," said Ndereba. "New York Road Runners always hosts us so well, and the competition is always the best. I am looking forward to a great competition running against Deena and Lornah. It is always my great pleasure to run against the best ladies."

Also announced were 2009 NYRR New York Mini 10K champion Rose Kosgei, 28, of Kenya who won the 2009 Hervis Prague Half-Marathon earlier this year. Three-time Hungarian Olympian Aniko Kalovics, 33, and 2009 Guadalajara Half-Marathon champion Genoveva Jelegat Kigen, 29, of Kenya will also compete.

On the American side, Emily Brown, 25, of Minneapolis, MN, who won the USA Cross Country Championship earlier this year, will make her half-marathon debut. Heidi Westerling, 29, of Acworth, NH, who claimed victory at the Vermont City Marathon and the New Bedford Half-Marathon this year, joins the field, along with Samia Akbar, 27, of Reston, VA, and Ilsa Paulson, 20, of New York, NY. Surprise runner-up at the USA Half-Marathon Championships Kelly Jaske, 32, of Portland, OR, is also entered.

Athletes will be vying for a prize purse of more than $70,000, with the men's and women's winners each receiving $10,000.

The NYC Half-Marathon continues to attract the world's leading professional athletes, in addition to a sold-out field of more than 10,000 recreational runners from around the world. Runners were admitted on a first-come, first-served basis, a change from the lottery entry process that was used in previous years. On a course designed to celebrate New York City, the NYC Half-Marathon will take runners on a loop through Central Park, down Seventh Avenue through Times Square, across 42nd Street, and along the expansive West Side Highway to Battery Park in the heart of the city's financial district, finishing with a view of the Statue of Liberty.

For more information, visit www.NYRR.org

6th edition sold-out in January; past race champions expected

SONOMA, Calif. - (July 14, 2009) - Now in its 6th year, the Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon, set to take place on Sunday, July 19, will bring thousands of runners with friends and family from all over the world to Napa and Sonoma counties. The 13.1 mile course meanders through the Carneros wine region and is considered one of the most scenic in the country. The race starts at Cuvaison Carneros Estate Winery in Napa and finishes in front of City Hall in downtown Sonoma, culminating with the Wine & Music Festival in historic Sonoma Plaza. This wine-themed event sold out in January and is currently featured in Runner's World and Women's Running magazines.

Amongst the 3,000 runners is actress and Jenny Craig spokesperson Valerie Bertinelli, as well as HLN meteorologist Bob Van Dillen who is serving as honorary chairman for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's half-marathon training and fundraising program, Team Challenge. Rolf Benirschke, former place kicker for the San Diego Chargers, will also be supporting the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America by running the race with his wife Mary. Last year, $2.1 million was raised and CCFA expects that number to be above $2.5 million for this year's event. CCFA is the national charity training partner for the race.

The elite field includes Celedonio (Cele) Rodriquez and Elizabeth (Lisa) Daane, both winners of the 2006 Napa-to-Sonoma race. Cele, a former star at Elise Allen High School in Santa Rosa, also won the race in 2005 and finished second in 2007. The current top ranked female runner in the U.S. in the 50-54 age group, Christine Kennedy of Los Altos, will be competing in her first Wine Country Half Marathon, as will the top ranked male in the 60-64 category, Terry McCluskey of Dublin, Ohio. Julia Mallon (nee Stamps), who set multiple records at Santa Rosa High School and competed for Stanford University, will also be running her first Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon. Nationally ranked runner, Christian Hesch of Morro Bay, winner of the 2008 Healdsburg Wine Country Half, is also expected to compete for the men's title, as is Mario Macias, winner of the 2008 Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon.

Event beneficiaries include Hanna Boys Center, La Luz / Vineyard Workers Services and Sonoma Valley Public School athletic programs. Hanna Boys Center volunteers will be pitching in for the sixth year - employees, boys and donors will staff the water stations, serve as course monitors and assist runners at the finish line, among other duties.

"Hanna Boys Center has proven to be valuable asset to the event from its inception," according to Event Director and founder Matt Dockstader. "The Center and the enthusiasm the boys bring have become synonymous with the event."

The event is also becoming a windfall for local businesses. A 2008 economic impact estimated the event generates $3 million into the Bay Area economy, with most of the dollars being spent for lodging, dining, shopping, tours and other services in Napa and Sonoma Counties. The event kicks off on Friday, July 17th in San Francisco at Sports Basement for packet pickup, followed by a reception at Cuvaison Carneros Winery in Napa on Friday evening. The race expo will be held at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn on Saturday from 10:00am to 6:00pm and the race dinner will be held Saturday night at Nicholson Ranch Winery in Sonoma. The reception and dinner are sold out, but the free expo is open to the public.

Spectators should expect to see the top finishers arrive in Sonoma Plaza shortly after 8:00am on Sunday. The awards ceremony will be held at Grinstead Amphitheater at 10:30am, followed by a performance by the Whiskey Thieves band. Over 20 wineries (and brewers) from the Sonoma and Napa Valleys will be featured at the Wine & Music Festival. The wine tasting is limited to registered race participants and their guests.

Destination Races, producer of the race and ensuing Wine and Music Festival, has taken an active role in reducing the environmental impact of the event. By partnering with numerous "green" organizations, sponsors and Green Mary, the goal is to reduce the amount of landfill waste to less than 5% and to reduce carbon emissions by nearly 50%. Vineyard Worker Services will be assisting Green Mary this year in the recycling and clean-up efforts in Sonoma plaza.

For more information, visit: www.napa2sonoma.com